The Eel, The Eel, What a Rotten Deal
Camp Seabow Songbook
A Work in Progress by Ann Clark [formerly Patty Clark]
From my memories at Camp Seabow, @1962 – 1967
Some of the following songs were sang only on the bus or in the dining hall (Noble Duke of York), some were exclusive to Camp Seabow, some were simply old folk songs, and I suspect that some of them came from Mrs. Armand’s childhood. How many do YOU remember?
*
She sat on the veranda and ate chocolates, ate chocolates, ate chocolates,
she sat on the veranda and ate chocolates, ate chocolates.
He sat down beside her and smoked his cigar [repeat etc.]
She sat there beside him and played her guitar…
He told her he loved her but oh how he lied…
She told him she loved him, but she did not lie…
They went to be married, but she up and dies…
He went to the funeral, but just for the ride…
She went up to heaven and flip flop she flied…
He went down below her and sizzled and fried…
The moral of this tale is never to lie…
Or you, too, may perish and sizzle and fry…
Ding ding ding there goes my wagon, my wagon,
I hear the keeper calling me
Ding ding ding ding there goes my wagon, my wagon,
to take me back to the nutty factory.
Like all the little nuts that fall, I’m a little cracked that’s all
Ding ding ding ding there goes my wagon, my kiddy car, my bus, whee!!
*
Oh I stuck my head in a little skunk’s hole…
And the little skunk said well bless my soul
take it out take it out take out, remove it
Well I didn’t take it out and the little skunk said
If you don’t take it out you’ll wish you were dead
Take it out take it out take it out….Psssssssss
I….removed it.
*
In a cabin by the woods, little old man by the window stood
saw a rabbit hopping by, knocking at his door
Help me help me, sir he said
Or the hunter shoot me dead,
come along and live with me, happy we will be.
*
[Chorus]:
Four strong winds that blow slowly
Seven seas that run high
All these things that don’t change come what may
Now our good times are all gone
And I’m bound for moving on
Ill look for you if I’m ever back this way
Guess Ill go out to Alberta
Weather’s good there in the fall
Got some friends that I can go to workin’ for
Still I wish you’d change your mind
If I asked you one more time
But we’ve been through that a hundred times or more
[Repeat chorus]
If I get there before the snow flies
And if things are going good
You could meet me if I send you down the fare
But by then it would be winter
Nothing much for you to do
And the wind sure blows cold way out there
[Repeat chorus]
Yes, Ill look for you if I’m ever back this way
*
Oh he cannibal king with the big nose ring
Fell in love with the dusky maid.
And every night in the pale moon light
Across the lake he came.
He hugged and he kissed this pretty little miss
Under the bamboo tree.
And every night in the pale moon light
It sounded like this to me.
Boom Boom [kiss kiss], Boom Boom [kiss kiss]
Honey won’t you marry me
Boom Boom [kiss kiss] Boom Boom [kiss kiss]
Honey won’t you marry me,
We’ll build a bungalow big enough for two,
Big enough for three my darling, big enough for four
Walla walla walla
And when we’re married how happy we’ll be,
Under the bamboo, underneath the bamboo tree.
If you’ll be m-i-n-e mine I’ll be t-h-i-n-e thine…
And I’ll l-o-v-e love you all the t-i-m-e time.
You are the b-e-s-t best of all the r-e-s-t rest…
And I’ll l-o-v-e love you…all the t-i-m-e rack ‘em up, sack ‘em up,
Any ol’ ti-ime!
*
Use Ajax, boom boom
The foaming cleanser, bluddabluddabludda
Foams the dirt, right down the drain [blbbbllb]
You’ll stop paying the elbow tax
when you start cleaning with Ajax
So use Ajax, boom boom
The foaming cleanser [blblblblbllb]
Foams the dirt, right down the drain
Spoken in high falsetto: [And it smells good, too!]
So…use Ajax…boom boom.
*
Make a face mask each time you sing the words, “Junior Birdmen” by
lacing your fingers. Then, with thumbs under the chin, twist your
hands outwards so that you make goggles for the eyes.
Up in the air junior birdmen
Up in the air pilots too!
Up in the air, Junior Birdmen;
Keep your eyes up in the blue up in the blue
And when you hear the big announcement:
to receive your wings of tin.
Get on the ball you Junior Birdmen, and send your box tops in.
It only takes four
Send your boxtops in
that’s only two more
Send your boxtops i-i-in.
