Quiet songs for the evening campfires at Zoar Valley Camp

Quiet Campfire Songs at Zoar Valley

Some of these are from my old notebook.... some I have found on the web.  These are the lyrics as I remember them many decades later.

PEACE OF THE RIVER

Peace I ask of thee, oh river
Peace, peace, peace
When I learn to live serenely
Cares will cease

From the hills I gather courage
Visions of the days to be
Strength to lead and faith to follow
All are given unto me.

(repeat first verse.)

BED IS TOO SMALL

Sung in a very soft minor key...

Bed is too small for my tiredness.
Give me a hill topped with trees!
Tuck a cloud up under my chin.
Lord, blow the moon out - please.

Rock me to sleep in a cradle of dreams,
Sing me a lullaby of leaves.
Tuck a cloud up under my chin.
Lord, blow the moon out - please.

TALL TIMBERS CALLING

Tall timber calling and the echoes ring
All nature sings a song along the timber trail

Blue shadows falling, in the canyon pale
And the whispering pines entwine along the timber trail

While high above, the love song of the trees
Will wend, and bend, its way out on the breeze

Tall timbers calling as the echoes ring
All nature sings a song along the timber trail.

EACH CAMPFIRE LIGHTS ANEW 

Each campfire lights anew.

The flame of friendship true.

The joy we’ve had in knowing you,

Will last our whole life through.

And as the embers fade away,

We wish that we might ever stay.

But since we cannot have our way, 

We’ll come again some other day. 

I WANT TO LINGER 

Mmm‐‐ I want to linger

Mmm‐‐ a little longer 

Mmm‐‐ a little longer here with you 

Mmm‐‐ it’s such a perfect night

Mmm— it doesn’t seem quite right

Mmm‐‐ that it should be my last with you

Mmm‐‐ and come September 

Mmm‐‐ and I will remember

Mmm‐‐ the camping days I spent with you

Mmm‐‐ and as the years go by

Mmm‐‐ I’ll think of you and sigh

Mmm‐‐ this is goodnight and not goodbye

Mmm‐‐ I want to linger 

Mmm‐‐ a little longer

Mmm‐‐ a little longer here with you. 

RISE UP, O FLAME (round)

Rise up O Flame 

By thy light glowing

Show to us beauty. vision, and joy.

KUM-BA-YA 

Kum-ba-ya my Lord, Kum-ba-ya. 

Kum-ba-ya my Lord, Kum-ba-ya 

Kum-ba-ya my Lord, Kum-ba-ya 

Oh Lord, Kum-ba-ya. 

Someone's crying Lord... 

Someone’s hoping Lord... 

Someone's singing Lord... 

Someone's praying Lord... 

ALL NIGHT, ALL DAY 
(Trad. Black Spiritual) 

CHORUS 

All night, all day, Angels watching over me, my Lord 

All night, all day Angels watching over me. 

Day is dying in the west, Angels watching over me, my Lord. 

Sleep, my child, and take your rest, Angels watching over me. 

CHORUS 

Now I lay me down to sleep, Angels watching over me, my Lord 

Pray the Lord my soul to keep, Angels watching over me. 

CHORUS 

If I die before I wake, Angels watching over me, my Lord 

Pray the Lord my soul to take Angels watching over me 

CHORUS 

THE ASH GROVE (Trad. English folk song ) 

(This had a nice easy harmony, and I loved the song.  But we only sang the first few verses at Zoar Valley... years later, I discovered that there were more verses!)

Down yonder, green valley, Where streamlets meander 

When twilight is fading I pensively roam. 

Or at the bright noontide in solitude wander 

Amid the dark shades of the lovely ash grove. 

 Tis there where the blackbird is cheerfully singing 

Each warble enchants with his notes from the trees. 

Oh! Then little think I of sorrows or sadness 

The ash grove, the ash grove, spells beauty for me. 

(Traditional verses) Twas there while the blackbird was cheerfully singing, I first met that dear one, the joy of my heart, Around us for gladness, the bluebells were ringing. Ah! Then little thought I, how soon we would part Still glows the bright sunshine over valley and mountain. Still warbles the blackbird, its notes from the tree. Still trembles the moonbeam on streamlet and fountain, But what are the beauties of nature to me? With sorrow, deep sorrow, my heart is laden. All day I go mourning in search of my love. Ye echoes! Oh, tell me where is my sweet loved one. He sleeps ‘neath the green turf down by the Ash grove)

Been Riding

Been ridin' since daylight, through shadow and sunlight,

But now in the twilight ,we're travelin' slow.

The comin' stars guidin', we'll keep on a-ridin'

Down the trail where the sun hangs low.

    Joggin' along to nowhere,

    Joggin' along all day,

    Joggin' along to nowhere,

    We sure do know the way.

