Camp songs

The 2006 song booklet

There are many traditional songs that are sung at Birch Rock. "Hit the Hay" is sung almost every evening, "Sunset Song" is sung after most Tree Talks, "Birch Rock Marching Song," "Chant of the Chesty Child," and "Semper Fidelis" are sung by lower camp in the 4th of July parade, and various songs are often sung when people need something to do. Some of them were written for Birch Rock and others that were adopted by the camp. There are a few songs that were completely forgotten up until recently. In 2006 three forgotten songs were discovered and a booklet of all of the camp songs was published. The booklet contains 14 songs which are below.

Alma Mater

Alma Mater was one of the songs that was discovered in 2006. No one is sure about what the tune is.

By waters blue there stood a rock

In ages long ago.

It bore the summer's rain and

The winter's frost and snow.

upon its top a seed took root ,

And flourished there and grew

To be the graceful tree we know,

The birch of silver hue.

The rock is our foundation stone

For building character strong;

Endurance, firmness, strength it gives,

With which to combat wrong.

No selfish thought, no tempting

Can make us say or do

The things we learned at Birch Rock Camp

Were not both kind and true.

And from the rock the birch grows up,

So beautiful, white and tall

That beauty is truth; truth, beauty

It teaches us one and all.

Its whiteness stands for purity

Of thought and word and deed.

Its upward growth, toward heaven above

Our hearts should ever lead.

As on though life we wend out way,

Out path will pleasanter be,

Because the days at Birch Rock

Shall live in memory.

The work, the play, the fellowship,

The spirit strong and true,

Recall to us our trusting place;

So Birch Rock, here's to you.

Help the Other Fellow

A song written for Birch Rock, named after the camp motto. It is an other forgotten song that know one knows exactly how to sing.

At Birch Rock Camp,

On Lake McWain,

"Help the Other Fellow"

Shall be out aim.

When you can't have your way,

Don't sulk and fret:

Doing things for other people is better yet.

Semper Fidelis

This song is often sung by lower camp at the 4th of July parade in Waterford. It one of the more well known songs, all veterans of Birch Rock probably know it. It is upbeat and the "We'll say so!" parts are shouted.

B-I-R-C-H-R-O-C-K Hey!

Birch Rock, oh Birch Rock

We'll sing to thee

Finest of camping spots,

Finest of company.

We'll say so!

Oft' we'll return to thee

Faithful we'll be.

Birch Rock, oh Birch Rock

For you and me!

The Chant of the Chesty Child

Another upbeat song. If Semper Fidelis is sung loudly, The Chant of the Chesty Child is sung quickly. Often it is sung multiple times, the first time slowly and the later times faster and faster. It is sung increasingly quickly until it becomes almost impossible to sing.

We are a bunch of intelligent boys

who like East Waterford, Maine

We'd rather spend our summers here

than any place else we can name.

We think our camp's the cat's meow,

we hate like sin to knock

But there is not another around like ye

olde Camp Birch Rock

Yeah boys, you said it!

Birch Rock! Sis-boom-bah!

Yeah, boys, we're for it!

We'll say we are!

We swim and carve and fish and shoot

And paddle canoes and row;

'Bout birds and minerals, trees and flowers

There's nothing we don't know.

We've roamed this region round about

On picnics that are grand

We are a happy, healthy, hustling, hopping, howling band! HEY!

Birch Rock Marching Song

Sung to the tune of the Marines' Hymn, this is an other popular song. Rangeley Lake is a lake in Maine that upper camp cabins may go to for a trip.

From the campfires by our cabins,

To the shores of Rangeley Lake,

We shall help the other fellow,

And good friendships we shall make.

We shall strive for truth and charity

And to everyone we'll claim,

We are proud to spend our summers,

On the shores of Lake McWain

I Would Be True

I Would Be True is an old church hymn that Chief Brewster liked so he made it a camp song. The last line of the song "I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift" was made into a large plaque which is hung over the entrance to the library.

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;

I would be pure, for there are those who care;

I would he strong, for there is much to suffer;

I would be brave, for there is much to dare,

I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

I would be friend, of all- the foe the friendless;

I would be giving, and forget the gift.

I would be humble, for I know my weakness;

I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.

I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.

