Scouting Campfire Songs With Lyrics
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12 Classic Scouting Campfire Songs Every Leader Should Know (with lyrics)
For over 100 years, Scouts have gathered around campfires to share stories, laughter, and sing campfire songs. Singing together creates stronger friendships, builds confidence, and helps Scouts feel connected and included - building on traditional scouting values. Whether your Scouts are clapping along, joining in with silly voices, or simply soaking up the atmosphere, campfire songs are a powerful way to bring everyone together.
To help you plan your next Scouting campfire singalong, we’ve pulled together 12 must-know campfire songs, with lyrics and leader tips. And to celebrate the joy of singing around the campfire, Scouts can now earn brand-new Campfire Song Badges - one for each of the songs below.
To help you plan your next Scouting campfire singalong, we’ve pulled together 12 must-know campfire songs, with lyrics and leader tips. And to celebrate the joy of singing around the campfire, Scouts can now earn brand-new Campfire Song Badges - one for each of the songs below.
A classic spelling and clapping song that younger Scouts love. It’s the easiest to learn and perhaps the most widely known throughout all Scouting age groups.
Leader tip: Drop a letter each verse and replace it with a clap.
B-I-N-G-O Lyrics:
There was a farmer who had a dog
And Bingo was his name-o
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O And Bingo was his name-o
There was a farmer who had a dog
And Bingo was his name-o
(clap)-I-N-G-O (x3)
And Bingo was his name-o
There was a farmer who had a dog
And Bingo was his name-o
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O (x3)
And Bingo was his name-o
There was a farmer who had a dog
And Bingo was his name-o
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O (x3)
And Bingo was his name-o
There was a farmer who had a dog
And Bingo was his name-o
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O (x3)
And Bingo was his name-o
There was a farmer who had a dog
And Bingo was his name-o
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap) (x3)
And Bingo was his name-o
A call-and-response song that grabs attention instantly. Great for engaging everyone in the group a new member is chosen each time to repeat the song.
Leader tip: Try silly voices like robots, pirates, or whispering to keep Scouts engaged throughout the whole song.
Boom Chicka Boom Lyrics
I said a-boom-chick-a-boom
I said a-boom-chick-a-boom
I said a-boom-chick-a-rock-a-chick-a-rock-a-chick-a-boom!
Uh-huh!
Oh Yeah!
One more time!
(Choose someone’s name) Style!
A counting-down song that’s repetitive, funny, and easy to follow. Squirrels love this song!
Leader tip: Build suspense and excitement until Alice has no humps - because Alice is a horse!
Alice The Camel Lyrics:
Alice the camel had five humps (x3)
So go Alice go! Boom boom boom
Alice the camel had four humps (x3)
So go Alice go! Boom boom boom.
Repeat counting down until . . .
Alice the camel has no humps,
Alice the camel has no humps,
Alice the camel has no humps,
Because Alice is a horse!
A humorous list song with (almost) endless verses scouts can invent.
Leader tip: Invite scouts to make up their own verses about camp life or someone else in the troop.
The Quartermaster's Store Lyrics:
There are rats, rats as big as alley cats
In the stores, in the stores
There are rats, rats as big as alley cats
In the Quartermaster’s store
My eyes are dim, I cannot see
I have not brought my specks with me
I have not brought my specks with me
Mice . . . running through the rice
Snakes . . . as big as garden rakes
Beans . . . as big as submarines
Gravy . . . enough to float the navy
Cakes . . . that give us tummy aches
Eggs . . . with scaly chicken legs
Butter . . . running into the gutter
Lard . . . they sell it by the yard
Bread . . . with great big lumps like lead
Cheese . . . that makes you want to sneeze
Soot . . . they grow it by the foot
Goats . . . eating all the oats
Bees . . . with little knobbly knees
Owls . . . shredding paper towels
Apes . . . eating all the grapes
Turtles . . . wearing rubber girdles
Bear . . . with curlers in its hair
Buffalos . . . with hair between their toes
Foxes . . . stuffed in little boxes
Coke . . . enough to make you choke
Pepsi . . . that gives you apoplexy
Roaches . . . sleeping in the coaches
Flies . . . swarming ‘round the pies
Fishes . . . washing all the dishes
Moths . . . eating all the clothes
Scouts . . . eating Brussel sprouts
Leaders . . . slapping at the skeeters
A popular story-song about a juice-loving moose. It’s known for it’s fun lyrics, call and response style, and group participation element.
Leader tip: Perform the song with exaggerated gestures to dial up the fun.
Crazy Moose Lyrics:
There was a crazy moose
Who liked to drink a lot of juice
There was a crazy moose
Who liked to drink a lot of juice
Chorus
Singing way-oh, way oh
Way-oh, way-oh, way-oh way-oh
Way oh, way oh
Way-oh, way-oh, way-oh, way-oh
The moose’s name was Fred
He liked to drink his juice in bed
(Chorus)
He drank his juice with care,
But he spilled some in his hair
(Chorus)
All his hair went stiff
So he combed it in a quiff
(Chorus)
His friends began to laugh
So he had to take a bath
And as the water went down
Fred the moose began to drown
Singing glug-glug-glug-glug
Glug glug, glug glug, glug glug, glug glug
Glug glug, glug glug
Glug glug, glug glug, glug glug, glug glug
Now let’s all count to five-
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Fred the moose is back alive!
