Camp Song: The Princess Pat
This is a repeat-after-me-song
The Princess Pat
Lived in a tree
She sailed across
The seven seas
She sailed across
The Channel Two
And she took with her
A rig of bamboo
CHORUS:
A rig of bamboo
Now what is that?
Its something made
By the Princess Pat
Its red and gold
And purple too
Thats why its called
A rig of bamboo
Now the Captain Jack
Had a mighty fine crew
He sailed across
The Channel Two
But his ship sank
And yours will too
If you dont take
A rig of bamboo
[CHORUS]
Now the Princess Pat
Saved Captain Jack
She pulled him out
She brought him back
She saved his life
And his crews too
Do you know how?
WITH A RIG OF BAMBOO
I first learned this song at Girl Scout Day Camp when I was in 2nd grade, but I have heard it at many other camps since then. It has always been a fun quirky song, and I always thought that it was rather nonsensical. Not only did I sing this song as a camper for many years at many different camps as a kid, but I have lead this song many times working as a camp counselor for the past 4 years. I didnt learn the last verse until I was looking through a girl scout song book a few years back and saw it, and I have not hear it sung by anyone but me since. I also have learned different motions for each of the different verses, and I have heard A rig of bamboo also slurred to be a Rikabamboo.
This song is generally sang repeat-after-me-style meaning that one person leads the song by singing the line and then everyone else repeats it back. Songs that can be sung in the repeat-after-me style are particular good in camp settings because you dont need to know the words to sing along so everyone can participate. There are also hand motions associated with the lyrics which are fun and get everyone more involved.
After doing some research on this song, I discovered that it is actually a parody of a song sung by Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), a unit of the Canadian Force. The regiment is named after Princess Patricia, who was the Governor of Canadas youngest daughter at the time of its creation, 1914, shortly after the outbreak of WWII. She was very well liked in Canada and was named Colonel in chief of the regiment at its creation. She also was responsible for designing and hand making the regimental colors that is referred to as the Ric-A-Dam-Doo, which is Gaelic for cloth of thy mother.
The original song recounts different missions and is generally used to boost morale. In this context, one can see the parallels between the camp song and the original, however it is not known when the camp song was adapted from the original. It is possible that the kids song might have been created by enemies of Canada in attempts to mock the army, however given the songs prevalence in the United States, which has never been enemies with Canada, this explanation does not seem likely. It is also possible that a Canadian adapted the song, or even former soldiers, as it is not uncommon for people to challenge authority, and take things that are very serious and turn them into something funny. Regardless, if people knew the origins of this song, I doubt that it would be considered politically correct and it would stop being sung at camp. However, due to the fact that the PPCLI is not well known in the United States, I see this song as fairly harmless.
For Original and another version with hand motions, see below.
Works Cited:
Princess Pats Canadian Light Infantry. Canadian Government Website. Last modified
April 17 2008. Viewed April 30 2008. http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/2PPCLI/content.html
The original version is as follows:
The Ric-A-Dam-Doo
The Princess Pat’s Battalion
They sailed across the Herring Pond,
They sailed across the Channel too,
And landed there with the Ric-A-Dam-Doo
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
The Princess Pat’s Battalion Scouts
They never knew their whereabouts.
If there’s a pub within a mile or two,
You’ll find them there with the Ric-A-Dam-Doo,
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
The Lewis Guns are always true
To every call of the Ric-A-Dam-Doo.
They’re always there with a burst or two
Whenever they see the Ric-A-Dam-Doo,
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
The Bombers of the Princess Pat’s
Are scared of naught, excepting rats,
They’re full of pep and dynamite too,
They’d never lose the Ric-A-Dam-Doo,
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
The Transport of the Princess Pat’s
Are all dressed up in Stetson hats.
They shine their brass and limbers too
I believe they’d shine the Ric-A-Dam-Doo,
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
Old Number Three, our company
We must fall in ten times a day.
If we fell out ‘twould never do
For then wed lose the Ric-A-Dam-Doo,
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
Old Charlie S., our Major dear,
Who always buys us rum and beer,
If there’s a trench in a mile or two
You’ll find him there with the Ric-A-Dam-Doo,
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
Old Ackity-Ack, our Colonel grand,
The leader of this noble band,
He’d go to Hell and charge right through
Before he’d lose the Ric-A-Dam-Doo,
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
Old Hammy Gault, our first PP,
He led this band across the sea,
He’d lose an arm, or leg or two
Before he’d lose the Ric-A-Dam-Doo,
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
And then we came to Sicily.
We leapt ashore with vim and glee.
The Colonel said the Wops are through
Let’s chase the Hun with the Ric-A-Dam-Doo,
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
The Ric-A-Dam-Doo, pray what is that?
‘Twas made at home by Princess Pat,
It’s Red and Gold and Royal Blue,
That’s what we call the Ric-A-Dam-Doo,
Dam-Doo, Dam-Doo.
Here is another variation that I found online with slightly different motions and hand gestures than the one that I had learned:
The Princess Pat (leader sings one line, others repeat)?(actions in brackets)
The Princess Pat (egyptian pose)
Light infantry (salute)
They sailed across (wave motion in front of body with one hand)
The seven seas (number 7 with your finger, then make a “C” with one hand)
They sailed across (wave motion)
The channel two (two hands tracing a channel, then number 2 on one hand)
And took with them (throw a sack over your shoulder)
A rick-a-bamboo! (trace a wavy figure in front of you going down, bend knees as you go)
A rick-a-bamboo (same as before)
Now what is that? (shrug shoulders, hold out hands)
It’s something made (bang one fist on top of the other)
For the Princess Pat (egyptian pose)
It’s red and gold (“twirl” one arm down by your hip)
And purple too (flip hands as if you were saying “Oh my gosh!”)
That’s why it’s called (cup hands in front of mouth, shout)
A rick-a-bamboo! (same as before)
Now Captain Dan (salute)
And his loyal crew (salute several times)
They sailed across (wave action)
The channel two (same as before)
But their ship sank (plug nose, one hand over head and waving as you bend knees)
And yours will too (point to others in the circle)
Unless you take (throw an invisible bag over your shoulder)
A rick-a-bamboo! (same as before)
A rick-a-bamboo (same as before)
Now what is that? (shrug shoulders, hold out hands)
It’s something made (bang one fist on top of the other)
For the Princess Pat (egyptian pose)
It’s red and gold (“twirl” one arm down by your hip)
And purple too (flip hands as if you were saying “Oh my gosh!”)
That’s why it’s called (cup hands in front of mouth, shout)
(everyone together) A rick-a-bamboo! (same as before)