About Campfire Songs
Camp songs--those frivolous lyrics we sang over and over again around a campfire or on a school bus--actually served a purpose at one time. Both inspirational and familiar, camp songs are deep-rooted and packed with history. The lyrics are never forgotten though their meaning or significance may change with the times.
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Facts
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The origin of camp songs can be traced to a particular time or culture in history. Verse was taken from print, memories or passed down orally. Lyrics speak of experience and illustrate cultural nuisances. New lyrics were embellished from traditional song. Words were pertinent to a circumstance or motivation. Silly songs were fabricated from imagination. Camp songs have always been sung in gatherings with each person playing an integral part in either its refrain or its entirety.
History
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The art of camp songs is oral tradition. "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore" originated from African-American spiritual songs during the Civil War. "Blow the Man Down" and "Drunken Sailor" are traditional sea shanties of nineteenth century sailors. State songs, such as "Home on the Range" were selected by state legislatures. Ballads and folk songs, "If I Had a Hammer" and "Blowin' in the Wind" suggest the Progressive movement of 1949, peace, war and freedom.
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Significance
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Camp songs of spiritual content were sung by slaves and workers in the fields, bringing spirit and strength. The music brought unity to their unkind and grueling conditions. Like spiritual songs, sea shanties brought together men who toiled upon ships and sea. The songs had a purpose. With an almost nursery rhythm, the lyrics harmonized with the sailor's labors. Traditional ballads and folk songs have roots steeped in familiar by faraway places and family.
Types
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Camp songs span from spiritual and protest to historical, shanty and traditional. Action songs rouse people to raise voices. Counting songs like "The Ants Go Marching" sets a pace using numbers. Traditional songs and ballads speak of heritage and remembrance. A round in the vein of "There Was a Man" has recurring lyrics making it easy to follow. Some camp songs, such as "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt," are fun and entertaining but have no historical significance.
Function
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Today, camp songs are almost entirely sung for entertainment. Some however still serve a purpose--passing down oral tradition, paying tribute to the struggles of ancestors. These spiritual songs alleviated the weight of the struggle of those who shared a common plight or cause. Today the content still touches the heart. Camp songs which originated from protest songs continue to rally people together. Patriotic battle songs inspire and unite troops. As camp songs, the words similarly draw campers together.
Features
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Subject and rhythm contribute to the popularity of camp songs. Spiritual songs tended to be composed in the moment, reflecting suffering or understanding. Shanties, not to be confused with a ballad, served a purpose rather than amusement. Work songs were set to a tempo that synchronized to repetitive tasks. Ballads and folk songs had regional flavor. Specific words indicated cultural traditions. Camp songs took shape from these collective works and continue to be passed along.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Grounds, 1890, Library of Congress
