TOSEBO Songs

[hausser]

From Joel Bergquist:

This is a test of memory for all you loyal Tosebo-ites.

I remember riding in the old green camp truck, with Ross at the
wheel, while in the back sat a bunch of us campers singing camp
songs. I remember Skip Sage leading us in this. One of the songs I
really liked was "Green Grow the Rushes", but for the life of me, I
can't remember more than the first three verses. Can anybody help
fill in where this leaves off???

Green grow the rushes, ho
I'll sing you one ho,
Green grow the rushes ho.
What is your one ho?
One is one and all alone
And evermore shall be it so.

I'll sing you two ho
Green grow the rushes ho.
What is your two ho?
Two, two little white boys
Clothed and all in green ho.
One is one and all alone,
and evermore shall be it so.


I'll sing you three ho.
Green grow the rushes ho.
What is your three ho?
Three, three the rivals,
Oh, I've got two, two little white boys,
Clothed and all in green ho.
One is one and all alone,
And evermore shall be it so.


I'll sing you four ho.
Green grow the rushes ho.
What is your four ho?
[blank out....]

I think this song went all the way up to ten. Best regards to all,

Joel Bergquist '55 - '61

Response from Greg Scherschal:
Hi Joel:

I think I can help on this one:

Four for the Gospel Makers
Five for the symbols at your door
Six for the six brown walkers
Seven for the seven stars in the sky
Eight for the April rainers
Nine for the nine bright shiners
Ten for the 10 Commandments
Eleven for the 11 who went to heaven
Twelve for the 12 Apostles

Speaking of songs, who can forget "Roll her over, in the clover, roll her over, lay me down and do it again." That was another one Skip or someone perhaps way before his time taught us. I remember we always liked to sing that extra loud as we drove by the Bible Camp just before Crescent Beach road joined the state highway. Weren't we wild kids!

If anyone's interested, I could forward the full lyrics to that one as well. It's a great song for 12-year olds just getting ready to enter puberty.


Does anyone have a copy of the "real" camp songs. I don't remember if there was a book or if it was oral tradition, but I still find myself trying to remember some of the words.

Here's one:

By the blazing council fire's light,
We are met in comradeship tonight,
Round about the whispering trees
Guard our golden memories.
And so, before we close our eyes to sleep,
Let us pledge each other that we'll keep
Tosebo friendship strong and deep
Till we meet again."
(Followed by the scratchy recording of "Taps" over the loudspeaker from the Craft Shop).
It still brings me a smile.

Take care.

Greg Scherschel, Papoose Yellow Perch, Chief War Canoe, etc.
1958-62, 1969 and 70

From "Running Deer" Hausser:

...and I remember "There's a long, long trail awinding, ....," "Follow the Grail," and "Marching to Pratoria." And something mean about the Chippewas! ("Cheer, Cheer for the Chippawas, fighting and always losing the game. .....")

- Bob Hausser

 

[hausser]

I recall one time that we were singing "Roll me over in the Clover" while in
the Tosebo truck on the way to town. I knew it was dirty but I was too
young to understand the lyrics, or perhaps I should say what was behind the
lyrics, since they were so inocuous, e.g. "This is number one and its really
getting fun". Suddenly the truck pulled over and stopped. Hal Tonkin got
out and told us in no uncertain words that were to stop and that he wasn't
going to have us singing this trash while riding into town. It was one of
the few times that I him get really mad. We stopped.

The other song I slightly recall is something about "Its a long, long trail
a winding up to the ??? on the Hill". I thought it was the Tosebo song. It
was kind of dreary and I didn't much like it then, but now it makes me feel
nostalgic.

Neil Suits
1964-66


Fred Meyers adds:

As one of the co-song leaders (Ron and I),


There's a long long trail a-winding up to the tents on the hill,...etc

 

[hausser]

> I was listening to a 1950's radio station on satellite radio this weekend
> and they played "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini." Had to
> laugh because I remember Coach telling us the song was really about a guy
> and the REAL title was "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie."
>
> Doc Campbell


"Tosebo Songs" seem to have sparked new interest in a lot of former campers!
I have started a new "thread" on the Tosebo Forum, and have added several of
the recent E-Mails. I hope that is O.K. with the senders.

