Scouting Resources

Songbook – 08
www.scoutingresources.org.uk

Tie Me Kangaroo Down................................................................................................................... 2

Taps .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Taps (Fast) ........................................................................................................................................ 2
God is nigh, God is nigh, God is nigh. ....................................................................................................... 2
Waltzing Matilda .............................................................................................................................. 3
This Land is Your Land .................................................................................................................... 4
America ............................................................................................................................................ 4
The Star-Spangled Banner................................................................................................................ 4
Hello ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Billboards ......................................................................................................................................... 5
On The Loose ................................................................................................................................... 5
Vive l’Amour .................................................................................................................................... 6
Upward Trail .................................................................................................................................... 6
Commercial Mix- up ......................................................................................................................... 6
Dunderbeck....................................................................................................................................... 7
Fried Ham......................................................................................................................................... 7
Ilky Moor .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Amazing Grace ................................................................................................................................. 7
It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More .......................................................................................................... 8
Song of the States ............................................................................................................................. 9
Battle Hymn of the Republic ............................................................................................................ 9
Dixie ................................................................................................................................................. 9
Edelweiss ........................................................................................................................................ 10
Home on the Range ........................................................................................................................ 10
Morningtown Ride.......................................................................................................................... 10

Scouting Resources
http://www.scoutingresources.org.uk/

Compiled by Darren Dowling

webmaster@scoutingresources.org.uk

1
Tie Me Kangaroo Down
The first verse is almost spoken or narrated
Don’t go actin’ the fool, curl
There’s an old Australian stockman - lying, Just keep me cockatoo cool.
dying...
And he gets himself up onto one elbow (Chorus)
And turns to his mates who are all gathered
around Take me koala back, Jack
And he says.... Take me koala back.
I’m going, Blue; this you gotta do, He lives somewhere out on the track, Mack
I’m not gonna pull through, Blue, so this you gotta So, take me koala back.
do . . .
(Chorus)
Chorus:
Tie me kangaroo down, sport Mind me platypus duck, Bill
Tie me kangaroo down. Mind me platypus duck.
Tie me kangaroo down, sport Don’t let him go running amuck, Bill
Tie me kangaroo down. Just, mind me platypus duck.

Watch me wallabies feed, mate (Chorus)

Watch me wallabies feed.
They’re a dangerous breed, mate Play your digeridoo, Blue
So, watch me wallabies feed. Play your digeridoo.
(Dying) Like, keep playing it ‘til I shoot through,
(Chorus) Blue
Play your digeridoo.
Let me wombats go loose, Bruce,
Let me wombats go loose. (Chorus)
They’re of no further use, Bruce,
So let me wombats go lose. Tan me hide when I’m dead, Fred
Tan me hide when I’m dead.
(Chorus) So, we tanned his hide, when he died, Clyde
And that’s it hangin’ on the shed.
Keep me cockatoo cool, curl
Keep me cockatoo cool. (Chorus)

Taps
Sing with reverence.
Day is done Gleaming bright,
Gone the sun From afar,
From the Lakes Drawing nigh,
From the hills Falls the night.
From the sky Thanks and praise,
All is well For our days,
Safely rest Neath the sun,
God is nigh. Neath the stars,
Fading light Neath the sky,
Dims the sight, As we go,
And a star gems the sky, This we know,

Taps (Fast)
Day is done, day is done, day is done
Gone the sun, gone the sun, gone the sun
From the lake, from the hill, from the sky
All is well, all is well, all is well
Safely rest, safely rest, safely rest

God is nigh, God is nigh, God is nigh.

2
Waltzing Matilda
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, Up rode the squatter mounted on his
Under the shade of a coolibah tree, thoroughbred,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his Down came the troopers - one, two, three,
billy boiled Whose that jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me. tuckerbag?
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me, Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me,
billy boiled, Whose that jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me. tuckerbag?
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me.
Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with Up jumped the swagman, and sprang into the
glee, billabong,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his You’ll never catch me alive said he,
tuckerbag And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me. billabong
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
tuckerbag, You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me,
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me. And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that
billabong,
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me.