(Chorus)
Additional add-ons:
He was hungry moose
So he cooked himself a goose
Now this crazy moose
Had a crazy pal called Bruce
And his friend said “Look!”
A hunter wants you for the cook!
But Fred was far too smart
Sat down to think and had a fart!
Fred the moose’s plan
Was to capture the hunter-man!
So as the man passed by
He fell into a trap, which made him cry!
The moose scared him off
With a rather loud, big cough!
So Fred the moose lived on
And the hunters were-a-gone!
A stomping chant song that builds excitement and team spirit.
Leader tip: Invite scouts to make up their own verses about camp life or someone else in the troop.
Thunderation Lyrics:
Thunder, thunderation
We’re all here in (clap) celebration
We’ve got lots of (HUH) determination
We’re the best Scouts in the nation!
(Repeat)
A modern classic that scouts of all ages know, focusing on a shark family. Widely known for it’s catchy melody.
Leader tip: Encourage kids to act out the story by swimming, running away, hiding, and celebrating being safe.
Baby Shark Lyrics:
Baby shark, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Baby shark.
Mama shark, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Mama shark.
Papa shark, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Papa shark.
Grandma shark, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Grandma shark.
Grandpa shark, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Grandpa shark.
Hungry sharks, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Hungry sharks.
Little fish, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Little fish.
Swim away, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Swim away.
Swim faster, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Swim faster.
Swim faster, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Swim faster.
Swim faster, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Swim faster.
Safe at last, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Safe at last.
Bye bye sharks, doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo (x3)
Bye bye sharks.
Bye bye sharks.
A playful action song that gets everyone moving, smiling, and ready for their meeting.
Actions in order include: Wiggling the hips with hands down, putting hands in the air, wiggling hips with hands in the air, drawing a squiggle with your hand, playing a fiddle, wiggling hips with hands in the air
The Squirrel Wiggle Lyrics:
Stand in the middle and wiggle wiggle, wiggle
Put your paws in the air and jiggle jiggle, jiggle
Hey diddle diddle there’s no rhyme or riddle
Everybody’s doing the Squirrel wiggle, wiggle
Caterpillars wriggle but Squirrels wiggle, wiggle
Hold up a pen and make a little squiggle
You can even play it on a fiddle
Everybody’s doing the Squirrel wiggle, wiggle (x6)
Oh yeah
A cheeky, slightly messy song that always gets a laugh.
Actions in order include: squashing, licking hand, throwing up and digging
Baby Bumblebee Lyrics:
I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee
Won’t my Mummy be surprised with me
I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee
Ooh, eee, the bee stung me!
I’m squashing up my baby bumblebee
Won’t my Mummy be surprised with me
I’m squashing up my baby bumblebee
Ooh, eee, I’m all sticky!
I’m licking up my baby bumblebee . . .
Ooh, eee, the bee’s in me!
I’m throwing up my baby bumblebee . . .
Ooh, eee, there’s my bee!
I’m digging up my baby bumblebee . . .
Ooh, eee, no more bee!
A fun story-song about a growing caterpillar who keeps growing bigger.
Leader tip: Get into a caterpillar looking sleeping bag to act out the song
Cecil The Caterpillar Song Lyrics:
Cecil was a caterpillar, Cecil was my friend.
When I last saw Cecil he was "this big" (fingers about an inch apart).
So I said "Cecil, what have you been doing?" (In a squeaky voice).
And he said "I've eaten a whole cabbage leaf." (In your best caterpillar voice).
A whole cabbage.
All the cabbages in the garden.
All the cabbages in the field.
All the cabbages in the county.
All the cabbages in the country.
All the cabbages in the world.
Cecil was a caterpillar, Cecil was my friend.
When I last saw Cecil he was "this big" (fingers about an inch apart).
So I said "Cecil, what have you been doing?" (As loud as possible).
And he said "I've been sick."
A nautical adventure song with actions and rhymes.
Leader tip: Choose a Scout at random and ask them to make up a rhyme with their age. For example: When I was eight… I found a mate
The Day I Went To Sea Lyrics:
When I was one, I (did something rhyming with the number)
The day I went to sea
I jumped aboard a pirate ship
And the Captain said to me:
‘We’re going this way, that way, (Lean side to side)
Forwards and backwards, (Lean forwards and backwards)
Over the Irish Sea, (Use hand to make waves like a snake)
A bottle of rum to fill my tum, (Pretend to drink then rub tummy)
And that’s the life for me’ (Slap your knee on ‘me’)
Repeat the song going up in age to ten
A traditional, short, and reflective song that’s perfect for winding down the campfire.
Leader tip: Dim torches, sing softly, and let the moment settle into silence
Day is Done Lyrics:
Day is done, gone the sun
From the sea, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh