Our Favorite Camp Songs

For Lawrence We Stand

For Lawrence we stand,
It is the best camp in the land.
Loyal and true,
Are the boys of White and Blue.
And when the game is at its height,
You’ll see them fight with all their might.
Three cheers for Lawrence Camp,
And for its spirit and its might.
Rah!, Rah!, Rah!

For Lawrence we stand,
It is the best camp in the land.
Loyal and true,
Are the boys of White and Blue.
And when the sun is sinking low,
Then you’ll see the campfires glow.
Three cheers for Lawrence Camp,
And for its spirit and its might.
Rah!, Rah!, Rah!

L-A-W-R-E-N-C-E

L-A-W-R-E-N-C-E, Boom!
Lawrence, our Lawrence,
We’ll sing to thee.
Fairest of summer camps,
Give her the three times three.
Oh!, fellows, long may we cherish her,
Faithful we’ll be.
Lawrence, our Lawrence,
For you and for me.

William Lawrence Spirit

I’ve got that William Lawrence Spirit,
Up in my head, up in my head, up in my head.
I’ve got that William Lawrence Spirit,
Up in my head, up in my head to stay.

I’ve got that William Lawrence Spirit,
Down in my feet, down in my feet, down in my feet.
I’ve got that William Lawrence Spirit,
Down in my feet, down in my feet to stay.

I’ve got that William Lawrence Spirit,
Deep in my heart, deep in my heart, deep in my heart.
I’ve got that William Lawrence Spirit,
Deep in my heart, deep in my heart to stay.

I’ve got that William Lawrence Spirit,
Up in my head, down in my feet, deep in my heart.
I’ve got that William Lawrence Spirit,
All over me, all over me to stay.

Build Me Up Buttercup

Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin’
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don’t break my heart

“I’ll be over at ten”, you told me time and again
But you’re late, I wait around and then (bah dah dah)
I run to the door, I can’t take any more
It’s not you, you let me down again

(Hey, hey, hey!) Baby, baby, try to find
(Hey, hey, hey!) A little time, and I’ll make you happy
(Hey, hey, hey!) I’ll be home
I’ll be beside the phone waiting for you
Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-ooo

Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin’
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don’t break my heart

You were my toy but I could be the boy you adore
If you’d just let me know (bah dah dah)
Although you’re untrue, I’m attracted to you all the more
Why do I need you so

(Hey, hey, hey!) Baby, baby, try to find
(Hey, hey, hey!) A little time and I’ll make you happy
(Hey, hey, hey!) I’ll be home
I’ll be beside the phone waiting for you
Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-ooo

Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby
Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around
And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby
When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still
I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin’
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don’t break my heart

I-I-I need you-oo-oo more than anyone, baby
You know that I have from the start
So build me up (build me up) Buttercup, don’t break my heart

Dummy Line

CHORUS

On the dummy line, on the dummy line
Rain or shine, I’ll pay my fine
Rain or shine, I’ll pay my fine
Ride, ride, riding on the dummy line

I got on the train and didn’t have the fare
The conductor said, “Whatcha doin’ there?”
He grabbed me by the collar and shoved me out the door
Said, “I don’t want to see you on this line no more!”

I’ve got a girl, and her name’s Hortense.
She’s not good looking, but she’s got good sense.
Every time I kiss Hortense (WOOOOO!)
I’ve got to buy a nickle’s worth of peppermints!

Little Willy was home by himself
Found a chocolate cake on the kitchen shelf
Willy said, “If I eat this cake
Sis won’t get a belly ache”

Little Willy saw a mill saw buzz
Didn’t know quite what it was
Now his arm is full of nicks
And, alas poor Willy, he’s cut in six

Little Willy found some dynamite
He didn’t understand it quite
But curiosity never pays
It rained Willy several days

Little Willy coming home from school
Spied a half a dollar at the foot of a mule
Stooped down to pick it up, quiet as a mouse
Funeral tomorrow at little Willy’s house!

Little birdie in the sky
Dropped some whitewash in my eye
Says I to me; says me to I
“I’m sure glad that cows can’t fly!”

There was a boy by the name of Jack
Pitched his tent on a railroad track
Midnight express came around the bend
What kind of flowers did you send?

There once was a doctor, his name was Peck
He fell in a well and he broke his neck
It served him right, for he should’ve known
To tend to the sick and leave the well alone!

There once was a hunter, his name was O’Hare
He was chased by a grizzly bear
The people all thought he was out of his mind
Running down the street with a bear behind!

There was an old witch by the name of Nan
Who tried to pass as a good humor man
Couldn’t fool the kids, they all stayed home –
They would not buy from an ice cream crone

My grandpa had a car, it was a Ford machine
His whiskers came in handy for straining gasoline
My grandma had a habit of chewing in her sleep
She chewed on grandpa’s whiskers and dreamed of shredded wheat

Dunderbeck’s Machine

There was a little Dutchman and is name was Dunderbeck.
He used to deal in sausages and sauerkraut and speck.
He made the finest sausages that ever you did see,
And then one day he invented a wonderful sausage machine.

CHORUS

Oh, Mister, Mister Dunderbeck how could you be so mean.
I told you you’d be sorry for inventing that machine.
Now all the neighbors cats and dogs will never more be seen.
For they’ve been ground to sausages in Dunderbeck’s machine.

One day a boy came walking, came walking in the store,
He bought a pound of sausages, and he laid them on the floor.
And the boy began to whistle, and he whistled up a tune,
And all the little sausages went dancing ’round the room.

CHORUS

One day the machine go busted, the blame thing wouldn’t go,
So Dunderbeck he climbed inside to see what made it so.
His wife she had a nightmare, and walking in her sleep,
She gave the crank a heck of a yank, and Dunderbeck was meat!

