Songs for Scouts to Sing

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4 SONGS OF THE SEA

Barges

Out of my window looking in the night,
I can see the barges flickering light.
Silently flows the river to the sea,
As the barges do go silently.

Chorus

Barges, I would like to go with you,
I would like to sail the ocean blue.
Barges, have you treasure in your hold,
Do you fight with pirates brave and bold.

Out of my window looking in the night,
I can see the barges flickering light.
Starboard shines green and port is glowing red,
I can see the barges far ahead.

How my heart longs to sail away with you,
As you sail across the ocean blue.
But I must stay beside my ocean clear,
As I watch you sail away from here.

Away from my window on into the night,
I will watch til they are out of sight.
Taking their cargo far across the sea,
I wish that someday they'd take me.

Blow, Ye Winds

Oh, a ship was all rigg'd and ready for sea,
And all of her sailors were fishes to be.

Chorus

So, blow ye winds westerly, westerly blow.
We're bound for the south'ard, so steady she goes.

Oh, first came the herring, the kind of the sea,
He jumped on the poop, "I'll be captain," said he.

The next was a flat fish, they call him the skate:
"If you be the captain, why, sure, I'm the mate."

The next came the hake, as black as a rook.
Says he, "I'm no sailor, I'll ship as the cook."

The next came the shark, with his two rows of teeth:
"Cook mind the cabbage, and I'll mind the beef."

And then came the codfish, with his chuckle head,
He jumped in the chains, began heaving the lead.

The next came the flounder, as flat as the ground:
"Damn your eyes, chuckhead, mind how you sound."

The next comes the mack'rel with his striped back,
He jumped to the waist for to board the main tack.

And then came the sprat, the smallest of all,
He jumped on the poop, and cried, "Main topsail haul!"

Greenland Fisheries

'Twas in eighteen hundred and fifty three,
On June the thirteenth day,
That our gallant ship her anchor weighed,
And for Greenland bore away, brave boys,
And for Greenland bore away.

The lookout in the crosstrees stood
With a spyglass in his hand.
"There's a whale, there's a whale, there's a whalefish" he cried
And she blows at every span, brave boys.
And she blows at every span.

The captain stood on the quarter-deck,
And a fine little man was he.
"Overhaul! Overhaul! let your davit-tackles fall,
And launch your boats for the sea, brave boys,
And launch your boats for the sea."

Now the boats were launched and the men aboard,
And the whale was full in view.
Resolv-ed was each seaman bold,
To steer where the whalefish blew, brave boys,
To steer where the whalefish blew.

We struck the whale, and the line paid out,
But she gave such a flourish with her tail,
That the boat capsized and four men were lost,
And we never caught that whale, brave boys,
And we never caught that whale.

"To lose that whale" our captain said
"It grieves my heart full sore,
But to lose four of our gallant sailor boys,
It grieves me ten times more, brave boys,
It grieves me ten times more."

"The winter star doth now appear,
So, boys, we'll anchor weigh.
It's time to leave this cold country,
And homeward bear away, brave boys,
And homeward bear away."

Oh, Greenland is a dreadful place,
A land that's never green.
Where there's ice and snow, and the whalefishes blow,
And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys,
And the daylight's seldom seen.

It was Friday Night When We Set Sail (The Mermaid)

It was Friday night when we set sail,
And we were not far from the land.
When the captain spied a lovely mermaid
With a comb and a brush in her hand, her hand, her hand,
With a comb and a brush in her hand.

Chorus

Oh! the ocean waves may roll, may roll,
And the stormy winds may blow, may blow-o,
But we poor sailors go skipping to the tops
While the land-lubbers lie down below, below, below,
While the land-lubbers lie down below.

Then up spoke the captain of our gallant ship,
And a fine old man was he,
Saying, "This fishy mermaid has warned us of our doom;
We shall sink to the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea,
We shall sink to the bottom of the sea!"

Then up spoke the mate of our gallant ship,
And a well spoken man was he;
"I've married a wife in Salem Town,
And tonight she a widow will be, will be, will be,
And tonight she a widow will be."