*
Waaaaay up in the sky the little birds fly
while down in the nest the little birds rest
Wiiiiiith a wing on the left and a wing on the right
we watch the dear birdies sleep all through the night
[Shhh they're sleeping!]
The….bright sun comes up and the dew falls away
(in a very high voice) good morning good morning
the little birds say.
*
Oh, I’d rather suck on a lemon drop
Than to trust my luck with a lollipop,
‘Cause I always drop my lollipop,
And it gets all over icky! Oh icky.
I’ve tried, and tried, but never could find
A lollipop that’s halfway refined,
So I’d rather suck on a lemon drop
Than to trust my luck with a lollipop,
‘Cause I always drop my lollipop
And it gets all over icky!
*
Boom Dee Adda, Boom Dee Adda
I love the flowers, I love the daffodils, I love the mountains, I love the rolling hills
I love a fireside when all the lights are low
Boom dee adda boom dee adda boom dee adda boom dee adda
I love you [boom boom boom]
*
Seabow Marching-to-Church Song:
There’s a church in the valley by the wildwood
No lovelier spot in the dale
No place is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale
(Oh, come, come, come, come)
Come to the church by the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the vale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale
How sweet on a clear Sunday morning
To listen to clear ringing bells
Its tones so sweetly are calling
Oh come to the church in the vale.
*
The noble Duke of York
He had ten thousand men
He marched them up the hill
And he marched them down again
And when you’re up, you’re up
And when you’re down, you’re down
But when you’re only halfway up
You’re neither up or down.
*
EVENING SONGS [AROUND THE CAMPFIRE]
The Call of the Fire
The call of the fire comes to us through the shadows
That follow the close of the day.
Its flames bring us peace
And a calmness of spirit
That drive all our troubles away.
We are thankful for days
And the joys that they bring us
For nights and the rest that they bring.
May we go on believing
In this love we’re receiving
Just now ’round the fire as we sing….
Underneath the silvery beams
Of dear old mammy moon
Burn the dying embers off
That end the day too soon.
The bright stars above us
Keep watch o’er and of us
As we sing now together
Our hearts all in tune.
In the sheltering flames
We find the soul of happiness.
Learn to give and take
And think of self a little less.
Wohelo will hold thee
And with love enfold thee
And Thy name we bless.
Tell me why the stars do shine
Tell me why the ivy twines
Tell me why the sky’s so blue
Tell me Camp Seabow, just why I love you
Because God made the stars to shine
Because God made the ivy twine
Because God made the sky’s so blue
Dear Old Camp Seabow, that’s why I love you…
Seabow Prayer
If I have wounded any soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have wanted my own selfish way,
Dear Lord, forgive…
Forgive these sins I have confessed to Thee,
Forgive the secret sins I do not see,
But guide me love me and my Keeper be,
Dear Lord, Amen…
Good night, Mrs. Armand,
Good night to you,
[still seeking lyrics]
Goodnight song
And now it’s time to say good night, time to say good night to you!
We wish you happy dreams dear campers (or campmates?)
May all your dreams come true!
May all your dreams come truu-oo-ooo, Oh, may all your dreams come true.
We wish you happy dreams dear campers, may all your dreams come true.
So run along now and jump into bed,
Say your prayers and cover your head,
The very last thing I say unto you, is
“If you’ll dream of me, then I’ll dream of you-oooooooo!” (rising to a screech)
*
I’ll take the neck from some old bottle
I’ll take the arm from some old chair
I’ll take the legs from some old table
and from a horse I’ll take some hair I’ll take some hair
And then I’ll put them all together
with the aid of string and glue-ue-ue
And I’ll get more loving from that gosh darn dummy
than I ever got from you!
(Get out and walk, don’t slam the door, and you’ll be mine
forever more [forever more!])
*
We’re up at Camp Seabow the land of our dreams
Where the brooklets just trickle and sparkle and stream,
So come along and join us for we are never blue
Be a member of our happy laughing crew, you too!
With burns on our fingers and bells on our toes
Oh we’re the jolly Camp Fire Girls now what do you suppose?
With fancy beds to sleep in and rags to blow our nose
Oh service is the motto of our camp, mmm mmm.
Wad up your chewing gum and tie it in a loop,
Then stick it on the platter as a present from your group.
You’ll love the spearmint flavor in the cream tomato soup!
Oh service is the motto of our camp, mmm mmm.
