[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!
- [BGM] Japanese songs for campfires and BBQs: A playlist of J-pop to enjoy while camping
- [Scout Songs] Classic & Popular Songs of the Boy Scouts
- [Classic Camp Songs] Recommended Tracks to Enjoy with Family and Friends in Nature
- Songs you can dance to around the campfire. A roundup of recommended tracks for dancing.
- Warm BGM perfect for camping
- Recommended songs about mountains: classic and popular tracks for mountaineering and mountain songs
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- Music I want to listen to while camping: jazzy BGM
- Recommended songs for solo camping to listen to in nature
- [Music Play] Children’s Recreational Music: Rec Songs You Can Sing and Play
- [Elementary School Music] List of Popular and Nostalgic Songs That Have Appeared in Textbooks
- Masterpieces that sing of the stars. Star songs that resonate in the heart, best heard beneath the night sky.
[Camp Songs] Classic camping songs. Fun campfire songs (41–50)
Watermelon-producing regionSakkyoku: Amerika min’yō/yakushi: Takada Sakuzō
How about watermelon for a camping dessert? When you think of watermelon, you might picture the beach or the pool, but it’s perfect as a camp meal dessert too! Chill it in the river water for a while, and it’ll be amazing as a treat after a delicious meal or as a snack! And when that moment comes, why not pair it with the whimsical song “Suika no Meisanchi” (The Watermelon Growing Region)? Don’t you start to feel cheerful when the poppy, irresistibly groovy melody blends with the fantastical lyrics about making friends and even having a wedding in the land of watermelons? Enjoy some tasty watermelon and have fun singing along!
Jenka
The original song is the Finnish dance tune “Letkajenkka.” The title has also been translated as “Schottische Danced in a Line.” The dance style features an American-born choreography where people line up, hold the waist of the person in front, and hop as they dance.
It seems to have taken root in Japan just as it is.
It’s perfect for campfires.
Song of the Mountain BanditsSakushi: Tajima Hiroshi / Sakkyoku: Kojima Yuka
This “Bandit’s Song” is one you can sing like a chase, with everyone taking turns following the lyrics.
Some kids might think “bandits” sound scary, but don’t worry.
The words feel like they’re saying that with stars and the moon shining in the dark night sky, and friends huddled close together, even a long night won’t feel lonely.
Because most of the lyrics are sung back and forth like echoes, it’s perfect for scenes with lots of friends, like camping or around a campfire! Both the lyrics and the melody are simple, so even those who don’t know the song can start singing right away!
I can hear the camp song
As the title suggests, “I Can Hear the Camp Song” is a folk song that’s perfect for camping.
Its cheerful lyrics evoke the warmth of nature, making it popular as a children’s choral piece as well.
If you’re singing it at a campsite, accompanying it with an acoustic guitar should make it easier to sing.
There are harmony sections, so if you’re confident in your singing, try taking the harmony part.
Youth CyclingSakkyoku: Koga Masao / Sakushi: Tanaka Kikuko
As the title suggests, it’s a perfect outdoor song with a cycling theme.
Composed by Masao Koga with lyrics by Kikuko Tanaka, it was released in 1957.
The original was performed by country singer Kazuya Kosaka—nicknamed the “Japanese Elvis.”
Vista (Free, Fly, Flow)
“Vista” is a gesture song familiar to those in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
For those who don’t know it, it can bring a fresh sense of fun.
You slap your thighs and use them like percussion instruments.
At the end, you bring your index finger to your lips and finish quietly.
Some people may have seen Haruna Kondo of the comedy duo Harisenbon perform it on television.
Funiculi FuniculaSakkyoku: Ruīji Denza
Originally an Italian song, it was composed to attract customers to the mountain railway Funicolare.
However, for many Japanese people, hearing this melody makes them want to hum the lyrics of the children’s song “Oni no Pants.” Since it’s a classic among kids, if one person starts singing, it will surely turn into a big chorus and liven up the mood.