Then up spoke the cook of our gallant ship.
And a RED HOT cook was he;
"I care much more for my kettles and my pots
Than I do for the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea,
Than I do for the bottom of the sea.

Then up spoke the cabin boy of our gallant ship.
And a scurvy little rascal was he;
"I've nary a soul in Salem Town
Who will care what happened to me, to me, to me,
Who will care what happened to me.

SLOWLY

Then three times round, went our gallant ship
Then three times round went she;
Then three times round, went our gallant ship
And she sank to the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea,
And she sank to the bottom of the sea.

The Ship Titanic

Oh, they built the ship Titanic to sail the ocean blue,
And they thought they had a ship that the water would never leak through,
But the Lord's almighty hand knew that ship would never stand.
It was sad when the great ship went down.

Chorus

Oh, it was sad, it was sad; it was sad, it was sad;
It was sad when the great ship went down, to the bottom of the ...
Husbands and wives, little-bitty children lost their lives,
It was sad when that 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 were 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're the deep and raging sea,
And the band struck up with 'Nearer My God to Thee',
Little children wept and cried, as the waves swept, o're the side,
It was sad when the great ship went down.

The captain stood on deck with a teardrop in his eye,
As the last lifeboat went out, he waved them all goodbye.
And he knew he'd made a slip so he went down with the ship.
It was sad when the great ship went down.

Oh the moral to be gained from this tale of woe and pain,
Is that if you're rich you should not be so vain.
For in the good Lord's eyes, you're the same as other guys.
It was sad when the great ship went down.

Oh they built another ship they called, "Titanic II."
They were sure this time that the water would never leak thorough.
So they launched it with a cheer, and it sank right off the pier.
It was sad when the great ship went down.

5 REVERENT SONGS

All Through the Night

Sleep, my child, let peace attend thee,
All through the night;
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night.
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and vale in slumber steeping,
God His loving vigil keeping,
All through the night.

While the moon her watch is keeping,
All through the night;
While the weary world is sleeping,
All through the night.
O'er thy spirit gently stealing,
Visions of delight revealing,
Breathes a pure and holy feeling,
All through the night.

Though I roam a minstrel lonely,
All through the night;
My true harp shall praise thee only,
All through the night.
Love's young dream, alas! is over,
Yet my strains of love shall hover,
Near the presence of my lover,
All through the night.

Hark! A solemn bell is ringing,
Clear through the night;
Thou, my love, art heav'nward winging,
Home through the night.
Earthly dust from off the shaken,
Soul immortal shalt not waken,
With thy last dim journey taken,
Home through the night.

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.

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.

Come, Come, Ye Saints

Come, come ye Saints, no toil or labor fear; but with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear, grace shall be as your day.
'Tis better far for us to strive, our useless cares from us drive;
Do this and joy your hearts will swell. All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward if we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins, fresh courage take, our God will never us forsake;
And soon we'll have this tale to tell: All is well! All is well!

Do Lord

Chorus

Do Lord, Oh do Lord, Oh do remember me, Oh Lord [Repeat twice more.]
Look away beyond the blue.

I've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun [Repeat twice more.]
Look away beyond the blue.

Friends

Chorus

So I thank You, I thank you God for all of my friends.
I thank You, I thank You God for all of my friends with me tonight.

When you're all alone and you're feeling so low,
There is a friend there to tell the things you know.
A friend will always listen, a friend will understand.

What is a friend? A friend is here indeed.
Sitting all around me, listening to my need.
A friend is always there, a friend will always care.

There's one important thing that I want you to know,
And I mean it sincerely from the bottom of my soul.
I love all of you, you're the greatest friends I've got

He's Got the Whole World

He's got the whole world in his hands; [Repeat three more times.]

He's got the wind and the rain in his hands; [Repeat two more times.]
He's got the whole world in his hands.

He's got the sun and the moon...
He's got the little bitty baby...
He's got you and me brother...
He's got everybody here...

Hymn of Scouting

[Tune: The Church's One Foundation]

Oh Father we would bring Thee a Scoutship strong and true,
A life of loving service and struggle well won through,
A Scoutship that our Founder would surely love to see,
Of utter self-surrender and spotless purity.

