Most of these songs have been sung at summer camps for many years. If you went to a camp besides Camp Zoe, chances are the versions varied. I have attributed authorship wherever possible. If you have additional information regarding the song writing credits, let me (
[EMAIL PROTECTED]) know.
In case you've happened on this page via a link from another site, visit
Camp Zoe Memories, a nostalgic rant through the 1970s summer camp experience.
Song Index
Beautiful Old Sinking Creek | I'm Being Swallowed by a Boa Constrictor | Junior Birdman | Men From Nairobi | Mountain Dew | My Favorite Things Parody | Titanic
Mountain Dew by S. Wiseman
Chorus:
Oh, they call it
that good ole mountain dew, mountain dew
and folks that refuse it are few.
I'll hush up my mug, if you fill up my jug,
with that good ole
good ole mountain dew.
My cousin phil
has still on the hill
where he runs off a gallon or two.
The birds in the sky
get so drunk they cannot fly
from that good ole
good ole mountain dew.
My sister Sal
she's a big city gal
she bought her some dime store perfume (PU).
Much to her surprise
when she had it analyzed
it was good ole
good ole mountain dew.
Down the road here from me
there's a big hollow tree
Where you lay down a dollar or two.
Then you go 'round the bend
and when you come back again
there's a jug of that good old mountain dew.
My cousin Mort
he is sawed off and short.
He measures a four foot two.
But he feels like a giant
When you give him a pint
of that good ole
good ole mountain dew.
Titanic
Oh they built the ship Titanic
and when they were through
They thought they had a ship
that the water couldn't go through
But the good lord raised his hand
said that ship would never stand
It was sad when the great ship went down.
Chorus:
It was sad
It was sad (too bad)
It was sad when the great ship went down
to the bottom of the sea
(husbands and wives, little children lost
their lives) OR (uncles and aunts, little children lost their pants)
It was sad when the great ship went down.
Oh they sailed away from England
and were almost to the shore
when the rich refused
to associate with the poor.
So they put them down below
where they'd be the first to go.
It was sad when the great ship went down.
The boat was full of din
and the sides about to burst
when the captain shouted
"Women and children first".
Then the captain tried to wire
but the wireless was on fire.
It was sad when the great ship went down.
So they swung the lifeboats out
o'er the deep and raging sea
and he band struck up the song
"Nearer my god to thee".
Little children wept and cried
as the waves swept o'er the sides.
It was sad when the great ship went down.
Junior Birdman
Chorus:
Up in the air junior birdman
Up in the air upside down
Up in the air junior birdman
Keep your noses off the ground
When you hear the grand announcement
that your wings are made of tin.
Then you know that Junior Birdman,
has turned his box tops in.*
For it takes: 5 box tops,
4 bottle bottoms,
3 coupons,
2 wrappers,
and one thin dime!
B-i-r-d, B-i-r-d, B-i-r-d-m-a-n
Birdman, Birdman, Birdman
Buzzzzzzzz!
* Alternate Verse
When you hear the doorbell ring (buzz, buzz)
When you see the badge of tin (tin, tin)
Then you know that junior birdman
Has turned his box tops in.
Men from Nairobi
We're the men from Nairobi
and our teams a good one
we play the watusi
they're seven feet tall.
The animals may eat us
but they'll never beat us
Cause we're from Nairobi
the best of them all.
Chorus:
Singing...
Un-gawa, un-gawa,
un-gawa, un-gawa,
un-gawa, un-gawa,
un-ga-wa-wa!
The men from round Kenya
know our teams a good one
we played them round this time last year
Their number one hero was disqualified
when he fell on a Nairobi spear (what a shaft)
I have forgotten the other verse.
Beautiful Old Sinking Creek
(sung to the tune of the "Missouri Waltz")
Beautiful Old Sinking Creek
Whose waters lap our shores
Moonlight streaming down
Upon the leafy shadowed floor.
The stars shining o'er us
Forever to guide us
Back to Camp Zoe
The place we adore.
When the firelight's gleaming
Changes to an ember's glow.
Memories fond will linger on
For us to ever know.
When twilight is falling
Camp Zoe is calling
Calling us back...once more.
Thanks to Lei Moncrieff for that second verse.
I'm Being Swallowed by a Boa constrictor by Shel Silverstein
I'm Being Swallowed by a Boa constrictor
I'm Being Swallowed by a Boa constrictor
I'm Being Swallowed by a Boa constrictor
And I don't like it one little bit!
Oh no, he swallowed my toe.
Oh gee, he swallowed my knee.
Oh my, he's up to my thigh.
Oh fiddle, he's up to my middle.
Oh heck, he's up to my neck.
Oh dread, he's swallowed my...ssssssssss!
The following song was written by Lynn Woodruff and Heather Moncrieff and probably sung at the gong show.
To the Tune of "My Favorite Things"
Horseflies on Princess
And whiskers on Wombly.
Cold sticky oatmeal and
old rotten lunchmeat.
Wonderful care packages
tied up with strings;
These are a few of my favorite things.
Contest on Ozark Day,
spitting tobacco.
Thinking poor Fozzie Bears
really gone whacko.
Treating the campers like they are the kings;
These are a few of my favorite things.
Waiting for eardrops
To Salem with Cindy.
It sure is hot and
I wish it were windy.
Singing the songs that everyone sings;
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the bugs bite,
when the horse bucks,
when I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember the things at Camp Zoe;
and then I don't feel so bad.