CHORUS

If I Had A Hammer

If I had a hammer
I’d hammer in the morning
I’d hammer in the evening…, all over this land
I’d hammer out danger
I’d hammer out a warning
I’d hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

If I had a bell
I’d ring it in the morning
I’d ring it in the evening…, all over this land
I’d ring out danger
I’d ring out a warning
I’d ring out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

If I had a song
I’d sing it in the morning
I’d sing it in the evening…, all over this land
I’d sing out danger
I’d sing out a warning
I’d sing out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

Now I have a hammer
And I’ve got a bell
And I’ve got a song to sing…, all over this land
It’s a hammer of justice
It’s a bell of freedom
It’s a song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

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, stamp your feet.
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, stamp your feet.

If you’re happy and you know it, shout “Amen!”
If you’re happy and you know it, shout “Amen!”
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, shout “Amen!”

If you’re happy and you know it, do all three.
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three.
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three.

I’ve Got Six Pence

I’ve got six pence, jolly, jolly six pence,
I’ve got six pence to last me all my life.
I’ve got two pence to lend,
And two pence to spend,
And two pence to send home to my wife, poor wife.

CHORUS

No cares have I to grieve me,
No pretty little girls to deceive me,
I’m as happy as a lark believe me,
As we go rolling, rolling home.
Rolling home, rolling home,
By the light of the silvery moon.
Happy is the day when the (counselors get their pay) (campers go away) (counselors go away)
As we go rolling, rolling home.

I’ve got four pence, jolly, jolly four pence,
I’ve got four pence to last me all my life.
I’ve got two pence to lend,
And two pence to spend,
And no pence to send home to my wife, poor wife.

CHORUS

I’ve got two pence, jolly, jolly two pence,
I’ve got two pence to last me all my life.
I’ve got two pence to lend,
And no pence to spend,
And no pence to send home to my wife, poor wife.

CHORUS

I’ve got no pence, jolly, jolly no pence,
I’ve got no pence to last me all my life.
I’ve got no pence to lend,
And no pence to spend,
And no pence to send home to my wife, poor wife.

CHORUS

John Brown’s Ford

John Brown’s Ford had a puncture in its tire,
John Brown’s Ford had a puncture in its tire,
John Brown’s Ford had a puncture in its tire,
And he patched it up with chewing gum.

Kum Ba Yah

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

Someone’s crying, my lord, Kum Ba Yah
Someone’s crying, my lord, Kum Ba Yah
Someone’s crying, my lord, Kum Ba Yah
Oh, lord, Kum Ba Yah

Someone’s singing, my lord, Kum Ba Yah
Someone’s singing, my lord, Kum Ba Yah
Someone’s singing, my lord, Kum Ba Yah
Oh, lord, Kum Ba Yah

Someone’s praying, my lord, Kum Ba Yah
Someone’s praying, my lord, Kum Ba Yah
Someone’s praying, my lord, Kum Ba Yah
Oh, lord, Kum Ba Yah

MTA

Prologue:

These are the times that try men’s souls. In the course of our nation’s history the people of Boston have rallied bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatened. Today, a new crisis has arisen. The Metropolitan Transit Authority, better know as the MTA, is attempting to levy a burdensome tax on the population in the form of a subway fare increase. Citizens, hear me out. This could happen to you!!!

Song:

Well, let me tell you the story of a man named Charlie
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket, kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA

CHORUS

Well did he ever return, no he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned (what a pity)
He may ride forever ’neath the streets of Boston
He’s the man who never returned

Charlie handed in his dime at the Kendall Square station
And he changed for Jamaica Plain
When he got there, the conductor told him, “One more nickle!”
Charlie couldn’t get off of that train.

CHORUS (poor old Charlie)

Now all night long Charlie rides through the station
Crying, “What will become of me?”
“How can I afford to see my sister in Chelsea?”
“Or my cousin in Roxbury?“

CHORUS (shame and scandal)

Charlie’s wife goes down to the Scollay Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window she hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin’ through

CHORUS (he may ride forever)

Now you citizens of Boston don’t you think it’s a scandal
How the people have to pay and pay
Fight the fare increase, vote for George O’Brian!
Get poor Charlie off the MTA!!!

Or else he’ll never return, no he’ll never return
And his fate is still unlearned (just like always)
He may ride forever ’neath the streets of Boston
He’s the man who never returned
He’s the man who never returned
He’s the man who never returned

Our Paddles Clean And Bright

Our paddles clean and bright,
Flashing like silver.
Swift as the wild goose flight,
Dip, dip and swing.

Dip, dip and swing them back,
Flashing like silver.
Swift as the wild goose flight,
Dip, dip and swing.

Sipping Cider

The cutest girl…, I ever saw…,
Was sipping cider through a straw.
The cutest girl I ever saw,
Was sipping cider through a straw.

I asked her if…, she’d show me how…,
To sip some cider through a straw.
I asked her if she’d show me how,
To sip some cider through a straw.

So cheek to cheek…, and jaw to jaw…,
We sipped that cider through a straw.
So cheek to cheek and jaw to jaw,
We sipped that cider through a straw.

Then suddenly…, that straw did slip…,
And I sipped cider through her lips.
Then suddenly that straw did slip,
And I sipped cider through her lips.

The parson sneaked…, through our backyard…,
To sip some cider through a straw.
The parson sneaked through our backyard,
To sip some cider through a straw.

And now I’ve got…, a mother-in-law…,
And sixteen kids to call me “Pa.”
And now I’ve got a mother-in-law,
And sixteen kids to call me “Pa.”

The moral of…, this little tale…,
Is sip your cider from a pail.
The moral of this little tale,
Is sip your cider from a pail.

Taps