Now don’t get excited when you hear those dishes crash
Our scheme is economical it saves a lot of cash
The cook picks up the pieces and slings them in the hash
Oh service is the motto of our camp, mmm mmm.
[slow, sentimental]
Now when we are leaving…and our eyes are filled with tears
It helps to ease the sorrow if you take some souvenirs: [pick up speed]
Our fancy Western silverware will last throughout the years
Oh service is the motto of our camp, mmm mmm.
*
I don’t want to get married I’m having too much fun
I don’t want to get married to any certain one
I go with all the fellas and treat them all the same,
To marry one and leave the rest would be a dirty shame.
Rickety rick, uh huh! Wanna get hitched? Uh-UH!
I don’t want to get mar-air-eeeeeed….! I’m having too much fun.
*
Swimming, swimming, in the swimming hole
When days are hot when days are cold in the swimming hole,
Sidestroke, breaststroke, fancy diving too!
Oh don’t you wish you didn’t have anything else to do but,
[repeat]
*
Green Stamps
I met my love in a grocery shop
Selling pickles and eggplant and bottles of pop
She asked me to try her asparagus tips
And I fell for the smile on her ruby red lips.
Green stamps was all she gave
Green stamps was all I took
Green stamps was all I saved
And I pasted them all in my green stamp book.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.
Tongo
Tongo! Tongo!
Jim-diddy-my-o-my-i-oh!
Tongo! Tongo!
Oompy oompy oom pa pa!
Ooompy oompy omm pa pa!
Oooh -uh -lay
Oooh uh lay
Molly moll moll ooh way
Molly moll moll ooh way.
*
Alice
Alice, where are you going?
Upstairs, to take a bath
But Alice, with legs like toothpicks
and a neck like a giraffe-raffe-raffe-raffe- etc.
Alice, get in the bathtub
Pull out the plug
Oh my goodness oh my soul
There goes Alice down that hole!
Alice, where are you going?
Glub glub glub.
*
Walked right into a movie show
Sat myself in the very first row
Put my arms around my waist
Got so fresh I slapped my face
I’m a nut [click click] I’m a nut [click click]
I’m a nut I’m a nut I’m a nut.
*
Did you ever see a [toilet bowl] [match box] etc.
Now you tell me one!
[Call and response]
*
Cookie, cookie,
Listen while we sing to you
Cookie, cookie
you’re a part of Camp Fire too
Anyone can make a bed
Anyone can sweep
But it takes our cookie
To make us things to eat,
Cookie, cookie,
Listen while we sing to you! [Answer]
*
Banua
Won’t you come to me baby? Oh won’t you bring me my bail?
For a drink and a fight on a Saturday night they put me down in the Banua jail,
Chorus: Banua, Banua, Banua oh-oh, Banua, Banua, baby I don’t know.
Didn’t mean to be fightin’ and causin’ you all that shame,
But the tongue of Jonathan Brighton was scandalizin’ your name.
[Repeat chorus ] Banua, Banua etc.
Now the Banua jail is cold and damp and them rats they cover the floor,
Just ten and three is gonna set me free and I’ll be yours forever more.
[Repeat chorus]
*
Ack-GOOM went the little green frog one day
Ack -GOOM went the little green frog,
repeat first
and his eyes went ack-ack-GOOM!
*
Oh Mrs. Armand, come out and play with me
and bring your dolly three, climb up my apple tree,
Call down my rain barrel, slide down my cellar door
and we’ll be jolly friends, forever more – Answer!
*
Mrs. Armand had a dog and Sammy was his name-o,
S-a-m-m-y [etc.]
The Eel [to the tune of The Seine, the chorus of which went: “The Seine, the Seine, when will I again meet her there, greet her there on the moonlit banks of the Seine?”]
The Eel, the Eel, what a rotten deal
I see you there, feel you there on the
washed out banks of the Eel.
*
Oh how I hate to get up in the morning!
Oh how I hate to get out of bed!
For the hardest thing of all is to hear the bugle call:
“You gotta get up you gotta get up you gott get up” in the morning.
Someday I’m gonna murder the bugler
Someday you’re not gonna find her there
For I’ll amputate her reveille and stamp upon it heavily
and spend the rest of my life in bed! [Answer!]
[Usually sung in the Dining Hall to our bugler]
In the Bus:
R-I, R-I, R-I-C-H! M-O-MO-MO-N-D!
