SONGS

First, a little soapbox –

God Bless America
Irving Berlin, Original: 1918; Revised: 1938
From the Grand Teton Area Council Pow Wow Book

Interesting but very sad note – We planned to have the pack sing God Bless America at the Blue and Gold (My pack rebelled and would not do “Chinese New Year,” no matter how much fun I told them it would be.  They wanted a patriotic Blue and Gold.  Anyway, none of our Cubs knew this song.  They do not sing it in school anymore, it mentions God.  They sing “My Country ‘tis of Thee” in school.  We need to teach our Cubs this and other similar songs!!  CD

Spoken Introduction

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

Everybody Sing

God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains To the prairies,
To the ocean white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home
Repeat last line

The unofficial national anthem of the United States was composed by an immigrant who left his home in Siberia for the USA when he was only five years old. The original version of "God Bless America" was written by Irving Berlin (1888-1989) during the summer of 1918 at Camp Upton, located in Yaphank, Long Island, for his Ziegfeld-style revue, Yip, Yip, Yaphank. "Make her victorious on land and foam, God Bless America..." ran the original lyrics. However, Irving decided that the solemn tone of "God Bless America" was somewhat out of keeping with the more comedic elements of the show, so the song was laid aside. 

In the fall of 1938, as war was again threatening Europe, he decided to write a "peace" song. He recalled his lyrics of "God Bless America" from twenty years earlier, then made some alterations to reflect the different state of the world. Singer Kate Smith introduced the revised "God Bless America" during her radio broadcast on Armistice Day, 1938. The song was an immediate sensation; the sheet music was in great demand.

Berlin's file of manuscripts & lyric sheets for this quintessentially American song includes manuscripts in the hand of his longtime musical secretary, Helmy Kresa (he himself did not read and write music), as well as lyric sheets, and corrected proof copies for the sheet music.

These materials document not only the speed with which this song was revised, but also its author's attention to detail. The first proof copy is dated October 31, 1938; the earliest "final" version of the song is a manuscript dated November 2; and Kate Smith's historic broadcast took place on November 11. So, documents show the song's step-by-step evolution from the original version of 1918 to the tune we now know.

The manuscripts mentioned above are part of the Irving Berlin Collection, a remarkable collection that includes his personal papers as well as the records of the Irving Berlin Music Corp. It was presented to the Library of Congress in 1992, by his three daughters, Mary Ellin Barrett, Linda Louise Emmet, and Elizabeth Irving Peters.

What an amazing song! Isn't it wonderful that we have been so lucky to be connected with people who are able to put to words our deepest thoughts and emotions? Irving Berlin was truly inspired. Close your eyes and listen to his message. Does it not touch your soul? Can't you just see crashing waves- the majesty of the mountains? All of the beautiful people working every day, alive and free because of the dream of our beloved Founding Fathers?

As this song is being broadcasted through out the world on various occasions, there is this incredible overwhelming desire to jump up and sing with all the energy of the soul, knowing that if we did, the choirs of Heaven would be singing right along with us! Our people love our country, our Lord loves our country, and as long as we continue to fight for our gift of love and freedom, we will continue to enjoy the blessings of this, our sacred nation.

Erie Canal Song Credits

Darragh wrote me and said -

Just perusing your site and noticed you've credited the song "The Erie Canal" to Jerry Vogel in 1913.  I believe the first written version of the song was actually in 1905, and it's credited to Thomas Allen. Check it out at: http://www.eriecanalvillage.net/pages/song.html.

 I do know versions existed before that, however.  I learned a version as a kid that was supposedly from 1887. 

Well, I (CD) did some research and went to one of the best internet sources for Public Domain songs,  www.pdinfo.com and found they listed two versions –

            Erie Canal                1913

            Er-i-ee Canal, The      1850

So, although I am sure the song is in the Public Domain, the actual source could be debated for longer than necessary.  The important thing is, if you used the song, did the kids enjoy it??  CD

For The Beauty Of The Earth
Grand Teton Area Council

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

WHAT IS IT?
Southern NJ Council
(Tune: Auld Lang Syne)

I found it in an old tree stump,
I found it in a tree.
I put it in my right pocket,
So no one else could see.

I left it there all through the night
It stayed there through the night.
I took it out the next day,
And showed it to my mom.

She couldn't understand just why
I had it in my pants.
I told her that I had it there,
So no one else could see.

She made me put it back outside.
It didn't belong inside.
It lives inside the old tree stump
With other snakes alike.

A Little Piece of Wood
Capital Area Council
 (Tune: if You're Happy and You Know It)

Oh I wish I was a little piece of wood.
I really feel that it would feel so good.
If I was a little table.
That was made from solid maple.

Oh I wish I was a little piece of wood.
Oh I wish I was a little piece of wood.
I really feel that it would feel so good.
I'd be a grandfather clock.

Made from oak and go tick tock.
Oh I wish I was a little piece of wood.
Oh I wish I was a little piece of wood.
I really feel that it would feel so good.

I could be a seaman's chest.
Made of white pine that's the best.
Oh I wish I was a little piece of wood.

Leaves song:
Grand Teton Area Council
Tune: Row, row, row your boat

Leaves, Leaves, falling down
Falling on the ground
Red and orange
Yellow and brown
Falling on the ground.

Falling Leaves
Grand Teton Area Council
Tune: "Mary had a little lamb"

Leaves are falling on the ground
On the ground
On the ground
Leaves are falling on the ground
Red, yellow, green and brown.

