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Click on the song you are interested in below. To return to the top of this page click on the arrow on the end of the line under each song

Traditional

Action

Participation

Funny

Ging Gang Goo Bingo Was His Name-o Ham and Eggs Alice the Camel
Good night . . . Scouts Bringing Home A Baby Bumblebee Quartermaster’s Store Found a Peanut
Green Grow the Rushes Fast Food Oh You Can’t Get to Heaven He Jumped Without A Parachute
Kum Ba Yah (Come with Me) Father Abraham   Skip’s Got a Head Like a Ping Pong Ball
  Goin’ On a Lion Hunt   Worms
  Singing in the Rain    
  The Animal Fair    
The Little Green Frog    
  Way Over the Irish Sea    

Green Grow the Rushes
This is a very old folk song. I present here the Scout version and a published version -- you will understand the difference. This song is structured like the 12 Days of Christmas, in that it builds as the verses progress, until at the end, the singers respond with all 12 lines. It is not sung to a “stock” tune -- you will have to find someone who knows it to learn the tune.

Here is how the Scout version begins:

Leader: I’ll sing you one ho
Group: Green grow the rushes ho, What is your one ho?
Leader: One is one and all alone and ever more shall it be so.
That is the basic form. Here is the second round:
Leader: I’ll sing you two ho
Group: Green grow the rushes ho, What is your two ho?
Leader: Two, two little Cub Scouts, Clothed them all in green ho
Leader and Group: One is one and all alone and ever more shall it be so
So, you can see how it goes. Here are the other 10 lines:
Twelve for the Twelve Apostles
Eleven for the eleven who went to Heaven
Ten for the Ten Commandments
Nine for the night (nine??) bright shiners
Eight for the April rainers
Seven for the seven stars in the sky
Six for the six proud walkers
Five for symbols at your door
Four for the Gospel makers
Three, three the rivals

According to “Rise Up Singing” published by Sing Out publications the song was first printed in “English Country Songs” by Broadwood and Maitland in 1893. Here are the lyrics:
One is one and all alone and evermore shall be
2, 2 the lily white boys, clothed all in green-o
3, 3 the rivals
4 for the Gospel makers
5 for the symbols at your door
6 for the 6 proud walkers
7 for the 7 stars in the sky
8 for the April raiders
9 for the 9 bright shiners
10 for the 10 Commandments
11 for the 11 that went up to heaven
12 for the 12 Apostles

Green Grow the Rushes
I’ll sing you one-ho, green grow the rushes-ho.
What is your one-ho?
One is one, and all alone, and ever more shall be it so!
I’ll sing you two-ho, green grow the rushes-ho.
What is your two-ho?
Two, two, lily white boys, cloth-ed all in green-ho
One is one, and all alone, and ever more shall be it so!
[Continue: adding each verse and repeating backwards to, “One is one, and all alone, and ever more shall be it so!”]
Three, three, the rivals;
Four for the Gospel makers;
Five for the symbols at your door;
Six for the six proud walkers;
Seven for the seven stars in the sky;
Eight for the April rainers;
Nine for the nine bright shiners;
Ten for the ten commandments;
Eleven for the eleven who went to heaven;
Twelve for the twelve apostles.
 

Skip’s Got a Head Like a Ping Pong Ball
(tune Lone Ranger Theme - William Tell Overture)
Skips got a head like a ping pong ball
Skips got a head like a ping pong ball
Skips got a head like a ping pong ball
Like a piiiiiiiiiiing pong ball
ping pong (seven times) ball
ping pong (6 times) Ball
ping ping ping ping ping ping ping ping PONG
(Second verse is the same only say pong where you say ping in the first verse and visa versa) - You can also change the name to your favourite hairless scouter!!!