R-I-C-H-M-O-N-D, R-I-C-H-M-O-N-D!
Richmond, Richmond, yay, Richmond!
*
[In the bus, on arrival at camp]
Oh here is to the bus driver, the bus driver, the bus driver,
Oh here is to the bus driver, now you tell us one.
*
This is a very fun round in four separate parts. Each group takes one of these parts, sings them individually, and then all four groups sing their parts in unison:
(1)
Fish and chips and vinegar, vinegar, vinegar,
Fish and chips and vinegar, pepper pepper pepper pop.
(2)
One bottle of pop two bottle of pop three bottle of pop four bottle of pop
five bottle of pop six bottle of pop, seven bottles of pop.
(3)
Did you ever see a lassie go this way and that way
Did you ever see a lassie go this way and that?
(4)
Don’t put your dust in my dust pan my dust pan my dust pan
Don’t put your dust in my dust pan, my dust pan’s full.
*
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder,
Like a continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?
*
And miscellaneous folk standards:
500 Miles
House of the Rising Sun
Dona Dona Dona
Sloop John B
Michael Row the Boat Ashore
Whoa – I think another friend of mine mentioned Camp Seabow to me a year or so ago – or was it you? You may know someone that I thought was unconnected to you. Let me check into this … :-)
Comment by Laura — July 25, 2011 @ 3:51 pm
The song my sister and still sing together that we learned at Camp Seabow was “You Can’t Go to Heaven”.
It had many verses like:
Oh you can’t go to heaven with nickels in your jeans because the Lord has no washing machines.
Oh you can’t go to heaven on roller skates because you will roll right past those pearly gates.
Also the song: I am a little teapot.
Such good Memories!
Comment by Kathy Coin — July 27, 2011 @ 8:00 pm
In the dining hall
Crash! Bang! Here we are again, here we are again, here we are again
Crash! Bang! Here we are again,
Jolly campers all
We laugh, we sing, we laugh[HAH HAH] we sing[TRA LA]
Crash! Bang! Here we are again
Jolly campers all….
Comment by Tom Dietz — August 11, 2011 @ 8:14 pm
Way up in the sky, the little birds fly
While down in the nest, the little birds rest…
Comment by Tom Dietz — August 11, 2011 @ 8:16 pm
1.
We come, we come to our Council Fire
With measured tread and slow
To light the fire of our desire
To light the fire of Wohelo.
Wohelo, Wohelo…..
2.
John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith
That’s my name too
Whenever I go out
The people always shout
There goes John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith (tara tara tarada)
(Repeat)
Comment by Robin — August 15, 2011 @ 7:57 am
Evening Fire songs (medley of several, including the Seabow Prayer above, which was followed by a raucous chorus that totally broke the sentimental mood:
The Call of the Fire
The call of the fire comes to us through the shadows
That follow the close of the day.
Its flames bring us peace
And a calmness of spirit
That drive all our troubles away.
We are thankful for days
And the joys that they bring us
For nights and the rest that they bring.
May we go on believing
In this love we’re receiving
Just now ’round the fire as we sing.
Tell Me Why
Tell me why the stars do shine,
Tell me why the ivy twines,
Tell me why the sky’s so blue,
Tell me Camp Seabow, just why I love you!
Because God made the stars to shine,
Because God made the ivy twine,
Because God made the skies so blue,
Because God made you, that’s why I love you.
(Insert Seabow Prayer here)
Goodnight song
And now it’s time to say good night, time to say good night to you!
We wish you happy dreams dear campers (or campmates?)
May all your dreams come true!
May all your dreams come truu-oo-ooo, Oh, may all your dreams come true.
We wish you happy dreams dear campers, may all your dreams come true.
So run along now and jump into bed,
Say your prayers and cover your head,
The very last thing I say unto you, is
“If you’ll dream of me, then I’ll dream of you-oooooooo!” (rising to a screech)
(did I miss anything here?)
Comment by Christine Halamka Kudija — September 5, 2011 @ 3:55 pm
Oh Christine, thank you so much! Reading this brought tears to my eyes. I loved this nightly ritual as a young girl at child; it made me feel so connected to the sky and trees, and to my fellow campers and to the entire experience. Sadly, I can’t recall the tune of the first one, The Call of the Fire, although I remember all the others quite well, including the Seabow Prayer, which I loved so much that many years later I sang it to my son (now almost 40 years old) as a bedtime prayer. Thanks again. If you remember the tune of the Call of the Fire and want to email me the notes, I’d love that: ladyann[at]sonic[dot]net
Comment by Ann — September 5, 2011 @ 4:18 pm
PS – Wasn’t “Good night Mrs. Armand, good night to you…” inserted somewhere in here?