There's no cabin waitin', and nobody's watchin',

And no one to welcome us homeward, and so

We'll keep on together,

Whatever the weather,

Down the trail where the sun hangs low.

    Joggin' along to nowhere, (etc.)

Some day we'll quit ridin', the big Boss providin',

And then we'll be leavin' these trails that we know.

The sun will be settin', and we'll be forgettin'

Down the trail where the sun hangs low.

    Joggin' along to nowhere, (etc.)

WITCHCRAFT

If there were witchcraft,
I'd make two wishes
A winding road that beckons me to roam.
And then I'd wish for a blazing campfire
To welcome me when I'm returning home.
But in this real world, there is no witchcraft
And golden wishes never grow on trees.
Our fondest daydreams must be the magic
To bring us back happy memories
Mem'ries that linger, constant and true
Mem'ries we cherish, Zoar Valley Camp,  of you.

 

Closing ceremony at Zoar Valley

If you have read any of my posts about Zoar Valley, you probably have a clue that I really, really treasured the time I spent at camp.  Camp started on a Sunday, and ended two weeks later on a Saturday.  On the last Friday afternoon, each camper and counselor would spend part of the afternoon making a little boat out of natural materials... frequently, a piece of bark decorated with leaves and twigs and flowers, or a small woven raft decorated with flowers.  After dinner, all of the campers would hike a short distance down to the Cattaraugus each carrying a little boat.  (I remember one of my last years there, probably as staff.. we held the ceremony at the creek that ran right through camp.  But as a kid... I remember walking on the rocks, hiking down to the river.)

The ceremony was always incredibly bittersweet.  "Each campfire lights anew" "Peace of the River" "If there were witchcraft."  And of course, most tear-inducing....

I want to linger
A little longer
A little longer here with you

It's such a perfect night
It doesn't seem quite right
That it should be my last with you

And come September
I will remember
The happy days I spent with you

And as the years go by
I'll think of you and sigh....
This is goodnight, but not goodbye.

I want to linger
A little longer
A little longer here with you

Each of our little boats was decorated with a small candle.  At the end of the ceremony, each unit walked down to the water, each candle was lit, and each camper carefully launched her small boat.  I remember trying to watch for my boat amidst all of the bobbing lights... they said that if your candle was still lit when the boat went around the curve.... well, it meant that you would come back to Zoar, or it meant that your wish would come true... something like that.  Anyhow, I remember tearfully watching my little boat sail away, marking the end of another wonderful session at Zoar Valley. 

Flag ceremonies at Zoar Valley

Flag Ceremony at Zoar Valley Camp

Every morning, all of the units met in front of the Mess Hall for the flag ceremony.  The campers would file in by units, and form a large horseshoe. The units took turns presenting the flag ceremonies.  I've always been patriotic... and I liked participating in flag ceremonies as a camper, and I liked planning them as a counselor. I remember....

• learning how to raise and lower the flag
• learning how to fold a flag, properly
• readings... we had a book of readings, and one was chosen for each flag ceremony.  Many decades later, I remember a reading about remembering to help those "who have no hills to remember"
• songs... a patriotic song, and I remember learning the words to "Oh Canada" although I don't remember raising both flags every morning.  
• one song in particular... I remember that my unit (Pioneer) had flag ceremony duty on July 21, 1969.  The counselors on Pioneer had listened to the radio the previous night, while Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon.  Moved by this incredible event, I put the Star Spangled Banner into the flag ceremony the next morning.  It did not go well... I suspect because we started too high and completely failed on the high notes.  Afterwards, the Assistant Camp Director, told me, drily, that she thought that had been "a little ambitious."

After the flag ceremony, we would file out of the horseshoe formation by units, then break silence and line up at the Mess Hall for breakfast.  It was a lovely way to start every day.

Hiking to Burt's at Zoar Valley

Zoar Valley - Special Hike to Burt's

Burt's was a hamburger joint, located about (I am wildly guessing here) a couple of miles from camp.  When we were driving to Zoar Valley, passing Burt's was a signal to become very very very excited, because we were almost there.

But I also remember hiking to Burt's... a very long walk down a very dusty dirt road.  And of course we sang as we hiked.... The Ants Go Marching was a favorite hiking song, and Lonely Wanderer (Val-de-ree, Val-de-rah).   I guess we must have had some budget for ice creams - else why hike all the way to Burt's? - although I don't remember actually being at Burt's.  But I sure do remember hiking down that road!

Skits at Zoar Valley Camp

I remember two skits, but only one clearly.

Two campers, one standing directly behind the other.  Camper in front has arms behind second camper... second camper has arms twining through to the front.  (which probably makes no sense at all unless you remember the skit!)

Went something like this, and you will need to imagine some of the gestures.