Fast Food
This is an action song the actions will be given at the end The tune to this is a ram sam sam
Pizza Hut a Pizza Hut
Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut a Pizza Hut
Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut
McDonald McDonalds
Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut
A Burger King a Burger King
Long John Silvers and a Burger King
A Burger King a Burger King
Long John Silvers and a Burger King
Red Lobster Red Lobster
Long John Silvers and a Burger King
Dairy Queen A Dairy Queen
Chucky Cheese and a Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen A Dairy Queen
Chucky Cheese and a Dairy Queen
Roy Rogers Roy Rogers
Chucky Cheese and a Dairy Queen
Actions
Pizza Hut - Make shape of a hut in the air.
Kentucky Fried- Flap elbows up and down in the manner of a demented chicken.
McDonalds - Put hands on top of head and bring out and down to produce the “Golden Arches”.
Burger King - Put hands on head with fingers up to make a crown
Long John Silver - mimic sword play
Red Lobster - hold up arms and bring fingers down on thumbs like lobster claws snapping
Dairy Queen - mimic milking a cow
Chuckey Cheese - mimic throwing up a pizza
Roy Rogers - mimic riding a horse

He Jumped Without A Parachute
This is a British version of a song known in the US as Never tie a love knot in a parachuters chute
Tune Battle Hymn of the Republic - John Browns Body
First Version
He jumped without a parachute from twenty thousand feet
He jumped without a parachute from twenty thousand feet
He jumped without a parachute from twenty thousand feet
And he aint gorna jump no more
Chorus
Glory glory what a heck of a way to die
Glory glory what a heck of a way to die
Glory glory what a heck of a way to die
And he aint gorna jump no more
They scraped him off the tarmac like a lump of strawberry jam (3x)
And He aint .............
Chorus
They put him in a sardine tin and sent him home to mum (3x)
And he aint...........
Chorus
They put him on the mantle piece for everyone to see (3x)
and he aint........
Chorus
They spread him on a slice of bread when the vicar came to tea (3x)
and he aint.....
Last Chorus
Second Version
He jumped from forty thousand feet without a parachute
He jumped from forty thousand feet without a parachute
He jumped from forty thousand feet without a parachute
And he aint gonna jump no more
Chorus
Glory glory what a hell of a way to die
suspended by your braces when you dont know how to fly
Glory glory what a hell of a way to die
And he aint gonna jump no more
He landed on the pavement like a lump of strawberry jam
He landed on the pavement like a lump of strawberry jam
He landed on the pavement like a lump of strawberry jam
And he aint gonna jump no more
Chorus
They put him in a match box and they sent him home to mum
They put him in a match box and they sent him home to mum
They put him in a match box and they sent him home to mum
And he aint gonna jump no more
Chorus
She put on the mantel piece for everyone to see
She put on the mantel piece for everyone to see
She put on the mantel piece for everyone to see
And he aint gonna jump no more
Chorus
She put him on the table when the Vicar came to tea
She put him on the table when the Vicar came to tea
She put him on the table when the Vicar came to tea
And he aint gonna jump no more
Chorus
The Vicar spread him on some toast and said what lovely jam
The Vicar spread him on some toast and said what lovely jam
The Vicar spread him on some toast and said what lovely jam
And he aint gonna jump no more
Last Chorus
Notes: Verse #4 is sometimes omitted, and the chorus is sometimes repeated a second time at the end, which gets louder through the first two lines and then quieter during the last two lines, with the last few words being slowed down and strung out, to emphasise the point that he aint gonna jump no more.

Gory, Gory
[Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic]
He jumped out of the aeroplane without a parachute
[Repeat twice more.]
But he ain’t going to jump no more.
Chorus
Gory, gory, what a heck of a way to die. [Repeat twice more.] Well, he ain’t going to jump no more.
He landed on the tarmack like a dab of strawberry jam.
[Repeat twice more.]
And he ain’t going to jump no more.
We scraped him up and mailed him back inside an envelope.
[Repeat twice more.]
And he ain’t going to jump no more.

Kum Ba Yah (Come with Me)
Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah.
Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah.
Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah.
Oh Lord, Kum ba yah.
2. someone’s crying, Lord
3. someone’s singing, Lord
4. someone’s praying, Lord

Kum Ba Yah (Come By Here)
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah! [Repeat twice more.]
Oh Lord, kum ba yah!
Someone’s sleeping, Lord . . .
Someone’s crying, Lord . . .
Someone’s singing, Lord . . .
Someone’s laughing, Lord . . .
Someone’s praying, Lord . . .
Someone’s Scouting, Lord . . .
Someone’s camping, Lord . . .
Add other verses, as appropriate.
Actions:
“Kum Ba Yah” - hand over hand, then arms out to either side.
“Lord” - extend arms upward.
Other actions are as expected, for example: “Scouting” (Scout sign); “camping” (made tent shape with hands).

Ging Gang Goo
Ging gang gooli gooli gooli watcha, ging gang goo, ging gang
goo. [Repeat.]
Heyla, heyla sheyla, heyla sheyla heyla ho. [Repeat.]
Shali walli, shali walli, shali walli, shali walli,
Oompha, Oompah . . .
Sing as a round, with one group continuing with the “Oompah” and another singing the song again from the beginning; then switch.


Good night . . . Scouts
Good night . . . Scouts, good night . . . Scouts
Good night . . . Scouts, we’re going to leave you now.
Merrily we Scout along, scout along, scout along.
Merrily we Scout along, on the Scouting trail.
Farewell, . . . Scouts . . . .
Sweet dreams, . . . Scouts . . . .

Alice the Camel
Alice the camel has 10 humps, Alice the camel has 10 humps
Alice the camel has 10 humps, so go, Alice, GO!!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
[Continue with 9, 8, 7 . . . humps, until . . . ]
Alice the camel has no humps, Alice the camel has no humps
Alice the camel has no humps, ‘cause Alice is a HORSE!!


Bingo Was His Name-o
There was a farmer had a dog and Bingo was his name-o’
B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, and Bingo was his name-o.
Sing song through six times, the first time just spelling out
the name BINGO; second time, clap the ‘B’ and spell out the last four letters; third time, clap the ‘B’ and the ‘I’ and spell out
the last three letters; etc., until all five letters are clapped
out.

Bringing Home A Baby Bumblebee
[This song cycles so that certain verses can be repeated until the singers tire of it.]
I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Won’t my Mommy be so proud of me,
I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Ooh, he stung me!
I’m squashing up my baby bumblebee,
.
.
.
Ooh, now its all over my hands!
I’m licking off my baby bumblebee
.
.
.
Ooh, that made me sick!
I’m throwing up my baby bumblebee
.
.
.
Ooh, now the floor is all messy!
I’m scraping up my baby bumblebee
.
.
.
Ooh, he stung me a again!
Variations
:
I’m bringing home a baby rattlesnake,
Won’t my darling Mommy really shake.
.
.
.
Ooh, he bit me!
I’m stomping on my baby rattlesnake, etc.
I’m bringing home a baby grizzly bear,
Won’t my Mommy beat it out of there.
.
.
.
[One suggested scenario involves shooing off the bear; having to clean up after the mess (scat) left behind, and finally bring the bear back to clean up after itself.]

Father Abraham
Father Abraham had seven sons sir.
Seven sons sir had Father Abraham.
And they never laughed, and they never cried,
All the did was go like this: with a left (arm moving) . . . .
. . . With a left (arm) and a right (arm).
Finally: . . . with a left and a right, and a left (leg) and a
right (leg), and a nod, and a wiggle.

 

Goin’ On a Lion Hunt
[Audience echoes each line and sets up clap/lap-slapping rhythm.]
Goin’ on a lion hunt.
Goin to catch a big one.
I’m not afraid.
Look, what’s up ahead?
Mud!
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Can’t go around it.
Gotta go through it. [Make sloshing sounds and move hands as if slogging.]
Sticks. [Snap fingers.]
Tree. [Make gestures climbing up and down.]
Gate. [Make gate-opening gestures.]
River. [make swimming gestures.]
Cave. [Go in it and find lion. Reverse all motions quicky to get home.]


Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Eye and ears, and a mouth and a nose.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Touch the appropriate body part each time it’s mentioned. Second time: don’t say the word ‘head’ aloud, but still touch it. Each verse thereafter, add another body part that you touch but don’t mention aloud.

Singing in the Rain
We’re singing in the rain, just singing in the rain.
What a glorious feeling, we’re happy again.
Thumbs up! [Group echoes.]
Toot-ta-ta-da, toot-ta-ta-da, toot-DA-DA. [Group echoes.]
Add each of the following, in turn:
Elbows in
Knees bent
Toes together
Buns back
Chest out
Chin down
Tongue out

The Little Green Frog
Um-ah [with the tongue], went the little green frog one day.
Um-ah, went the little green frog.
Um-ah, went the little green frog one day.
And the frog he went um-ah, um-ah, ah.
ka-yunk, went the little green frog one day.
ka-yunk, went the little green frog.
ka-yunk, went the little green frog one day.
And his eyes went yenk, yank, yunk. [Make eye-popping gestures with hands.]

Way Over the Irish Sea
When I was one, I had just begun
The day I went to sea
I climbed aboard a pirate ship and the captain said to me,
“We’ll go this way, that way, forward and back
Way over the Irish Sea.
A bottle of Coke to soothe my throat,
And that’s the life for me.
Da, da, dum; da, da, dum . . .
When I was two, I tied my shoe . . .
When I was three, I bumped my knee . . .
When I was four, I shut the door . . .
When I was five, I was still alive . . .
When I was six, I gathered sticks . . .
When I was seven, I was almost in heaven . . .
When I was eight, I closed the gate . . .
When I was nine, I was feeling fine . . .
When I was ten, I started over again . . .
[Suggested motions: “...climbed aboard...” {as if climbing up the side of a ship} “...the captain said...” {give salute}
“We’ll go...” {bend at the waist; first left, right, for ward, and back} “...over the Irish Sea.” {make waves with hand}
“...bottle of coke...” {as if chugging a soft drink} “...to
soothe my throat...” {touch throat with hand} “...that’s the
life...” {slap knee and raise hand} “...da, da, dum...” {step
forward, step back}


Found a Peanut
[Tune: Clementine]
Found a peanut, found a peanut, found a peanut just now.
Just now I found a peanut, found a peanut just now.
Continue in the same manner with:
2. It was rotten, . . .
3. Ate it anyway, . . .
4. Got sick, . . .
5. Called the doctor, . . .
6. Had surgery, . . .
7. Died anyway, . . .
8. Went to heaven, . . .
9. Kicked an angel, . . .
10.Went the other way, . . .
11.Found a peanut, . . .
12.Threw it away, . . .


Ham and Eggs
Ham and eggs, ham and eggs,
I like mine fried nice and brown,
I like mine fried upside down.
Ham and eggs, ham and eggs,
Flip ‘em, flop ‘em, flop ‘em, flip ‘em; ham and eggs!
Variation: Divide group in two and alternatively sing phases between the punctuation. All sing the last “ham and eggs.”

