Campfire songs to help the drive
There are many great things about Texas but driving an Interstate highway through west Texas is not one of them. I have to work at finding something to hold my interest as we motor through this area. When driving through west Texas, I call upon just about every campfire song I can recall. Since my family says I have a singing voice that is such if I sing in the shower, the water would back up, Fred realizes my actions desperate. But even he agreed learning some of my silly Girl Scout era campfire songs helped to pass the miles
After a day on I-20 and confusing the lyrics, I went on-line for my three favorite songs. Here are their lyrics for your use the next time you have a long stretching of boring highway. Don’t know the melody to any of these songs, do a search on YouTube. You’ll find other campfire songs there that might call up some good memories.
Clementine
In a cavern, In a canyon,
Excavating for a mine,
Dwelt a miner forty-niner,
And his daughter Clementine.
Chorus:
Oh my darling, Oh my darling,
Oh my darling Clementine,
You are lost and gone forever,
Dreadful sorry Clementine.
Light she was and like a fairy,
And her shoes were number nine;
Herring boxes, without topses,
Sandals were for Clementine.
Repeat chorus
Drove she ducklings to the water,
Every morning just at nine;
Hit her foot against a splinter,
Fell into the foaming brine.
Repeat chorus
Ruby lips above the water,
Blowing bubbles, soft and fine;
But Alas! I was no swimmer,
So I lost my Clementine.
Repeat chorus
When the miner forty-niner,
Soon began to peak and pine,
Thought he oughter “jine” his daughter,
Now he’s with his clementine.
Repeat chorus
In a corner of the churchyard,
Where the myrtle boughs entwine,
Grow the roses in their poses,
Fertilized by Clementine.
Repeat chorus
In my dreams she still doth haunt me,
Robed in garments soaked in brine.
Though in life I used to hug her,
Now she’s dead, I’ll draw the line.
Repeat chorus
How I missed her, how I missed her
How I missed my Clementine.
So I kissed her little sister,
And forgot my Clementine.
Repeat chorus
Buffalo Gals
As I was walking down the street,
Down the street, down the street,
A pretty little gal I chanced to meet,
Oh, she was fair to see.
Chorus:
Buffalo Gals, won’t you come out tonight,
Come out tonight, come out tonight.
Buffalo Gals, won’t you come out tonight
And dance by the light of the moon.
I stopped her and we had a talk,
Had a talk, had a talk,
Her feet took up the whole sidewalk
And left no room for me.
Repeat chorus
I asked her if she’d have a dance,
Have a dance, have a dance,
I thought that I might have a chance
To shake a foot with her.
Repeat chorus
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin’,
And her heel kept a-knockin’, and her toes kept a-rockin’
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin’
And we danced by the light of the moon.
Repeat chorus
Irene Goodnight
Chorus:
Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I’ll see you in my dreams
Last saturday night I got married
Me and my love settled down
Now me and my love are parted
I’m gonna take another stroll downtown
Repeat chorus
Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in the town
Sometimes I have a great notion
To jump In the river and drown
Repeat chorus
Ramblin’ stop your gamblin’
Stop stayin’ out late at night
Go home to your wife and your family
Sit down by the fireside bright
Repeat chorus
