Campfire Songs

Cracking flames, starry skies, and the joyous chorus of voices raised in song – nothing captures the magic of Scouting like a good old-fashioned campfire singalong! Here at the 6th East Kilbride Scout Group, we believe Scout campfire songs are more than just entertainment; they’re the soundtrack to unforgettable memories, fostering camaraderie, boosting spirits, and keeping the adventure alive long after the fire fades.

Why Sing with the 6th East Kilbride Scouts?

• Unleash your inner bard: Join our vibrant chorus and discover the joy of harmonising with fellow Scouts under the twinkling night sky.
• Learn iconic tunes: From classic singalongs like “Kumbaya” and “The Wheels on the Bus” to lively Scouting favorites like “Campfire’s Burning” and “Drunken Sailor,” we’ll fill your repertoire with campfire gold.
• Build lasting memories: Create bonds that last a lifetime through shared laughter and spontaneous harmonies around the crackling fire.
• Embrace Scouting traditions: Singing is a cherished part of Scouting history, and we’re proud to keep the tradition alive in East Kilbride.
• Fuel the adventure: Let the energy of our songs propel you through epic camps, challenging hikes, and exciting workshops.

No Musical Expertise Needed!

Whether you’re a seasoned songbird or a shower-only soloist, everyone’s welcome in our inclusive campfire circle. We believe in the power of music to bring people together, regardless of vocal talent. Just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to belt out a tune or two!

• On Top of Spaghetti
• Quarter Master Stores
• If you’re happy and you know it
• Flower of Scotland
• Kum By Ya
• Marilyn Monroe
• Boom Chicka Boom
• Singing in the Rain
• Head Shoulder Knees and Toes
• Yellow Bird
• Music Man
• Joe
• Boogaloo
• Rattling Bog
• Bricklayers Song

On Top of Spaghetti

(Tune: On Top of Old Smokey)

On top of spaghetti,

All covered in cheese,

I lost my poor meat ball

When somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table

And unto the floor,

And then my poor meat ball

Rolled out of the door.

It rolled down the garden

and under a bush,

And then my poor meat ball

was nothing but mush!

So,

If you have spaghetti,

All covered in cheese,

Hold onto your meat ball,

‘Cause someone might sneeze!

Quarter Master’s Stores

Chorus:

My eyes are dim, I cannot see,

I have not brought my specs with me,

I have not brought my specs with me!

There was bread, bread harder than your head

In the stores, in the stores

There was bread, bread just like lumps of lead

In the quarter master’s stores.

Rats…as big as blooming cats

Skip… giving us the slip

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.

If You’re Happy And You Know It

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it,

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it, stamp your feet

If you’re happy and you know it, click your fingers

If you’re happy and you know it, nod your head

If you’re happy and you know it, say “We are!”

If you’re happy and you know it, do all five.

Flower of Scotland

Oh Flower of Scotland

When will we see your like again

That fought and died for

Your wee bit hill and glen.

Chorus.

That stood against him

Proud Edward’s army

And sent him homeward

Tae think again.

The hills are bare now

And Autumn leaves lie thick and still

O’er land that is lost now

Which those so dearly held.

Those days are passed now

And in the past they must remain

But we can still rise now

And be the nation again.

Repeat verse one.

Kum By Ya

Kum by ya, my Lord, kum by ya,

Kum by ya, my Lord, kum by ya,

Kum by ya, my Lord, kum by ya,

O Lord, kum by ya.

Someone’s crying, Lord, kum by ya,

O Lord, kum by ya.

Someone’s praying, Lord, kum by ya,

O Lord, kum by ya.

Someone’s singing, Lord, kum by ya,

O Lord, kum by ya.

Marilyn Monroe

My name is Marilyn Monroe, and I’m a movie star,

I’ve got a fabulous figure and a push-up bra,

I’ve got bright red lips, and sexy hips,

I want you, to do it again!

The actions are fairly self-explanatory – just show off each part of your body as it is mentioned.

It starts off with just one scout singing it, then at ‘you’ s/he points at someone in the crowd. They get up and sing, and both scouts point to someone at the end until everyone is up there

Boom Chicka Boom

I said a-boom-chick-a-boom! [Group echoes.]
I said a-boom-chick-a-boom! [Group echoes.]
I said a-boom-chick-a-rock-a-chick-a-rock-a-chick-a-boom!
[Group echoes.]

Uh-huh! [Group echoes.]
Oh Yeah! [Group echoes.]
This time! [Group echoes.]
We sing! [Group echoes.]
HIGHER!

Each time a leader adds a different variation such as: LOWER,
WHISPER, LOUDER, TONGUE-IN-CHEEK, SEXY, GROOVY (COOL).

Singing in the Rain

I’m singing in the rain, just singing in the rain.
What a glorious feeling, I’m happy again.
Thumbs up! [Group echoes.]
Oh – cha cha oh cha cha oh cha chaa

Add each of the following, in turn:
Thumbs Up Arms Out Elbows In
Knees Bent Back Straight Chest out
Bum out Head Back Tongue out

Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes

Head, shoulders, knees & toes,
Knees & toes.
Head, shoulders, knees & toes,
Knees & toes.
& Eyes & Ears & mouth & nose.
Head, shoulders, knees & toes, knees & toes.