Comment by Ann — September 5, 2011 @ 4:20 pm
Towards the end of every session, there was an evening show of synchronized swimming put on by the best swimmers. Would that I could have achieved such strength, agility, and grace to have performed as well as the swimmers in that! I was always amazed at how much progress could be made in just two weeks, with such beautiful patterns opening up silently, like a kaleidoscope, in front of you. The air was so still by that hour, and up on the rocks where we spectated, which was like a little amiptheatre, the only thing you could hear during the show was the swimmers’ deep breaths.
The show was put on just before sunset, and when it was finished, there was a complete and rapt silence, until someone started our song cycle again. We all sang “Tell Me Why” and some evening songs before traipsing up the hill again via flashlight.
Comment by Robin — September 12, 2011 @ 6:44 am
Wonderful to see this. I have some old songbooks. Let me know if you are interested.
Comment by Nancy Howard — October 25, 2011 @ 7:52 pm
I just found this website while searching for a potential place to donate my mother’s 70+ yr old campfire gown. Her name is Mae Recktenwald. She and her friend, Anne Pye, taught crafts for many years at Camp. The tile ash trays, the woven lanyards / key chains and assorted manzanita round “treasures” are some of the crafts we learned at their hands.
Mom also took campers star gazing …. navigating our eyes towards constellations and sharing mythological stories of the heavens. She also led morning song … So, yes, I can help you with the words. Many of the songs were from her own camping experience in the 1920′s. Mom and Anne stayed with Norma Armand in her cabin. As a family, my parents, twin sisters (Sue, Sandi) and I (Linda) went early to help open camp at the beginning of summer and then close it at summer’s end.
I attended camp in the 50′s and 60′s and have songs, pictures and memories to share. As with many rights of passage, I made it to “snob hill” before my Camp Seabow adventures ended. However, cherished memories will never end. I didn’t see the tear jerker song
“Remember”….
Remember the times we’ve had here
Remember when you’re away
Remember the friends you’ve made here
And don’t forget to come back some day
Remember beside the campfire
Beneath the sky so blue
That you be..long to Camp Seabow
And Camp Seabow
Belongs to you
To keep this brief let me fill in the words to Mrs. Armand’s song:
Good night Mrs Armand
It’s time now to sleep.
We’ll pray Wotanda
Your sole to keep.
Rest now till morning
Sweet dreams come true.
Good night Mrs Armand
Good night to you.
….. And her response was always “Thank you,girls. Good night to you”
…. Then with interlocked arms bouncing we sang the “good night, camp mates” song.
In the years I attended, following “Call of the fire” we sang the song “Underneath the silvery beams of dear old mammy moon…. ”
That was one of my favorites.
Linda
Comment by Linda Recktenwald — February 15, 2012 @ 12:09 am
The hour is late and the night is long. Please excuse my erroneous “sole” for “soul”.
Linda
Comment by Linda Recktenwald — February 15, 2012 @ 3:19 am
It’s so good to hear from you, Linda. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and memories. You might want to know that a Facebook group for Camp Seabow alumni has been started and a reunion is planned. The Facebook page is a great place to share stories and memories like yours and keep in touch with old friends. Also, many photos have been posted. Please join us there!
Comment by Ann — February 15, 2012 @ 7:50 am
Thought i’d help fill in some of your above songs….
Mrs Armand’s answer to the dolly song was:
Oh darling campers, I cannot play with you.
My dolly has the flu
Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo
I have no rain barrel
I have no cellar door
But we’ll be jolly friends
Forever more!
The council fire procession, verse 2 (above #5. 1. )
The little twinkling stars on high
Are whispering nature’s lore
While all above us the soft winds sigh
And great Wotanda watches o’re
Wohelo, Wohelo
In the evening fire songs we sang “Underneath the Silvery beams” …
Underneath the silvery beams
Of dear old mammy moon
Burn the dying embers off
That end the day too soon.
The bright stars above us
Keep watch o’re and of us
As we sing now together
Our hearts all in tune.
In the sheltering flames
We find the soul of happiness.
Learn to give and take
And think of self a little less.