Waltzing Matilda -- An Older Version

Oh, There was once a swagman camped in a billabong
Under the shade of a coolabah tree
And he sang as he looked at his old billy boiling
“Who’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me?

Who’ll come a Waltzing Matilda, my darling,

Who’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Watilda and leading a water-bag
Who’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Down came a jumbuck to drink at the water hole
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him in glee
And he sang as he stuffed him away in his tuckerbag
“You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.”

(Repeat Chorus)

Down came the squatter, a riding on his thoroughbred

Down came policemen, One, two and three
“Whose is the jumbuck you’ve got in your tuckerbag
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.”

(Repeat Chorus)

But the swagman, he up and he jumped in the water hole

Drowning himself by the Coolabah tree
And his ghost may be heard as it sings in the billibong
“Who’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me?”

(Repeat Chorus)

3
This Land is Your Land
As I went walking, that ribbon of highway I saw a sign that said “No Trespassing.”
I saw above me that endless skyway And on the other side, that sign said nothing.
I saw below that golden valley. And all around me a voice was calling
This land was made for you and me. ”That sign was made for you and me.”

This land is your land, this land is my land. This land is your land, this land is my land.
From California to the New York Island From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood forest to the Gulf Stream From the Redwood forest to the Gulf Stream
waters. waters.
This was made for your and me. This was made for your and me.

This Land is Your Land

Chorus
This land in your land, this land is my land, This land was made for you and me.
From California, to the New York Island,
From the redwood forests to the Gulf Stream I followed your low hills and I followed your cliff
waters, rims,
This land was made for you and me. Your marble canyons and sunny bright waters,
This voice came calling, as the fog was lifting,
As I was walking, that ribbon of highway, This land was made for you and me.
I saw above me that endless skyway,
I saw below me that golden valley, As the sun was shining and I was strolling,
This land was made for you and me. Through the wheat fields wavi ng and the dust
clouds rolling,
I’ve roamed and rambled and I followed my I could feel inside me and see all ‘round me
footsteps, This land was made for you and me.
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts,
And all around me a voice was sounding,

America
Oh beautiful, for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain.
America, America;
God shed his grace on thee.
And crown thy good with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea!

America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)

My country ‘tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From ev’ry mountain side
Let freedom ring.

The Star-Spangled Banner

Oh say, can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof throughout the night that our flag was still there.
Oh say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the land of the brave.

4
Hello
(Tunes: Coca Cola’s I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing or Auld Lang Syne)
I love to hear the word Hello,
Wherever I may go.
It’s full of friendship
And good cheer
And warms the heart up so.
Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello,
Hello, Hello, Hello...
When e’er we meet
Like friends let’s greet
Each other with Hello
Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello,
Hello, Hello, Hello....

Billboards
(Tune: Superfragilisticespyalladocious)
As I was walking down the street one dark and gloomy day,
I came upon a billboard and much to my dismay,
The sign was torn and tattered from the storm the night before,
The wind and rain had done it’s work and this it what I saw:
“Smoke Coca-Cola Cigarettes -- chew Wrigley’s Spearmint beer --
Kennel Ration Dog Food keeps your wife’s complexion clear;
Simonize your baby with a Hershey’s candy bar --
And Texaco’s the beauty cream that’s used by all the stars!”
“So take your next vacation in a brand new Fridgidaire --
Learn to play piano in your winter underwear --
Doctors say that babies should smoke until they are three,
And people over 65 should bathe in Lipton Tea!”
(slowly)....in flow-thru tea bags.

On The Loose
Refrain
On the loose to climb a mountain,
On the loose where I am free.
On the loose to live my life the way I think my life should be.
For I’ve only got a moment, and a whole world left to see.
I’ll be looking for tomorrow on the loose.

