At Wood Badge camp I served a span
As a junior helper to the clean-up man.
I burned the garbage and I cleaned the bunks,
And I chased through the forest after coons and skunks.
Chorus: He chased through the forest after coons and skunks.
I chased those critters with zip and zing,
So they finally awarded me a Wood Badge string.
Chorus: He chased those critters with zip and zing,
Till they finally awarded him a Wood Badge string.
As a clean-up man, I gained such fame
That vice-dishwasher I soon became.
I scrubbed the silver and I scoured the pans,
And rinsed the dishes in a garbage can.
Chorus: He rinsed the dishes in a garbage can.
I dried those dishes with a mighty swing,
So they finally awarded me a Wood Badge string.
Chorus: He dried those dishes with a mighty swing,
So they finally awarded him a Wood Badge string.
One day I started to relax,
So someone handed me a woodman's ax;
I chopped and hauled and sawed and split,
But the wood-pile never seemed to grow a bit.
Chorus: No, the wood-pile never seemed to grow a bit.
I kept the fires a-smoldering
Till they finally awarded me a Wood Badge string.
Chorus: He kept the fires a-smoldering
Till they finally awarded him a Wood Badge string.
My fires smoldered dim and red
Until they made me cook instead;
I spilled the pudding and I burned the meat
Till there was nothing in the place to eat.
Chorus: No, there was nothing in the place to eat.
And so as the cook I had my fling,
And they finally awarded me a Wood Badge string.
Chorus: And so as a cook he had his fling,
And they finally awarded him a Wood Badge string
On service patrol, I did my bit
At cleaning up the building where the people sit;
I swept the floor and I spread the lime,
And I did a little sitting in my own spare time.
Chorus: He did a little sitting in his own spare time.
I sat so little on that wooded thing
That they finally awarded me a Wood Badge string.
Chorus: He sat so little on that wooded thing
That they finally awarded him a Wood Badge string.
Our service work was so grand,
We were all promoted to the kudu band;
We blew and blew, and we raised a shout
We were all promoted to the kudu band;
We blew and blew, and we raised a shout
When finally a feeble little note came out.
Chorus: Yes, finally a feeble little note came out.
I made that note through the woods to ring
Till they finally awarded me a Wood Badge string.
Chorus: He made that note through the woods to ring
Till they finally awarded him a Wood Badge string.
We hurried around with ne'er a break
Till muscle and nerve began to shake,
But I achieved such self-control
I was made the leader of the whole patrol.
Chorus: He was made the leader of the whole patrol.
My patrol did march and shout and sing
Till they finally awarded me a Wood Badge string.
Chorus: His patrol did march and shout and sing
Till they finally awarded him a Wood Badge string.
So, Scouters, that's my story sad
Of the toilsome winning of the Gilwell Plaid.
You walk and work from sun to sun,
But still, you're sorry when the week is done.
Chorus: Oh, yes, you're sorry when the week is done.
So never draw the line at a dawgone thing
If you want to be rewarded with a Wood Badge string.
So never draw the line at a dawgone thing
If you want to be rewarded with a Wood Badge string.
Chorus: No, never draw the line at a dawgone thing
If you want to be rewarded with a Wood Badge string.