Sad and Lonely Camp Songs

The sad and lonely camp songs bring a reflective mood to campers as they sit and sing the woes of lost lovers. Included here are the lyrics to a few of our favorites.

Photo by Lauri Wiberg

Red River Valley
From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
Which has brightened our pathway awhile

Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember the Red River Valley
And the one who has loved you so true

Won't you think of the valley you're leaving?
Oh, how lonely, how sad it will be
Oh, think of the fond heart you're breaking
And the grief you are causing to me

From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
Which has brightened our pathway awhile

Shenandoah
Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Far away you rolling river,
Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Away, we're bound away across the wide Missouri.

I long to see your smiling valley, . . .
'Tis seven long years since last I saw thee, . . .
When first I took a rambling notion, . . .
To sail across the briny ocean.

You Are My Sunshine
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You'll never know dear, how much I love you;
Please don't take my sunshine away.

The other night dear, when I was sleeping,
I dreamt I held you in my arms.
When I awoke dear, I was mistaken;
So I hung my head and I cried.

I'll always love you and make you happy,
If you will only say the same,
But if you leave me to love another,
You'll regret it all some day.

You told me once, dear, you really loved me,
And no one else could come between.
But now you've left me and love another,
You have shattered all my dreams.

Down in the Valley
Down in the valley, the valley so low,
Hang your head over, hear the winds blow.
Hear the winds blow, dear, hear the winds blow.
Hang your head over, hear the winds blow.

Down in the valley, walking between,
Telling our story, here's what it means.
Here's what it means, dear, here's what it means,
Telling our story, here's what it means.

Roses love sunshine, violets love dew,
Angels in heaven know I love you;
Know I love you, dear, know I love you,
Angels in heaven know I love you.

Build me a castle forty feet high,
So I can see him as he rides by;
As he rides by, dear, as he rides by,
So I can see him as he rides by.

Writing this letter, containing three lines,
Answer my question, "Will you be mine?"
"Will you be mine, dear, will you be mine,"
Answer my question, "Will you be mine?"

If you don't love me, love whom you please,
Throw your arms round me, give my heart ease.
Give my heart ease, dear, give my heart ease,
Throw your arms round me, give my heart ease.

Throw your arms round me, before it's too late;
Throw your arms round me, feel my heart break.
Feel my heart break, dear, feel my heart break.
Throw your arms round me, feel my heart break.

Old Smokey
On top of Old Smokey
All covered with snow
I lost my true lover
For a courting too slow

For courting is a pleasure
And parting is grief
And a false hearted lover
Is worse than a thief

A thief will just rob you
And take all you have
But a false hearted lover
Will lead you to the grave

The grave will decay you
And turn you to dust
Not one boy in a hundred
A poor girl can trust

They'll hug you and kiss you
And tell you more lies
Than cross-ties on a railroad
Or stars in the sky

So come all young maidens
And listen to me
Never place your affections
On a green willow tree

The roots they will wither
The leaves they will die
You'll all be forsaken
And never know why

IMPORTANT: We do not claim to have written any of these camp song lyrics. It’s very difficult to track the origin of the traditional camp songs. Many of the older songs are part of the public domain and we are unable to know if any are copyrighted. If you feel a song included here has infringed on a copyright, please let us know.

Heart Songs: A Poetic Journey of Truth

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