Have you ever watched the sunrise turn the sky completely red?
Have you slept beneath the moon and stars, a pine bough for your bed?
Do you sit and talk with friends, though not a word is ever said?
Then you’re just like me and you’ve been on the loose.

There’s a trail that I’ll be hiking just to see where it might go,
Many places yet to visit, many people yet to know,
For in following my dreams I will live and I will grow
In a world that’s waiting out there on the loose.

So in search of love and laughter I’ll be traveling ‘cross this land,

Never sure of where I’m going, ‘cause I haven’t any plans,
And in time when you are ready, come and join me-take my hand.
And together we’ll share life out on the loose.

Let us sit and watch the sunset as the daylight slowly fades.
Thinking about tomorrow’s, about friendships we have made.
I will value them forever, and I hope you’ll do the same.
And forever we’ll explore life on the loose.

5
Vive l’Amour
Let every good Scout now join in a song,
Vive la compagnie.
Success to each other and pass it along.
Vive la Compagnie.

Chorus
Vive la, vive la, vive l’amour,
Vive la, vive la, vive l’amour,
Vive l’amour, vive l’amour,
Vive la compagnie.

Come all you good people and join in with me,

Vive la compagnie. We’ll banish our troubles, it won’t take us long.
Vive la compagnie.
And raise up your voices in close harmony.
Vive la compagnie. Now wider and wider our circle expands,
Vive la compagnie.
A friend on your left and a friend on your right,
Vive la compagnie. We sing to our comrades in faraway lands.
Vive la compagnie.
In love and good fellowship let us unite.
Vive la compagnie. Should time or occasion compel us to part,
Vive la compagnie.
With friends all around us, we’ll sing out our
song, These days shall forever enliven our heart.
Vive la compagnie. Viva la compagnie

Upward Trail
We’re on the upward trail, we’re on the upward trail.
Singing, singing, everybody singing, as we go.
We’re on the upward trail, we’re on the upward trail.
Singing, singing, everybody singing, Scouting bound.

Kee Chee
A wuni kuni ka yah wuni, [Repeat.]
Ahyi yi iki ay kae ayna, [Repeat.]
Ah ooo, ah ooo, ah dee mee KEE CHEE.

Actions:
1. Hands on own knees; hands on knees of person to the left; hands on own knees; hands on knees of person
to the right.
2. Hands on own knees; hands crossed on own knees; hands uncrossed on own knees; Left hand on knee of
person to the left while right hand in knee of person to the right.
3. Left arm extends forward; right hand touches left wrist then left shoulder; left hand crosses to right shoulder;
right arm extends forward; left hand touches right wrist then right shoulder; right hand crosses to left shoulder.
(At end of song, hands are crossed, touching opposite shoulder.)

Commercial Mix-up
[Tune: Farmer in the Dell]
Last night I watched TV, I saw my favorite show.
I heard this strange commercial, and I can’t believe it’s so.
Feed your dog Chiffon. Comet cures the cold.
Use S-O-S pads on your face to keep from looking old.
Mop your floors with Crest. Use Crisco on your tile.
Clean your teeth with Borateem, it leaves a shining smile.
For headaches take some Certs. Use Tide to clean your face.
And do shampoo with Elmer’s Glue, it holds your hair in place.
Perhaps I am confused, I might not have it right.
But one thing that I’m certain of, I’ll watch TV tonight!.

6
Dunderbeck
There was a strange old butcher. His name was Dunderbeck.
He was very fond of sausage-meat, and sauerkraut and speck.
He had the finest butcher shop, the finest ever seen,
Until one day he invented his wonderful sausage machine.
Chorus
On Mr. Dunderbeck! How could you be so mean?
I told you you’d be sorry for inventing that machine,
For all the neighbor’s dogs and cats will never more be seen,
They’ll all be ground to sausage meat in Dunderbeck’s machine.
One day a very little girl came walking in the store.
She ordered up some sausage meat and eggs, a half a score.
And while she stood a-waiting she whistled up a tune,
And the sausage meat it started up and danced around the room.
Once day when he was working the machine it would not go.
So Dunderbeck, he climbed inside to see what made it so.
His wife she had a night-mare and came walking in her sleep.
She gave the crank a heck of a yank, and Dunderbeck was meat!