Oh knit us all together as loyal friends of all,
And make us every ready to help up those who fall,
As Scouts we must be trusted to others to do good,
God bless and keep and strengthen the Scouting brother[/sister]hood.

So as we stand before Thee we give our promise true,
That we will on our honor love God and country too.
We'll help all others daily in all we say and do,
And live the laws of Scouting as Thou woulds't have us do.

And so Thee our Captain, as loyal Scouts we come,
And ask that Thou will leads us 'til Scouting days are done.
We face tomorrow's struggles strong in Thy strength alone:
Look down and bless our Scoutship, for we would be Thine own.

Michael Row the Boat

Michael, row the boat ashore, Alleluia
Michael, row the boat ashore, Alleluia.

Sister, help to trim the sail,
Sister, help to trim the sail,

Brother, lend a helping hand,
Brother, lend a helping hand,

Jordan's river is chilly and cold,
Chills the body but not the soul,

Jordan's river is deep and wide,
Milk and honey on the other side.

Gabriel blow the trumpet horn
Blow the trumpet loud and long.

My Father's House

Oh, won't you come with me, to my Father's house.
To my Father's house, to my Father's house.
Oh, won't you come with me, to my Father's house,
There is peace, peace, peace.

There's sweet communion there, in my Father's house....
There'll be no parting there, ...

Now the Day is Over

Now the day is over, night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers, stars begin to peep,
Birds and beasts and flowers soon will be asleep.

Grant to all the weary, calm and sweet repose,
With the kindest blessing, may our eyelids close.

Grant to those who suffer rest and balm in thee,
Guard the sailors tossing on the deep blue sea.

When the morning wakens, then may I arise,
Pure and fresh and hopeful, sunrise in my eyes.

Simple Gifts

'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free,
'Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
We will live in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained.
To bow and to bend we shall not be ashamed.
To turn and to turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning and turning we come round right.

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
Its streets, its streams, as well as stars above,
Salvation is here where we laugh, where we cry,
Where we seek and love, where we live and die.

When true liberty is found
By fear and by hate we will no more be bound,
In love and in life we will find a new birth,
In peace and in freedom redeem the earth.

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Chorus

Swing low, sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home;
Swing low, sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home.

I looked over Jordan, and what did I see,
Comin' for to carry me home;
A band of angels coming after me,
Comin' for to carry me home.

If you get to heaven before I do,
Comin' for to carry me home;
Just tell all my friends that I'm a coming too,
Comin' for to carry me home.

I'm sometimes up and sometimes down,
Comin' for to carry me home;
But still my soul feels heavenly bound,
Comin' for to carry me home.

I've never been to heaven, but I've been told,
Comin' for to carry me home;
That the streets in heaven are paved with gold,
Comin' for to carry me home.

We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder

We are climbing Jacob's ladder; we are climbing Jacob's ladder;
We are climbing Jacob's ladder; won't you climb with me.

Every rung goes higher, higher; every rung goes higher, higher;
Every rung goes higher, higher; won't you climb with me.

If you love God, why not serve him; if you love God, why not serve him;
If you love God, why not serve him; won't you climb with me.

Rise, shine, give God glory...

Variation:

We are climbing Scouting's ladder...

6 GRACES

Bless This House

[Tune: Eidelweiss]

Bless this house, bless this bread,
Come oh Lord and sit with us.
May our hearts grow with peace.
Come with your love and surround us.
Friendship and love may they bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Bless our friends, bless us all,
Bless all [...] Scouts forever.

God Is Great, God Is Good

[Tune: Michael Row the Boat])

God is great, God is good, Alleluia
Let us thank him for our food, Alleluia.
By His hand we all are fed, Alleluia
Thank you Lord, for daily bread, Alleluia.

God Our Father

[Tune: Frere Jacques]

God our Father, God our Father.
Once again, once again,
Thank you for our blessings, thank you for our blessings.
A-amen, a-amen.

Variation of third line: "We would ask thy blessing ...."

Health and Strength

For health and strength and daily bread
We praise thy name, Oh Lord.