Desperado

This classic summer camp song is sometimes acted out in front of the camp. Someone plays the desperado, a few campers play the "hoochy goochies" and a camper with a pillow in his shirt plays the big fat policeman.

There was a desperado from the wild and wooley west,

He went out to Chicago just to give the west a rest.

He wore a big sombrero and a gun beneath his vest;

And everywhere he went he gave his warhoop-WHOOP!

Chorus:

Big bold man was this desperado

From Cripple Creek way down in Colorado

And he Walked around just like a big tornado

And everywhere he went he gave his warhoop- WHOOP!

He went to Coney Island just to take in all the sights.

He saw the hoochy-goochies and the girls all dressed in tights.

He got so darn excited that he shot out all the lights.

And everywhere he went he gave his warhoop-WHOOP!

(Chorus)

A big fat policeman came a-walking on his beat.

He saw the desperado come a-waking down the street.

He grabed him by his whiskers and he grabbed him by his seat;

And put him where he could not give his warhoop.

(Chorus)

The Crimson and the Gray

This was a song that had been forgotten. No one knows the tune. It is named after the camp's primary and secondary color.

With crimson and gray for colors

Birch Rock Camp will sally forth.

whatever may betide us,

We are bound to show our worth.

Raise high our glorious banner!

May it fly for many a day!

Hats off every Birch Rock camper

For the crimson and the gray!

Birch Rock! (Repeat eight times)

All hail to the gray and crimson

Of the camp we love so well.

We are proud to wear its colors,

And its benefits to tell.

Long life to our camp so glorious!

May it thrive for many a day!

Hats off every Birch Rock camper,

To the crimson and the gray!

This Land is Your Land

This famous Woody Guthrie song is sung at Birch Rock. It is usually sung when evening activity is canceled due to rain so everyone sings songs in the lodge.

Chorus:

This land is your land, this land is my land,

From California to the New York island,

From the redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters,

This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking that ribbon of highway

I saw above me that endless skyway

I saw below me that golden valley,

This land was made for you can me.

(Chorus)

I've roamed and rambles and followed my footsteps

To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts,

And all around me a voice was sounding,

This land was made for you can me.

(Chorus)

When the sun come shining and I was strolling

And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling

As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting

This land was made for you and me.

(Chorus)

This land is your land, this land is my land,

From Bonavista to Vancouver Island

From the Arctic Circle to the Great Lake waters

This land was made for you and me.

Wannigan

A wannigan was a crate used to carry food on canoing trips. There still are a few of them around camp.

W-A double N-I-G-A-N spells wannigan, wannigan,

That's the kind of thing you want to mortgage, mortgage

Just before you take it on a portage, portage,

W-A double N-I-G-A-N you see.

First you lift it,

Then you shift it,

Next you flop it,

Then you drop it -

And it's wannigan on me.

Hiking Song

A song that is rarely sung at Birch Rock any more, the tune is forgotten.

Hike, hike along the way,

Birch Rock campers happy.

We're out for fun today,

Stepping out so snappy,

We don't care where we're bound,

Nor how far we tramp;

Shout! Pass the word round -

We hail from Birch Rock Camp!

Sunset Song

This song is sung after most tree talks.

O'er the hills of sunset splendor

Dazzles every eye..

See the gray smoke from the campfire

Cross the crimson sky.

Thus another day has ended

We're glad we spent it here.

Where? At BIRCH ROCK CAMP!

Let your voices ring out

In a thundering sunset cheer.

Hit the Hay

Hit the hay is by far the most commonly sung song at Birch Rock because it is sung every night. At the end of tree talks it is sung twice after the Sunset Song.

Let's hit the hay, my hearties

For beds where we belong.

We've been having fun

that is fun;

We've been at it all day long.

Don't be afraid to yawn;

Yawn with all your might.

There's an other day not touched yet

So to all a warm good night!

Taps

Taps has not been sung at Birch Rock for years. It is a classic summer camp song though and it was included in the song booklet so here it is.

Day is done, gone the sun

From the lake, from the hills,

From the sky;

All is well,

Safely rest,

Good night

Fading light, dims the sight,

And a star gems the sky,

Gleaming bright

From afar,

Drawing nigh,

Fall the night.