[Camp Songs] Classic camping songs. Campfire songs you can play along with
When you think of outdoor activities, the first thing that comes to mind is camping, right?
Many kids experience it through school events, family trips, or the Boy Scouts.
In this article, we’ll introduce camp songs and recreation songs that are perfect for camping.
We’ve also gathered lots of classic campfire songs—the highlight of any camp—so try learning them before the day and have fun together.
Camping is a valuable opportunity to feel the earth and the blessings of nature with your children or friends.
If you’re thinking, “I absolutely want to make it a great time!”, be sure to check this out!
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[Camp Songs] Classic camping songs. Fun campfire songs (11–20)
You children who herald the dawnLyrics by Toru Kasagi / Music by Noboru Hosoda
As a classic camp song passed down across generations, many of you may already know this heartwarming piece.
The lyrics were written by folk singer Toru Kasagi, with music composed by Noboru Hosoda.
Each word, imbued with a gentle gaze toward the children who will carry the future, seeps into the heart on a simple, beautiful melody.
It was created as the theme song for the 1977 educational documentary film “The Road to Dawn,” and there is also a 1978 recording sung by Mitsuko Horie.
It was included in the album “Camp Song” in 2007.
Perfect for singing together around a campfire, it will also add a moving touch to occasions celebrating new beginnings, such as kindergarten graduation ceremonies.
A quiet lakeside
This song is a nursery rhyme, but it’s also often sung as a round.
Its original sources are said to be the Swiss children’s song “Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer” and the American children’s song “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” though singing it as a round is apparently unique to Japan.
The calls of cuckoos and owls match campgrounds well, so it’s a great recommendation.
It’s a simple melody that everyone knows, so it’s often used in commercials with parody lyrics.
BelieveRyuichi Sugimoto
This song, which encourages friends facing hardship and sings of believing in hope for the future, is a work by Ryuichi Sugimoto from 1998.
It first appeared on the album “BELIEVE: NHK Ikimono Chikyū Kikō Soundtrack III,” and became widely beloved as the ending theme for the NHK program “Ikimono Chikyū Kikō” (The Great Nature).
Its warm, powerful message and accessible melody have created moving moments in numerous visual works, including the drama “Dr.
Coto’s Clinic 2004” and the anime “SSSS.
GRIDMAN,” and it continues to be loved across generations.
Singing it with friends around a campfire will make for a heartwarming time.
It’s also a perfect song to cheer on someone embarking on a new chapter.
Oh! SusannaStephen Foster
Stephen Foster’s “Oh! Susanna” is a classic that’s deeply etched in American music history.
Composed in 1848, the song has long been cherished as a symbol of the westward expansion era.
It vividly portrays both the yearning for a loved one and the spirit of adventure on the road, resonating with listeners’ hearts.
Sing it together around a campfire and you’re sure to make great memories! It’s fun to belt it out a cappella, but it also works wonderfully with ukulele or guitar accompaniment.
World of StarsLyrics by Ryuko Kawaji / Music by C. Converse
This piece features a gentle, serene melody that resonates in the heart, inviting thoughts to wander into a night sky strewn with glittering stars.
The song sets familiar Japanese lyrics by poet Kawaji Ryūkō to a hymn melody that was originally beloved overseas.
Its appeal lies in how it expresses awe for the mysteries of the universe and the beauty of nature in a way anyone can relate to.
Adopted into elementary school music textbooks in 1952, it has been sung across generations ever since.
The NHK Tokyo Children’s Choir’s rendition is included on the album “[Best!] Minna no…,” and Keishi Mukaizato’s sanshin arrangement appears on the album “Heart and Mind: The Breeze of Ryukyu Played on the Sanshin.” Humming it around a campfire is sure to create unforgettable memories.
It also adds a warm emotional touch to quiet moments spent in nature.
MacarenaLos Del Rio
Released in 1993 by the Spanish pop duo Los del Río, this song became a global hit that defined the ’90s.
With its catchy melody, upbeat rhythm, and easy-to-remember dance moves, it has captivated people of all ages and is a popular choice at weddings, sporting events, and more.
Dance it together during outdoor activities like campfires, and the energy will skyrocket in no time.
It’s the perfect track for creating fun memories—liven up your camp night with this song!
[Camp Songs] Classic camping songs. Fun campfire songs (21–30)
Burn, burnLyrics: Unknown / Music: French folk song
It’s a classic song often sung during recreational and outdoor activities like campfires.
The original seems to be a French folk song, but because the exact title and composer are unknown, it intriguingly exists as different pieces under other titles and lyrics.
In the case of this particular song, the title and lyrics describe the campfire flames themselves, making it a perfect fit for a campfire setting.