Wohelo will hold thee
And with love enfold thee
And Thy name we bless.
Comment by Linda Recktenwald — February 15, 2012 @ 9:00 pm
Awesome memories! I don’t Facebook but my sister’s and I would love to know more about the reunion. Thanks for all the songs!
Comment by Jill Miller-Robinett — March 23, 2012 @ 7:29 pm
“Go we forth from our council fire, into the night, into the night -
In our hearts renewed desire, burning bright, burning bright.
Loveliness of thought we’ve found, warmth and friendship’s love
Forest stillness closes round sky and stars above.
Blend into the mystic call of Wohelo, of Wohelo.
May Wokanda’s blessing fall upon us as we go.”
That one just came back to me after a walk in the woods.
Comment by Robin — May 17, 2012 @ 7:20 am
I enjoyed your Campfire Law piece … Wondering why it’s no longer posted? … And would love an e- mailed copy.
Comment by Linda Recktenwald — May 24, 2012 @ 9:39 pm
Wow it was just a random memory that led me to this site. I have sung all the camp songs to my kids since they were small. Did anyone write down the Seabow song? I didn’t see it..
.”We’re up at camp Seabow ,the camp of our dreams,where the brooks;they all gurgle and sparkle and gleam,so come along and join us for we are never blue, be a member of our happy laughing group. uh huh!
With burns on our fingers and cuts on our toes or we’re the jolly campers why,heaven only knows,with saggy beds to sleep on and rags to blow our nose;oh service is the motto of our camp! uh huh!
Wad up your chewing gum and tie it in a loop,then stick it on the platter as a present from your group.You’ll love the spearmint flavor in the cream tomato soup! Oh service is the moto of our camp uh huh!
Now don’t get excited when you hear those dishes crash,the scheme is economical and saves a lot of cash.The cook cleans up the pieces and slings them in the hash! Oh service is the motto of our camp! uh huh!
And when we are leaving (sniff sniff) and our eyes are full of tears,it helps to ease the parting if you take some souvenirs .The sturdy rusted silver ware will last through out the years! Oh service is the motto of our camp! uh huh!
Comment by Ronna (Miranda)Brandt — May 30, 2012 @ 6:15 pm
I just found the Seabow song after I submitted it,interesting to see the different ways we remembered it.Very close though.I went to camp from age 7 to age 12 so amazing I remember all those songs as I can hardly remember what I ate for dinner last night! I wish my kids had a Camp Seabow to go to! That was where I learned to swim,do flips on the trampoline and cook” Angels on Horseback” Really important life lessons eh?!?
Comment by Ronna (Miranda)Brandt — May 30, 2012 @ 6:23 pm
Well ,Ann Clark I have to give you a huge cyber hug for the memory stroll.REALLY fond memories that you feel like you’re the only one left that has them. I loved going through the songs and if there is another reunion,I’m there! Ronna Miranda Brandt AKA Pixie Bluebirds and “Tawanka” campfire girls group. Mira Vista Elementary school .
Comment by Ronna (Miranda)Brandt — May 30, 2012 @ 6:29 pm
Ann,did anyone send you the tune for “The Call of the Fire”? I know it well but not sure I can get the notes-I will try on my keyboard if you still need them.It’s very pretty and probably taken from another song. I could sing it though…Ronna
Comment by Ronna (Miranda)Brandt — May 30, 2012 @ 6:37 pm
Hi Ann….Just found your website. Love the picture of the river. Where did that come from?
Comment by Judy White McAdoo — July 20, 2012 @ 6:31 am
Hi Judy – Thanks for taking a look at my blog! I’m glad you like the Eel photo. If you Google Images “the eel river ca,” a wide variety of Eel River images will pop up — among them is the one I selected to go with the songbook. You should give it a try…there are quite a few lovely photographs there.
Comment by Ann — July 20, 2012 @ 6:49 am
Linda – It’s Saturday morning, August 11, 2012, and for some reason this song, “Underneath the silv’ry beams…” just popped into my head. I wondered if I’d included it in this Songbook so Googled it. What I found instead was your lovely addition via this Comment. As I recall, we sang this JUST before “Tell Me Why.” Correct me if I’m wrong! I’m going to add it to the Songbook right now, and I thank you for this addition. This was one of my very favorite campfire songs, and sung in harmony it was absolutely hauntingly gorgeous. Thank you thank you!