Fried Ham
Fried ham, fried ham, cheese and baloney;
After the macaroni, we’ll have onions, and pickles, and olives, and pretzels;
Then we’ll have some more fried ham, fried ham.
Next verse, same as the first, . . . style:
Some suggested styles: OPERA, ORIENTAL, . . . SCOUT, SOUTHERN DRAWL

Ilky Moor
1. Where hast tha’ been since I saw thee, I saw thee? On Ilky moor baht hat. Where hast tha’ been since I saw .
. . Where hast tha’ been since I saw . . . Where hast tha’ been since I saw thee, since I saw thee? On Ilky moor
baht hat. On Ilky moor baht hat. On Ilky moor baht hat.
2. Tha’s been a-courting Mary Jane.
3. Tha’ll go and catch thy death of cold.
4. Then we shall have to bury thee.
5. Then worms will come and eat thee up.
6. Then ducks will come and eat up worms.
7. Then we shall go and eat up ducks.
8. Then we shall all have eaten thee.
9. That’s where we get our Johnny back.

Amazing Grace
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s Praise, than when we first begun.
Amazing grace has set me free,
To touch, to taste, to feel;
The wonders of accepting love,
Have made me whole and real.

7
It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More
Oh! the night was dark and dreary,
The air was full of sleet,
The old man stood out in the storm,
His shoes were full of feet.

Chorus
Oh, it ain’t gonna rain no more, no more,
It ain’t gonna rain no more,
How in the heck can I wash my neck,
If it ain’t gonna rain no more.
A boat is not the proper place
Oh! Mosquito he fly high, To have a falling out.
Mosquito he fly low,
If old man ‘Skeeta light on me, “The coffee is exhausted, Sir.”
He ain’t gonna fly no more. The diner was advised.
Says he, “It’s been so weak of late,
Oh the butterfly flits on wings of gold, I’m really not surprised.”
The June-Bug wings of flame,
The Bed-Bug has no wings at all, There’s a gal up in the hills,
But he gets there just the same. She’s awfully shy and meek,
She undresses in the dark
Here’s to the chigger who’s not any bigger, Because the mountains peak.
That the head of a very small pin.
But the lump that it raises itches like the blazes, The rich man drives a Cadillac,
And that’s where the rub comes in. The poor man drives a Ford.
But my old man drives down the road,
Saw a black-and-white animal in the woods, Between four wheels and a board.
Say ain’t that little cat pretty,
Went right over to pick it up, Mary had a little lamb,
But it wasn’t that kind of kitty. She fed it castor oil.
And everywhere that little lamb went,
When Mr. Noah built the Ark, It fertilized the soil.
He said it was his duty,
He saved the birds and beasts and bugs, Mary had a steamboat;
But why did he save the cootie? The steamboat had a bell.
Mary went to heaven,
Oh, of all the fishes in the sea, The steamboat went “Toot, toot.”
My favorite is the bass,
He climbs up in the seaweed trees, Mary had a little lamb,
And slides down on his hands and knees. But now that lamb is dead.
So now she takes the lamb to school,
A peanut sat on a railroad track, Between two slabs of bread.
Its heart was all a-flutter,
Along came a choo-choo train, When Mary had a little lamb,
Toot, Toot! Peanut butter! The doctor almost cried.
But when Ol’ MacDonald had a farm,
Oh a man lay down by a sewer The doctor almost died.
And by a sewer he died.
Now, at the coroner’s request, Said baby tern to mother tern,
They called it sewer-side. “Can I have a brother.”
“Yes” said mom to baby tern,
A golf ball sailin’ thru the air, “One good tern deserves another.”
Whizzed by a man a hummin’
He heard a caddy holler, “Fore!” Mary is a proper girl,
An’ he thought three more were comin’. She goes to church on Sundays.
She prays to the Lord to give her strength,
“The way to tell the twins apart,” To chase the boys on Mondays.
The proud father said,
“I put my finger in Willie’s mouth, Oh for a home where the buffalo roam,
If he bites it, then it’s Ned.” Where the deer and the antelope play.
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
When boating, never quarrel, For what can an antelope say?
For you’ll find, without a doubt,
8
Song of the States
Oh what did Dela ware, friends, Oh what did Dela ware?
I ask you again, as a personal friend, what did Dela ware?
She wore her New Jersey, friends, she wore her New Jersey.
I tell you again, as a personal friend, she wore her New
Jersey.