Johnny Appleseed

The Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
The sun and rain and the appleseed.
The Lord is good to me.

And every seed that grows
Will grow into a tree,
And one day soon there'll be apples there,
For everyone in the world to share.
The Lord is good to me.

Oh, here I am 'neath the blue, blue sky
Doing as I please.
Singing with my feathered friends
Humming with the bees.

I wake up every day,
As happy as can be,
Because I know that with His care
My apple trees, they will still be there.
The Lord's been good to me.

Peace Is

Peace is the bread we break;
Love is a river rolling.
Life is the chance we take
When we make this world our home.
Gonna make this world our home.

Thank Thee Heavenly Father

[Tune: We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder]

Thank Thee, Thank Thee, Heavenly Father,
For Thy blessings, as we gather,
Give us peace and understanding,
Bless us all, O Lord.

Thank You For The Food We Eat

[Tune: Michael Row The Boat Ashore]

Thank you for the food we eat, Hallelujah.
Thank you for the friends we meet, Hallelujah.
Thank you for the birds that sing, Hallelujah.
Thank you Lord for everything, Hallelujah.

Thanks Be To God

[Tune: (Everyone Knows It's) Windy]

Thanks be to God, the Father almightly,
Thanks be to God for giving us bread.
Thanks be to God, the Father eternal.
Thanks be to God forever.

Wayfarer's Grace

[Suggested tunes: Doxology, "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow", or "For The Beauty of the Earth"]

For all the glory of the way,
For Thy protection, night and day,
For roof, tree, fire, and bed and board,
For friends and home, we thank Thee, Lord.

7 SONGS WITH BIBLICAL THEMES

Dese Bones gonna Rise Again

The Lord he though he'd make a man,
Dese bones gonna rise again.
Took a little bit of water and a little bit of sand,
Dese bones gonna rise again.

Chorus

I know it, brother, [Repeat twice more.]
Dese bones gonna rise again!

He thought he'd make a woman too,
Dese bones gonna rise again.
Didn't know 'xactly what to do.
Dese bones gonna rise again.

Took a rib from Adam's side,
Dese bones gonna rise again.
Made Miss Eve for to be his bride.
Dese bones gonna rise again.

Put 'em in a garden rich and fair,
Dese bones gonna rise again.
Told 'em they could eat whatever was there.
Dese bones gonna rise again.

But to one tree they must not go,
Dese bones gonna rise again.
Must leave the apples there to grow.
Dese bones gonna rise again.

Serpent, he came 'round the trunk,
Dese bones gonna rise again.
At miss Eve, his eye he wunk.
Dese bones gonna rise again.

He said, "Those apples taste mighty fine.
Dese bones gonna rise again.
Just take one, the Lord won't mind."
Dese bones gonna rise again.

De Lord, he came a-wanderin round,
Dese bones gonna rise again.
Spied dem peelings on de ground.
Dese bones gonna rise again.

You ate my apples, I believe?
Dese bones gonna rise again.
'T wasn't me Lord, I spect twas Eve.
Dese bones gonna rise again.

The Lord he rose up in his wrath,
Dese bones gonna rise again.
Told 'em to beat it down the path.
Dese bones gonna rise again.

He put a angel at the door,
Dese bones gonna rise again.
Told them not to come no more.
Dese bones gonna rise again.

Green Grow the Rushes

I'll sing you one-ho, green grow the rushes-ho.
What is your one-ho?
One is one, and all alone, and ever more shall be it so!

I'll sing you two-ho, green grow the rushes-ho.
What is your two-ho?
Two, two, lily white boys, cloth-ed all in green-ho
One is one, and all alone, and ever more shall be it so!

[Continue: adding each verse and repeating backwards to, "One is one, and all alone, and ever more shall be it so!"]

Three, three, the rivals;
Four for the Gospel makers;
Five for the symbols at your door;
Six for the six proud walkers;
Seven for the seven stars in the sky;
Eight for the April rainers;
Nine for the nine bright shiners;
Ten for the ten commandments;
Eleven for the eleven who went to heaven;
Twelve for the twelve apostles.

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