Yellow Bird

There was a yellow bird (repeat)
With a yellow bill (repeat)
It landed on (repeat)
My window sill (repeat)
I coaxed him in (repeat)
With a piece of bread (repeat)
And then I squashed (repeat)
His fuzzy head (Repeat)

Other verses
….piece of cheese ….And then I whacked….it on the knees….

….plate of spaghetti….then I cut off its wings….with my machete….

….bottle of Tizer….and then I put it….in the liquidiser….

….Spice Girls poster….and then I put it….in the pop-up toaster….

….chicken Chow Mein….put a straw up its nose….and sucked out its brain….

Music Man

Leader:
I am the music man
I come from down your way.
And I can play
Reply:
What Can you play?
Leader:
I can play the Big bass Drum
Together:
Boom Boom Boom Boom.. etc

He can also play: Piano, Violin

Joe

In this one the audience repeats each line straight after the leader and keeps the ever increasing actions going through the whole thing.
Hi
My name’s Joe
And I work in a button factory
One day me boss says to me
Are you busy Joe?
So I says no
So he says push this button with your right hand.

As the song progresses, you add in more bits to push the button with until you are leaping around like mad things. You can push buttons with almost anything including hands, legs, heads, tongues and backsides.

Boogaloo

Leader:One Two Three Four.

Group: Five Six Seven Eight.

Leader: Let me see your Boogaloo.

Group: What’s that you say.

Leader: I said let me see your Boogaloo.

Group: What’s that you say.

All Sing:

I said Boogaloo, (Dance around) Boo-boogaloo Boogaloo Boo-boogaloo

Additional Verses Dracula (Use index fingers as fangs Frankenstein (Wave arms out in front of you) Shoot the Moon, (Form finger guns and shoot the moon) Funky Chicken (Flap arm like a chicken) Crazy Man (Both arms in the air)

Rattling Bog

And the bog down in the valley-o!
O ro the rattling bog, the bog down in the valley-o
A rare bog, a rattling bog, a bog down in the valley-o!
Now in this bog there was a tree
A rare tree, a rattling tree
Tree in the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o!
O ro the rattling bog, the bog down in the valley-o
A rare bog, a rattling bog, a bog down in the valley-o!
Now on this tree there was a limb
A rare limb, a rattling limb
Limb on the tree
And the tree in the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o!
O ro the rattling bog, the bog down in the valley-o
A rare bog, a rattling bog, a bog down in the valley-o!
Now on this limb there was a branch
A rare branch, a rattling branch
Branch on the limb
And the limb on the tree
And the tree in the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o!
O ro the rattling bog, the bog down in the valley-o
A rare bog, a rattling bog, a bog down in the valley-o!
Now on this branch there was a twig
A rare twig, a rattling twig
Twig on the branch
And the branch on the limb
And the limb on the tree
And the tree in the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o!
O ro the rattling bog, the bog down in the valley-o
A rare bog, a rattling bog, a bog down in the valley-o!
Now on this twig there was a leaf
A rare leaf, a rattling leaf
Leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the limb
And the limb on the tree
And the tree in the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o!
O ro the rattling bog, the bog down in the valley-o
A rare bog, a rattling bog, a bog down in the valley-o!
Now on this leaf there was a nest
A rare nest, a rattling nest
Nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the limb
And the limb on the tree
And the tree in the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o!
O ro the rattling bog, the bog down in the valley-o
A rare bog, a rattling bog, a bog down in the valley-o!
Now in this nest there was a egg
A rare egg, a rattling egg
Egg in the nest
And the nest on the leaf
And the leaf on the twig
And the twig on the branch
And the branch on the limb
And the limb on the tree
And the tree in the bog
And the bog down in the valley-o!
O ro the rattling bog, the bog down in the valley-o
A rare bog, a rattling bog, a bog down in the valley-o!
O ro the rattling bog, the bog down in the valley-o
A rare bog, a rattling bog…
A bog down in the valley-o!

The Bricklayer’s Song

Dear sir, I write this note to you to tell you of my plight
For at the time of writing it I’m not a pretty sight
My body is all black and blue, my face a deathly grey
And I write this note to say why I am not at work today

While working on the 14th floor some bricks I had to clear
But tossing them down from such a height was not a good idea
The foreman wasn’t very pleased, he is an awkward sod
And he said I had to cart them down the ladders in me hod

Well clearing all these bricks by hand, it was so very slow
So I hoisted up a barrel and secured a rope below
But in my haste to do the job, I was too blind to see
That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me

And so when I untied the rope the barrel fell like lead
And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead
I shot up like a rocket and to my dismay I found
That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down

The barrel broke my shoulder as to the ground it sped
And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with my head
I clung on tightly numb with shock from this almighty blow
While the barrel spilled out half its bricks some 14 floors below

Now when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor
I then out-weighed the barrel and so started down once more
But I clung on tightly to the rope, my body racked with pain
And half way down I met the barrel once again

The force of this collision half way down the office block
Caused multiple abbraisions and a nasty case of shock
But I clung on tightly to the rope as I fell towards the ground
And landed on the broken bricks the barrel had scattered round

Well as I lay there on the floor I thought I’d passed the worst
But the barrel hit the pulley wheel and then the bottom burst
A shower of bricks rained down on me I didn’t have a hope
As I lay there bleeding on the ground I let go of the bloody rope

The barrel now being heavier, it started down once more
It landed right across me as I lay there on the floor
It broke three ribs and my left arm and I can only say
I hope you understand why I am not at work today