One night, down on the old plantation, all was quiet.  Ma was doin' her knitting (gesture), Pa was reading his paper (gesture), and I was just sittin' around doin' nothin.' (gesture, one arm across chest, the other hand up supporting the head to one side.)

Then came a knock-knock-knock at the do'.  Pa said, "Lucille, you go get that do'!" And I said "yessir, yessir, yessir," (both campers sashaying right, left right), and I did.

There at the door was a tall, fat, skinny, little man.... and he said "Lucille, take me to see your Pa!" And I said "Yessir, etc.... )   And they talked -- politics, and politics, and politics, 'til I was SO tired I fell asleep.   (Many gestures)

(repeat)

(Third time.... )
There at the door was the same tall, fat, skinny little man.  And he said "Lucille, will you marry me?"  And I said Yessir, yessir, yessir, and I did!
===================================
The other one - at least I think it was a skit -- had to do with poor Nell being tied to the railroad tracks, and a refrain of "You MUST pay the rent" "I CAN'T pay the rent" etc.  Anybody remember that one?

I suspect that there were other "standard" skits ... surely the kids were not improvising that much!  But that's all I remember.

Campfires at Zoar Valley Camp

I always loved arriving at Zoar Valley... camp sessions started on Sunday afternoon, and arrival was a lovely chaotic scene of parents and girls and camp staff and luggage.  Eventually that was all sorted out, goodbyes were said, and I would find myself on my unit.  All good.  But the REAL feeling of being home again... the campfire that first evening of every session.

What is it about campfires?  At Zoar Valley, every unit had a nightly campfire.  We would gather the wood for the fire during the day, and have everything ready to go.  Like good campers everywhere, our preparations would include laying in a good supply of graham crackers, marshmallows, and Hershey bars.  (Truth be told, although I have eaten my share of S'Mores over the years, I am just as happy with toasted marshmallows.)

So at dusk, everyone would change into more mosquito- and chill-resistant clothing.... long sleeves, long pants, maybe a sweatshirt.  And along the paths to the campfire, flashlights flickering in the woods.

The best part?  The music.  I learned how to play guitar the first year I was a counselor at Zoar Valley... several of us had bought cheap folk guitars and we were teaching our selves and teaching one another.  I quickly got to the point where I could play basic chords... and the vast majority of camp songs require only basic chords, nothing more.   The guitars really enlivened the nightly singalongs around the campfire!  We would sing songs as we lit the fire, sing for an hour or so around the fire, sing a soft closing song before we extinguished the fire for that evening and headed off to our cots.

Sometimes the campfires included non-singing.. for example, "Going on a Lion Hunt."   Just spoken by one leader -- the kids participated in gestures and sounds.... We're going on a lion hunt!  You ready?  Let's go!  Leaving the house, shutting the door (sound of a slam)... walking down the path (hands slapping thighs, rhythmically).  Oh no!  Tall grass!  Can't go around it, can't go over it... we'll have to go through it (hands parting the grass, sounds of shhhh shhhh shhhh).  OK, whew, we made it.  Walking along, looking for the lions. (hands rhythmically on thighs again.)  Oh no!  A big river!  Can't go around it!  Can't go over it!  We'll have to go through it!  (swmming gestures, splashing noises)  ETc.  Until eventually we would SEE THE LION and quickly reverse all of the the steps, complete with gestures and noises until WHEW, we were back inside the house.

Sometimes we had little skits - some standard ones "Yessir, yessir, yessir" -- and others where the kids would come up with a little plot and lines, and act out the skits by the fire.

But mostly I remember the music.  Tall Timbers Calling.  Land of the Silver Birch.  These were songs for the campfire, not likely to be sung while hiking or preparing food or whatever.   I can see almost smell the woodsmoke.. i can see the circle of campers and staff around the fire.  Those were lovely, lovely evenings.

Many years later, far from Zoar Valley, a friend and I went camping in Maine.  By then I was very comfortable with my guitar!  Most evenings we would have a campfire.  Some nights, other nearby campers would wander over and sit a while and sing with us.  And we would toast marshmallows, and enjoy the firelight in the middle of the dark woods, and be happy.

What is it about a campfire?

Info about the sale of Zoar Valley Camp

Zoar Valley Camp was sold in 2011

Zoar Valley Camp was sold to a group of private investors.

http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2011/01/10/girl-scouts-sell-zoar-valley-camp-for.html?page=all

One of the new owners, Joe Leggett, is on FB, and is monitoring the FB page for the Zoar Valley Camp group on FB...   https://www.facebook.com/groups/2204514555/

I asked Joe if he would be running Zoar Valley as a camp - he said no, way too much money required to bring it up to code. A group has bought the camp property as a private recreational area.  Joe is very open to talking about reunions and visitors, though!