For eighty years Merrie-Woode girls have begun their day in song and ended it in song. We are reminded that "God has created a new day" in the morning, and in the evening when "the day is done," we circle up for Taps to squeeze hands and know that "God is nigh."

Singing unites our camp family as we come together in the Dining Hall, Castle or around the Campfire Ring. As the campfire is kindled from summer to summer, the Merrie-Woode circle connects one generation to the next. Songs are passed from campers to counselors to daughters to granddaughters.

It is song and voice that carry the Merrie-Woode spirit and her continued tradition of over eighty summers of camping.

The Camp Merrie-Woode® CD, Chug-a-Wump, a collection of camp songs recorded by campers during the 1998 summer is available through the camp office.

For information, e-mail Phyllis@merriewoode.com.

Chug-A-Wump

When I was a camper at Merrie-Woode,

I dwelt by the side of the lake (clunk, clunk);

And listened to all the queer noises

The little bull froggies did make (clunk, clunk).

Chorus: Chug-a-wump-wump, chug-a-wump-wump,

Ta, da, da, dee.

That is the song that they sang unto me.

Chug-a-wump-wump, chug-a-wump-wump, Ta, da, da, dee.

They sang by the light of the moon (clunk, clunk).

But soon I got used to the noises,

The froggies no longer bothered me (clunk, clunk);

And if you will come to Camp Merrie-Woode,

You'll hear their night concerts quite free (clunk, clunk).

Chorus

Chug-A-Wump   Half-Wit Girls   The Flicker of the Campfire   Saint Peter
Follow the Gleam   Make New Friends   Like a Tiny Spark of Fire

Half-Wit Girls

(To the tune of "Little Brown Jug")

We're half-wit girls of Merrie-Woode,

And here we'd like to stay for good.

We like the girls; we like the fun;

We like the counselors, everyone.

Chorus: Ha, ha, ha, friends would mock,

We're in bed by ten o'clock.

But we don't care, nor do we fuss;

The moon up there is not for us.

Verse: We like swimming in the lake,

Riding horses 'til we ache, Four helpings at every meal,

Bright red noses soon to peel.

Chorus

Verse: So come along if you would like

To learn to arch and sail and hike.

You'll never see us shed a tear;

We'll all be back again next year.

Chorus

Chug-A-Wump   Half-Wit Girls   The Flicker of the Campfire   Saint Peter
Follow the Gleam   Make New Friends   Like a Tiny Spark of Fire

Nothing Could Be Finer

Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning.

Nothing could be damper than a camper in Lake Fairfield just at dawning.

When the dawn is breaking over mountains tall,

Calling us to wake up and swim beneath Old Bald;

Swimming with the women when the lake

is shimmerin' in the morning;

Water lilies bobbin' up just like a lot of

buttercups at dawning.

If I had Alladin's lamp for only a day,

I'd make a wish, and here's what I'd say:

Oh! Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning.

Chug-A-Wump   Half-Wit Girls   The Flicker of the Campfire   Saint Peter
Follow the Gleam   Make New Friends   Like a Tiny Spark of Fire

The Flicker of the Campfire

The flicker of the campfire, The wind in the pines,

The stars in the heavens, The moon that shines,

A place we're all together, Friends for all the time,

A place where all your troubles,

Are always left behind.

So-- Give me the light of the campfire;

So warm and bright.

Give me some friends to sing with;

I'll be here all night.

Love is where you find it; And I've found mine here.

So, give me the light of the campfire; And songs we love to hear.

Chug-A-Wump   Half-Wit Girls   The Flicker of the Campfire   Saint Peter
Follow the Gleam   Make New Friends   Like a Tiny Spark of Fire

Saint Peter

When I was a camper and lived in the world,

I never thought of the gates of pearl;

But when I got there in the middle of the day,

Everything there was green and gray.

Saint Peter saw me; he confessed:

"I see, my dear, you're one of the best;

So put up your sails and sail right through,

'Cause Mrs. Saint Peter went to Merrie-Woode, too.

Chug-A-Wump   Half-Wit Girls   The Flicker of the Campfire   Saint Peter
Follow the Gleam   Make New Friends   Like a Tiny Spark of Fire

Follow the Gleam

To the knights in the days of old,

Keeping watch o'er the mountain height,

Came a vision of Holy Grail,

And a voice through the waiting night,

Saying, "Follow, follow the gleam,

Banners unfurled, o'er all the world.

Follow, follow, follow the gleam

Of the chalice that is the Grail."

And ye who would serve the King,

And loyally him obey,

In the consecrate silence know

That the challenge still sounds today.

Follow, follow, follow the gleam,

Standards of worth, o'er all the earth

Follow, follow, follow the gleam

Of the light that shall bring the dawn.

Chug-A-Wump   Half-Wit Girls   The Flicker of the Campfire   Saint Peter
Follow the Gleam   Make New Friends   Like a Tiny Spark of Fire

Make New Friends

Make new friends but keep the old.

One is silver, the other is gold.

A circle is round. It never ends.

That's how long I want to be your friend.

Chug-A-Wump   Half-Wit Girls   The Flicker of the Campfire   Saint Peter
Follow the Gleam   Make New Friends   Like a Tiny Spark of Fire

Like a Tiny Spark of Fire (1957 Banquet Song)

Like a tiny spark of fire, Merrie-Woode's spirit will linger;

Though at times it may grow dim, It will always live in our hearts.

Now as we part, let's keep in our hearts

The tiny spark of love we've shared

At our dear Camp Merrie-Woode®.

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