I also remember "John Jacob Jingle Himmer Schmidt."

And, possibly before "Politically Correct" became popular, "Onward Christian
Soldiers."

There were many adaptations of popular "fight" songs:

"The Caissons go Rolling Along" (Changed to the Blackfoot anthem - "Over
hill, Over dale, we will hit the dusty trail, as the Blackfeet go rolling
along!")

Notre Dame Fight Song (And for a Purdue Graduate, and a Blackfoot, I've
always hated that song!) ("Cheer, Cheer, for the Chippewas, ...")

Air Force Song: ("Off we go, into the wild....")

And because of the counselor staff, "Hail to the Victors."

(I can't remember at present, but there was another "Roll me over" type
song, sung mainly with a snipe full of non-adult campers, that I can't
recall.)

There were several Saturday nights when I played "Taps" on either a cornet
or trumpet - worried sick that I'd make a mistake! - but it was usually
broadcast on the main P.A. system from the craft shop.

Bob "Running Deer" Hausser 56-58

 

[hausser]

Gordie Bigalke Replies!

Bob,
I really enjoyed the group of messages about the "Tosebo
Songs". I don't what the first message was (for some
reason, I don't seem to get all of the messages and
updates.)
One of my favorites was "The Ship Titanic"
Oh, they build the ship Titanic,
just to sail the ocean blue,
And they thought they had a ship,
that the waves would never do,
But the Lord's almighty hand,
said the ship would never stand.
Oh, it was sad when that great ship went down.
Oh, it was sad (yes, it was sad) etc.
I also remember playing the piano for our prayer service on
Sundays and one of the favorites (that I've been trying to
find and haven't been able to locate) was "Follow the
Gleam". It was Grace Taylor's favorite and I always had
to play it for her when she visited.
Gordy B. 56-57

Gordie,

Good to hear from you, as I expect in the future to relate how much I
learned from you as my "Nature Counselor." You certainly shaped this
camper's life! So far this summer I have spent 10 nights camping in the
mountains and desert of Utah with my college-aged (Kenyon College Junior)
son, hopefully passing on some of your knowledge.

Yes, I well remember the "Sinking of the Titanic," which I have the original
version from the 1920's on a "White Man's Blues" CD collection. I had almost
forgotten that it was a TOSEBO staple!

I also remember the "prior-to-meals" playing on the camp's piano of "Heart
and Soul" and "Chopsticks," as we Non-musical campers played cards or
"carroms."

- Bob "Running Deer" Hausser '56 - '58

 

[hausser]

From Dave Wallace:

The last year I was at Camp (67) a disgusting little song appeared called
"Granny's in the Cellar"

Granny's in the cellar
Lordy can't ya smell 'er
Bakin biscuits on her greasy stove
In her eye there is some spatter
That keeps drippin in the batter
And she whistles while the (nose sound) goes down her nose

and it repeated until everyone's nose was dry

Don't know the origins of this little gem

Dave Wallace



...and I seem to remember a similarly disgusting song of:

Great Green Gobs of Greasy Grimey Gopher Guts, Mutilated Monkey Meat, Dialated Chicken Feet, ......

- Bob Hausser

 

[hausser]

Ross Taylor adds to the list of songs:

We will need to get copies of all the old Tosebo songs. Here is one.

I'M A CAMPER

Oh, I'm a camper, Tosebo camper
And my ears are made of leather
And they flop in windy weather;
Gosh o'hemlock
Tough as a pine knot
I'm a camper can't you see!

Several years ago we left our only Tosebo song book at Tosebo with Marie
and Don Baker who were managing Tosebo as a bed and breakfast. I expect
that we will be able to find it.

Regards,

Ross and Doris Taylor