Quartermaster’s Store
There are rats, rats, as big as alley cats,
At the store, at the store.
There are rats, rats, as big as alley cats,
At the Quartermaster’s store.
Chorus
My eyes are dim, I can not see.
I have not brought my specks with me. [Repeat.]
Mice . . . running through the rice.
Snakes . . . as big as garden rakes.
Beans . . . as big as submarines.
Gravy . . . enough to float the navy.
Cakes . . . that give us tummy aches.
Eggs . . . with scaly chicken legs.
Butter . . . running in the gutter.
Lard . . . they sell it by the yard.
Bread . . . with great big lumps like lead.
Cheese . . . that makes you want to sneeze.
Soot . . . they grow it by the foot.
Goats . . . eating all the oats
Bees . . . with little knobby knees.
Owls . . . shredding paper towels.
Apes . . . eating all the grapes.
Turtles . . . wearing rubber girdles.
Bear . . . with curlers in its hair.
Buffalos . . . with hair between their toes.
Foxes . . . stuffed in little boxes.
Coke . . . enough to make you choke.
Pepsi . . . that gives you apoplexy.
Roaches . . . sleeping in the coaches.
Flies . . . swarming ‘round the pies.
Fishes . . . washing all the dishes.
Moths . . . eating through the cloths
Scouts . . . eating brussel sprouts.
Leaders . . . slapping at the skeeters.

The Animal Fair
We went to the animal fair, the birds and the beasts were there,
The big baboon by the light of the moon was combing his auburn hair.
The monkey, he got drunk, and fell on the elephants trunk,
The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees,
And that was the end of the monkey! (The monkey, the monkey, the . . . etc.)


Worms
Nobody likes me, everybody hates me,
I’ll go out and dig some worms;
Long thin skinny ones;
Big fat juicy ones,
See how they wriggle and squirm.
Bite their heads off,
Suck their juice out,
Throw their skins away,
Nobody knows how much I thrive
On worms three times a day.
Long thin skinny ones slip down easily,
Big fat juicy ones stick;
Hold your head back,
Squeeze their tail,
And their juice just goes drip, drip.

Oh You Can’t Get to Heaven
Oh the Deacon went down, to the cellar to pray.
But he fell asleep, and stayed all day.
[Repeat.]
I Ain’t gonna grieve my Lord no more.
Chorus
I Ain’t gonna grieve my Lord no more.
I Ain’t gonna grieve my Lord no more.
I Ain’t gonna grieve my Lord no more.
Oh you can’t get to heaven, in a rocking chair.
‘Cause the Lord don’t allow, no lazybones there. etc.
Oh you can’t get to heaven, in a [name of person]’s car.
‘Cause the gosh darn thing, won’t go that far. etc.
Oh you can’t get to heaven, in a [name of person]’s boat.
‘Cause the gosh darn thing, won’t even float. etc.
Oh you can’t get to heaven, on water skis.
‘Cause the Lord don’t allow, no hairy knees. etc.
Oh you can’t get to heaven, on roller skates.
‘Cause you’ll roll right by those pearly gates. etc.
Oh you can’t get to heaven in a limousine,
‘Cause the Lord don’t sell no gasoline. etc.
Oh you can’t get to heaven on a motor bike,
‘Cause you’ll get halfway, then you’ll have to hike. etc.
Oh you can’t get to heaven in a supersonic jet,
‘Cause the Lord ain’t got no runways yet. etc.
Oh you can’t get to heaven with powder and paint,
‘Cause it makes you look like what you ain’t. etc.
Oh you can’t get to heaven in a strapless gown,
‘Cause the gosh darn thing might fall right down. etc.
Oh you can’t get to heaven in [name of person]’s pants,
‘Cause [name of person]’s pants are full of ants. etc.
Oh you can’t chew terbaccy on the golden shore,
‘Cause the Lord don’t have no cuspidor. etc.
Oh I want to go to heaven, and I want to do it right,
So I’ll go up to heaven all dressed in white. etc.
Oh one fine day, and it won’t be long,
You’ll look for me, and I’ll be gone. etc.
Oh if you get to heaven, before I do.
Just bore a hole, and pull me through. etc.
Well if I get to heaven, before you do.
I’ll plug that hole, with shavings and glue. etc.
That’s all there is, there ain’t no more.
Saint Peter said, as he closed the door. etc.
Oh there’s one more thing I forgot to tell,
If you don’t go to heaven, you’ll go to hell. etc.

 

 

 

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Last modified: June 23, 2002

 

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