[Camp Songs] Classic camping songs. Campfire songs you can play along with

The sun sets behind the distant mountains.Lyrics by Keizo Horiuchi / Music by Antonín Dvořák

The sun sets behind the distant mountains.

“The Sun Sets Behind the Distant Hills” is a song with lyrics set to one of the arrangements of the second movement from Dvořák’s Symphony No.

9, “From the New World.” Its gentle, refined, and beautiful melody, paired with lyrics that depict the coming of dusk, make it perfect for everyone to sing together while watching the sunset at a campsite.

Lively, boisterous outdoor fun is great, but sharing a brief, tranquil moment with everyone is wonderful too.

Friendship HymnLyrics by Hiroo Sakata / Music: American folk song

Friendship Hymn

“Tomodachi Sanka” (Ode to Friendship) is a children’s song with lyrics by Hiroo Sakata set to the American folk tune “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The melody is also familiar from versions with different lyrics, such as “Gombe-san no Akachan” and the Yodobashi Camera jingle.

Its bright, buoyant melody, perfect for belting out with gusto, makes it ideal as a camp song.

Just as the lyrics suggest, let’s sing it together with all our camping friends.

Children all over the worldLyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa / Music by Hirotaka Nakagawa

Children all over the world

It’s a happy song imbued with the wish for not only Japanese people but everyone in the world to be happy.

It’s one of the songs often sung in children’s music, kindergartens, and elementary schools, but it’s a tune people of all ages can enjoy singing.

The lyrics are positive, telling us that although there are many difficult and sad things in the world, if we don’t forget to smile, good things will surely come.

Mayim Mayim

The correct way to dance Mayim Mayim – Mayim Mayim teach and dance

In songs whose lyrics incorporate biblical phrases, the piece “Mayim Mayim” translates to “Water! Water!” It is said to be a song expressing the joy of Jews who returned from around the world to the land of present-day Israel, drawing water and working hard to cultivate the land.

In Japan, it is a staple of folk dance, so it might be fun for everyone to dance to it together.

It's mealtime, it's mealtime—come on, let's eat!

It's mealtime! It's mealtime!

“It’s a melody that sounds familiar, but somehow different?” It’s that kind of fun song.

In fact, it’s a parody of the American folk song “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” cheerfully and brightly singing about the happiness and joy of everyone being able to eat.

Since it’s a parody, there doesn’t seem to be a single definitive set of lyrics.

At camp, cooking is one of the fun activities, so it might be enjoyable for everyone to make up parody lyrics to match the menu you’re preparing and sing them together.

Genghis Khan (also refers to a Japanese grilled mutton dish called 'Jingisukan')

Genghis Khan (with choreography) [Dance]

This song, which was danced to in the synchronized swimming scene of the drama “Water Boys” and used in various TV moments, has stuck in many people’s ears.

It’s a curious, addictive track where, apart from the title “Dschinghis Khan,” you can’t really tell what they’re saying! Originally by the German music group Dschinghis Khan, it exists in multiple language versions, including German, English, Chinese, and Japanese.

Even if you don’t understand the lyrics, the kind of melody that makes your body move as soon as it plays is perfect for a campfire! Match the soaring flames and dance however you like!

Korobushka

Korobushka

The Russian folk song Korobushka is a piece used when dancing folk dances at school.

Let’s all join hands and dance to its exotic, wistful melody.

Be careful not to be shy about holding hands or refuse to do so, as it can hurt your partner’s feelings.

Dancing around the campfire in a circle creates a perfect mood.