The Tree Toad
Capital Area Council
 (tune: Auld Lang Syne)

A tree toad loved a fair she toad
That lived up in a tree.
She was a fair three-toed tree toad,
But a two-toed tree toad was he.
The two-toed tree toad tried to win
The she toad's friendly nod;
For the two-toed tree toad loved the ground
That the three-toed tree toad trod.

Now three-toed tree toads have no care
For two-toed tree toad love.
But the two-toed tree toad fain would share
A tree home up above.
In vain the two-toed tree toad tried;
He could not please her whim.
In her tree toad bower with her veto power,
Then she toad vetoed him.

GROWTH OF A TREE
Utah National Parks Council
Tune: "I'm a Little Teapot”

I'm a little maple, oh so small,
In years ahead, I'll grow so tall!
With a lot of water, sun, and air,
I will soon be way up there!
Deep inside the soil my roots are found,
Drinking the water underground.

Water from the roots my trunk receives,
Then my trunk starts making leaves.
As I start to climb in altitude,
Leaves on my branches will make food.
Soon my trunk & branches will grow wide,
And I'll grow more bark outside!

I will be a maple very tall,
Losing my leaves when it is fall.
But when it is spring, new leaves will show.
How do trees grow? Now you know!

Take Me Out To The Forest
Capital Area Council
 (Take Me Out To The Ballgame)

Take me out to the forest.
Let me hike in the wild.
Show me a skunk and a few bear tracks.
I won't care if I never come back.
But it's look, look, at your compass.
If it rains, then it pours and your wet.
And it's ouch, slap, sting and you're bit
In the great outdoors.

Song of my Shoes
Mt. Diablo Silverado Council
 (Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic)

My shoes have seen the glory of the growing of a Scout.
My shoes have been in water steppin' in and steppin' out.
My shoes have hiked through forest to the top of the mount
My shoes are wearing out!

Chorus

Groovy, Radical, and Awesome (repeat 3x)
My shoes are wearing out!

My shoes have seen the bottom of the dirty, fishy creek,
My shoes have been all covered with the gooey, muddy cake,
My shoes have seen the same old socks for seven days this week
My shoes do really stink!

Chorus

Groovy, Radical, and Awesome (repeat 3x)
My shoes do really stink!

My shoes are torn and tattered climbing fences packed in rust,
My shoes are stained and spattered with some yucky insect guts,
My shoes are oozing slime and fill my Mom with disgust,
My shoes have bit the dust!

Chorus

Groovy, Radical, and Awesome (repeat 3x)
My shoes have bit the dust!

Hiking
Sam Houston Area Council
(Tune: Caisson Song)

Over hill, over dale,
We will hit the forest trail,
As the Cub Scouts go hiking along.
In and out, all around,
You will never see us frown,
As the Cub Scouts go hiking along.
And it’s Hi! Hi! Hee!
The Cub Scouts are for me,
Shout out our name and shout it strong.

CUB SCOUTS

For where ‘er we go,
You will always know
That the Cub Scouts go hiking along.

Out In The Forest
Sam Houston Area Council
(Tune: Rock-a-Bye Baby)

Out in the forest, under the trees,
See the Scouts trekking, inspecting leaves.
This tree’s familiar, this one is not,
Don’t touch that ivy, you’ll get some spots!
The trees here are useful to wildlife and birds,
They give them a home and food for the herd.

Calamine Lotion
Sam Houston Area Council
 (Tune: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean)

My body needs calamine lotion.
My body’s as sore as can be.
The flowers I picked for my Granny
Turned out to be poison ivy!

Don’t touch, don’t touch
You’ll get a rash from ivy, ivy.
Don’t touch, don’t touch
Don’t touch the leaves of three.

The Grand Old Duke of York
Actions: on "up" sit up, on "down" sit down
Cubmaster, Pack 552, Chief Seattle Council

Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men,
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again.

Chorus:

And when they’re up they’re up.
And when they’re down they’re down.
And when they’re only half way up,
They’re neither up nor down.

(repeat after each verse)

Den Leader Verse:

Oh, the grand old Den Lead-er,
She led a Den of Scouts,
She hiked them up to the top of the hill,
She hiked them down and out.

Cubmaster Verse:

Oh, the old Cubmaster George,
He took his Cubs to camp,
When they hiked up to the top of the hill,
He had to sit down with a cramp.

Committee Member Verse:

Oh, the grand Committee Member,
He took his Cubs around,
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And then he was worn down.

Twelve Days Of Summer Camp
Grand Teton Area Council
Tune: "The twelve days of Christmas"

Gray area potential – Number 5 – underwear is a gray area caution.  If you have a good substitute, send it to me.

On the first day of summer camp
My mother sent to me...
A box of oatmeal cookies.

On the second day of summer camp
My mother sent to me...
Two T-shirts,
And a box of oatmeal cookies.

On the third day of summer camp
My mother sent to me...
Three pairs of socks,
Two T-shirts,
And a box of oatmeal cookies.

On the fourth day of summer camp
My mother sent to me...
Four woolen caps, etc.
(Stretch this one out – think four golden rings)

Five boxer shorts,
Six postage stamps,
Seven nose warmers,
Eight Batman comics,
Nine bars of soap,
Ten Band-aids,
Eleven shoestrings,
Twelve bottles of insect repellent.