Five great blue and gold banquet songs

February is the month we celebrate the anniversary of exploration. Most Cub Scout packs celebrate with a blue and gold banquet. Music can be an important and fun part of the Blue and Gold program. Here, I have chosen just a few songs that could help you plan the musical part of your show.

Before I share the songs with you, let me give you some tips to lead the song.

1. It helps to have a guitar or piano accompanist. I know that most scout groups only sing a cappella. In fact, some songs sound great without accompaniment. But I think an accompaniment adds a lot to most songs. Find someone who plays the guitar and give them the music a few days or weeks ahead of time and let them know what you want to do.
2. Have fun! Get a little silly with silly songs! Young children love to be silly, and they love it even more if an adult can be silly to them. It takes patience, love, and determination, but it’s worth it. Of course, you don’t want them to swing off the rafters, so a certain amount of control is still needed.
3. Motion songs are great because kids can move. Songs like “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” and “If you’re happy and you know it” fit the bill perfectly.
4. Songs that are based on the creativity of the participants are also a lot of fun. “Jenny Jenkins”, “There are no mistakes in me” and “Chumbara” are excellent. Children have to make up words to create new verses and they are easy to do.
5. If the mood is right, close with something like “Taps.” In a way, it refocuses the group.

These are some of the songs he would do:

My Bonnie:

This is a good song to get the boys moving. Whenever you sing the letter “B”, it goes back and forth between sitting and standing. For example: My Bonnie (standing) lies on the ocean, My Bonnie (sit) lies on the sea, My Bonnie (standing) lies on the ocean. Oh Bring (sit) Back (standing) my Bonnie (sit down) for me.

Bring holder) Back (to sit), Bring holder) Back (to sit), O Bring holder) Back (sit down) my Bonnie (standing) for me, for me. Bring holder) Back (to sit), Bring holder) Back (to sit), O Bring holder) Back (sit down) my Bonnie (standing) for me.

I like to go faster every time we sing it.

If you are happy and you know it:

When you’re ready for some movement, this is fun to do. In the Great American Campfire Songbook, I have written three verses for you to sing, but you can make up more on your own. If you can’t think of any, the kids can probably help you.

Chumbara:

Chumbara is a Canadian folk song and it is a 3 syllable word over and over again. To make up new verses, just use any 3-syllable word. Names, places, and foods are good words to use, like: E-mi-ly, or spa-ghet-ti, or blue-ber-ry, or pi-a-no. You can experiment and use words of 2, 4 or more syllables. The great thing about these songs is that you can try whatever you want!

My Bonnie is over the ocean:

You need to be seated to listen to this song. Whenever he reaches ab, he either stands or sits, going back and forth between sitting and standing.

Taps:

This is a nice and peaceful song to finish. It uses the melody of the cornet called ‘Taps’. You can find the lyrics, music, and chords in The Great American Songbook. You can also find just the lyrics to “Taps” on Google.

Of course, there are many more songs that you could use; these are just some of my suggestions. Good luck and have a great blue and gold!