2. Oh, how did Flori-die, friends? 7. Oh, where has Ore-gon, friends?
She died in Mis-sour-i, friends. She’s taking Okla-home, friends.
3. Oh, what did Io-way, friends? 8. Oh, what did Massa-chew, friends?
She weighed a Washington, friends. She chewed her Connecti-cud, friends.
4. Oh, what did Ida-ho, friends? 9. Oh, what did Missi-sip, friends?
She hoed her Mary-land, friends. She sipped her Mini-soda, friends.
5. Oh, how did Wiscon-sin, friends? 10.Oh, what did Ohi-owe, friends?
She stole a New-bras-key, friends. She owed her state Taxes, friends.
6. Oh, what did Tennessee, friends? 11.Oh, why did Califone, friends?
She saw what Arkan-sas, friends.
She called to say, “Hawaii,” friends.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord,
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword,
His truth is marching on.

Chorus
Glory, glory hallelujah! [Repeat twice more.]
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps;

They have builded Him an alter in the evening dews and damps;
I can read his righteous message by their dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him, be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

Dixie
I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times there are not forgotten;
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixieland.

In Dixieland where I was born in,

Early on one frosty morning’;
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixieland.

Chorus
Then I wish I was in Dixie, hooray! Hooray!
In Dixieland I’ll take my stand to live and die in Dixie;
Away, away, away down south in Dixie. [Repeat.]

There’s buckwheat cakes and Indian batter

Makes you fat, but that don’t matter;
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixieland.

Then hoe it down and scratch your grabble,

To Dixieland I’m bound to travel,
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixieland.

9
Edelweiss
Edelweiss, Edelweiss. Every morning you greet me.
Small and white, clean and bright,
You look happy to greet me.
Blossoms of snow, may you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever,
Edelweiss, Edelweiss. Bless my homeland forever!

Home on the Range

Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Chorus
Home, home on the range, where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Where the air is so pure, and the zephyrs so free, Oh, I love these wild flowers in this dear land of
The breezes so balmy and light, ours,
That I would not exchange my home on the The curlew I love to hear cry,
range, And I love the white rocks and the antelope
For all of the cities so bright. flocks,
That graze on the mountain slopes high.
The Red man was pressed from this part of the
west, Oh give me a land where the bright diamond
He’s likely no more to return, sand,
To the banks of the Red River where seldom if Flows leisurely down in the stream;
ever Where the graceful white swan goes gliding
Their flickering campfires burn. along,
Like a maid in a heavenly dream.
How often at night when the heavens are bright,
With the light from the glittering stars, Then I would not exchange my home on the
Have I stood there amazed and asked as I range,
gazed, Where the deer and the antelope play;
If their glory exceeds that of ours. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Morningtown Ride
Train whistle blowing, makes a sleepy noise,
Underneath their blankets go all the girls and boys,
Heading from the station, out along the bay,
All bound for Morningtown, many miles away.
[Child’s name]’s at the engine, [Another child’s name] rings the bell,
[Other child’s name] swings the lantern to show that all is well.
Rocking, rolling riding, out along the bay,
All bound for Morningtown, many miles away.
Maybe it is raining where our train will ride,
But all the little travelers are snug and warm inside.
Somewhere there is sunshine, somewhere there is day,
Somewhere there is Morningtown, many miles away.

10