Girl Scout Songs – What Shall We Sing Tonight?

Singing girl scout songs is not something I have done a lot of, being a guy! I imagine the girls must be more refined, dainty and classy. I’m sure they must sing the kind of songs you would sing at a church camp. The songs they sing must be quite different from the songs that I have heard around Boy Scout campfires. Is that true?

I have two daughters that have told me the kinds of songs they sing, and I can tell you, they sing the same kinds of songs that the boys sing. Maybe even worse! I think some songs they sing would make even a boy scout blush!

Not to worry; I am not promoting that kind of song here.

Whenever I ask one of the young ladies I know to tell me their favorite girl scout song or campfire girl song, the first one they say is Princess Pat. So here is Princess Pat, along with a few other camping songs popular among girl scouts, campfire girls and other organizations for girls.

• Princess Pat:

  This song is a favorite among girls. The whole song is in The Great American Campfire Songbook. It is a sing and repeat song; The leader sings a line and everyone else repeats. There are also some fun actions that go along with it:

  The Princess Pat (pose like and Egyptian)
  Lived in a tree (hands in the air like a tree)
  She sailed across (wavy hands like the ocean)
  The seven seas (hold up 7 fingers then form a ‘C’ with hand)
  She sailed across (wavy hands)
  The channel too (trace a channel w/2 hands then show #2)
  And took with her (throw a sack over shoulder)
  A rick-a-bamboo. (trace a wavy figure in front as you go down, bending knees as you go)

  A rick-a-bamboo (same as above)
  Now what is that? (shrug shoulders)
  It’s something made (bang one fist atop the other)
  By the Princess Pat. (Egyptian pose)
  It’s red and gold (one hand on hip, other hand up)
  And purple too. (reverse pose)
  That’s why they call (cup hands around mouth, and shout)
  It a rick-a-bamboo. (same as before)

  Now captain Jack (salute)
  And his mighty crew (salute some more)
  They sailed across (same as before)
  The channel too. (same as before)
  But their ship sank (plug nose and go down)
  And yours will too (point at audience)
  If you don’t take (throw invisible bag over shoulder)
  The rick-a-bamboo. (same as before)

  The Princess Pat (same as before)
  Saw captain Jack (hand above eyes like a lookout)
  She reeled him in (reel in like your fishing)
  And brought him back (pat on his imaginary back)
  She saved his life (salute)
  And his crew’s too (salute some more)
  And do you know how (shrug)
  With a rick-a-bamboo. (same as before)

• A Little Miss:

  I really don’t know how popular or widespread this song is. A niece of mine taught it to me. I thought it was fun, and so I have included it. I don’t know of any actions, but there are definitely possibilities. Here are the words: The music and chords are included in the campfire songbook.

  A little miss, went out to pick some flowers.
  Stood in the grass, up to her ankle bones.
  She saw a bird and thought of turkey feathers.
  It broke her heart, she let a farmer take her home.

• I Like Bananas, Coconuts and Grapes:

  This is another favorite at girls camps. It can really get silly as you replace all the vowels with an ‘e’ or ‘a’ or ‘o’ or another vowel. There are 5 vowels, but you can also use the different pronunciations of those vowels.

  In the first verse you sing: I like bananas, coconuts and grapes.
  In the second verse, replace all the vowels with an e, and sing: E leke benenes, cecenets end grepes.
  In the third verse replace all the vowels with another vowel, like o and sing: O loke bononos coconots ond gropes.
  You can continue with whatever vowels you want to use.

• Happy Wanderer:

  Just a happy song. It’s great for the outdoors, and is also an excellent hiking song.

• I Love the Mountains:

  Just another happy song. Also an excellent hiking song.

• Cannibal King:

  Another very popular girls camp song. The chorus moves along pretty fast, but that’s what makes it fun.

This is just a handful of good girl scout songs. If you have some favorites that I have not included, drop me an email with your suggestions. I can always add more to my songbook.

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