Comment by Ann — August 11, 2012 @ 11:24 am
Oh this is great! Seabow and it’s song forever in our hearts. “Tell my Why”..what a lovely life affirming song and melody. I became the woman I am today because of Camp Seabow.
Comment by Sari — November 10, 2012 @ 12:32 pm
I live on Lake Huron, Ontario much of the year and here’s a song that I still sing (especially when I’m canoeing):
“My paddle’s clean and bright, flashing with silver, swift as the wild goose flies, dip dip and swing.
Dip dip and swing and back, flashing with silver…my paddle’s clean and bright, dip dip and swing”.
Wish I had someone to sing it in a round still.
Comment by Sari — November 10, 2012 @ 12:39 pm
Hello kindrid spirits! Thanks Ann! What wonderful happy memories. Many of these songs still float around in my mind. I went from ’63 to ’69. I don’t remember ever again seeing so many stars in the sky at night! My last session they decided to substitute “fancy crafts & patches” for “fancy western silverware” to discourage sticky fingers, though I never knew anyone who took the line seriously. We also could no longer sing reveille due to the violent lyrics. We could still sing Poor Old Slave & the chinese laundry song, both of which made me more than a little uncomfortable. Overall though a much treasured experience!
Comment by Silva — August 2, 2013 @ 7:24 am
Wonderful to hear from you! And especially to hear from someone who was there when I was. Do you remember who your counselors were? I don’t remember all of mine, but I do remember having Pat Dornan (who’s on the Seabow Facebook site….have you been there?) I was gone before they started changing lyrics. Thankfully, I don’t remember the slave or laundry songs — maybe my mind has blotted them out. Anyway, thanks so much for reading my blog and adding your memories!
Comment by Ann — August 2, 2013 @ 7:36 am
Hi there! I wish I had a better memory for names. I know my first counselors were Frannie and Donna Brorby. I must’ve had Pat, if not I sure do remember her. I remember Cheryl well as my counselor/archery instructor. After my first summer I was really lucky that my mom sent me for more than one session at a time. I don’t really grasp the ins & outs of facebook if you can believe it. I did look at the site, but I really enjoy yours!
Comment by Silva — August 17, 2013 @ 10:37 pm
I should have said I really enjoyed the Camp Seabow Songbook part, ’cause I just read about some heavier things you wrote of, and I didn’t mean to be dismissive. Silva
Comment by silva — August 20, 2013 @ 5:41 pm
L…O… double L, Y,
P-O-P spells lolly pop, lolly pop,
Thats the only decent kind of candy,
The man who made it must’ve been a dandy!
L… O… double L, Y,
P-O-P you see,
Is a lick upon a stick,
Guaranteed to make you sick,
Lolly-Pop for me!
B… U… double B, L, E,
G-U-M spells bubble gum, bubble gum,
That’s the only decent kind of gum
The man who made it must’ve been a bum!
B… U… double B, L, E,S
G-U-M you see,
Is a lick upon a square,
Guaranteed to curl your hair,
Bubble gum for me!
C… A… S, T, O, R,
O, I, L, spells castor oil, castor oil,
That’s the only decent kind of medicine,
The man who made it must’ve been an Edison!
C… A… S, T, O, R,
O,I, L you see,
Is a lick upon a spoon,
Guaranteed to kill you soon,
Castor Oil, for me!
Comment by Silva Harr — August 25, 2013 @ 10:36 pm
Ah yes….that old “Harrigan” tune sure did provide abundant fodder for nonsense songs, didn’t it? Thanks for tripping this memory wire, Silva; I confess those lyrics had fallen out of the memory bank.
Comment by Ann — August 26, 2013 @ 6:14 am
I really owed you one. Your list has triggered many happy memories for me. Had to look up. Harrigan though!
Comment by Silva — August 27, 2013 @ 12:34 pm
Woops.. this one just swam by… (breakfast song)
Every morning at half past eight,
I go “Ooot, Ooot, Ooot to (counselor/staff name inserted)!”
Every morning as I awake,
I go “Ooot, Ooot, Ooot” again!
No need to knock, no need to ring,
As.. I.. rub.. my.. eyes…..
I open the window,
Pop out my head,
And go “Ooot, Ooot, Ooot to (counselor/staff name inserted)!”
Comment by Silva — September 5, 2013 @ 11:40 am
Nice song book for recalling fond memories but you are missing the “Camp Seabow Song”
itself. I can never forget the words and the music but I can’t sing to save me.
I got a keyboard last xmas so now have a tool to document the music.
Song begins …..
Oh, when a Seabow girl walks down the street
She looks a hundred per (as in percent) from head to feet
She has a winning smile, a winning way….
and on
I was maintenance and kitchen help and life guard summer 1960 (my only year there)
Will try to contact back when I get it written and find someone to record who can sing
I am sure there are others who remember this as well.
Best wishes,
Stan, Richmond
Comment by Stan Jones — December 31, 2014 @ 12:02 am
Hi Stan – Thanks for your comment! I do remember that song now (but not the words). Funny, though, that over the years it didn’t stick in my head. I’ve walked around the house over the decades singing almost all of these included songs at one time or another, but not the Seabow Girl song. The song I always thought of as Seabow’s anthem was “We’re up at Camp Seabow (the camp of our dreams).” However, other former Seabow campers have mentioned the Seabow Girl song on Camp Seabow’s Facebook page, which you might find fun. Lots of memories, discussions, and photos are shared there by Seabow vets representing many decades. Meanwhile, if I get all the words, I’ll add it to the songbook. ~Ann
Comment by Ann — December 31, 2014 @ 7:57 am
My grandmother, Laurys Littlejohn,, along with Norma Armond was camp director for years in the 1940–1050s. I have so many good memories of camp. Even the stop from the Bay Area for lunch in the park in Ukiah on the way to camp. I have “ear worm” singing these songs OFTEN!
Comment by Janene Waggoner Flad — January 5, 2015 @ 9:36 am
Janene, I loved the stop in at the park in Ukiah! My Mom always packed Hostess cherry pies in my sister’s and my lunches, and that was a very special treat. Every memory I have of Seabow — including the bus ride (the singing!) and the Ukiah “picnic” is a happy one. Thanks for writing!
Comment by Ann — January 5, 2015 @ 9:52 am
Camp Seabow holds a very special place in my heart. The first year, 1950, I was in 4th grade and went on the bus with the girls from Richmond. I, too, remember the lunch stop in Ukiah. When we got to the turn-off at camp, we left the bus and boarded a big stake truck for the stand up ride through the river up to the camp. For the next four years, I went there with my parents. My mom, Jeanne Drouin, was a counselor. My dad, Don Drouin came up for one week each of the first two sessions and helped teach swimming and was a life guard. My little brother came along also as a camp “mascot”. We stayed for the first two sessions each year. Someone mentioned the final night swim program. I remember being one of the synchronized swimmers. We even had sparklers. I believe Mrs. Dietz was the resident camp nurse while we were there. Nancy Lewis was one of my counselors. The star gazing nights were memorable. We would lay back in the meadow and listen to the stories of the stars and find them in the sky. If we weren’t sure what they looked like or where they were, she would show us using her flashlight and the tin cans with the images stamped into the bottom.
Do you remember the States song? Thank you for the memories. My mother just passed away the end of December and this brought back so many wonderful memories. She was 95 and I am 73, going on 15.
Comment by Diane Drouin Aguirre — January 22, 2016 @ 6:45 pm
Seabow Girl as I remember it
Oh when the Seabow girl walks down the street
she looks a 100 percent head to feet
she has a winning smile a winning way
and when you see her boy you’ll recognize and say
now hey now there’s a girl I’d like to know
she has that Seabow sprit pepanow
and just to look at her is quite a treat
I’d like to meet that Seabow girl
Comment by Cheryl Abuan — July 13, 2018 @ 9:14 am
Loved Camp Seabow – my father always did a lot of work to assist in getting the camp open each summer. Someone was asking why Camp Seabow was named Seabow. Anyone have an answer for that one?
thanks jha
Comment by Joyce Hoiland Abbott — October 28, 2018 @ 6:56 pm
Went to Seabow as a young person and again as an adult. The songs are one of my best memories meaning other “best memories” need someone to trigger the thoughts. Thanks so much for posting this.
Comment by Judie Mathia — December 22, 2019 @ 5:21 pm
Judie – You are so welcome! Once a Seabow Girl, always a Seabow Girl!
Comment by Ann — December 23, 2019 @ 7:19 am
Hi and thanks for helping keep these memories alive. Every night for a while after coming home from camp I laid in bed and sang the campfire songs before sleep…sad and funny I guess. Recall Round the table you must go at meal time?
Comment by Janet Scott Hallauer — January 12, 2020 @ 8:23 am