Cubmaster shares lyrics for funny pack song he penned

A couple of years ago, Mitch Lynch, Cubmaster of Pack 2010 in Aldie, Va., sang his version of Irving Berlin’s “Gee, I Wish I Was Back in the Army” at the pack’s blue and gold banquet. He got the idea while planning the banquet’s program over Christmastime.

“The song really came together after watching Bing Crosby and Danny Kay sing the original song in White Christmas too many times,” Lynch says. “It humorously compares enlisted and civilian life, and I thought it would be funny to preview to our Arrow of Light Scouts just how easy they have it before moving on to Boy Scouts.”

Lynch’s son recently crossed over into the Scouts BSA program and is part of Troop 924 in Haymarket, Va.

“It’s only a matter of time before I talk some Scoutmasters into joining me for a reprise performance around a future campfire,” Lynch says.

Watch his performance below and take a look at his funny lyrics. Maybe you’d like to learn them for an upcoming den or pack meeting:

If your unit isn’t meeting in-person yet, you can always sing during a videoconference meeting. Check BSA guidelines for using video apps here.

If your unit is meeting again during the COVID-19 pandemic or is planning to, make sure to review these guidelines for restarting Scouting.

The lyrics for ‘Gee, I Wish I Was Back in the Cub Scouts’

Intro:

When I was Webelo’d out

I thought without a doubt

That I was through with all my care and strife

I thought that I was then

The happiest of men

But after years and years of Boy Scout life

Verse #1:

Gee, I wish I was back in the Cub Scouts

The Cub Scouts wasn’t really bad at all

Camping for the day,

Pitch your tent then play,

And food you didn’t have to cook at all

Gee, I wish I was back in the Cub Scouts

A life without responsibility

A Cub that’s out of luck

Was never really stuck

Say you tried to “Do Your Best” and then you pass the buck

Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Cub Scouts

Verse #2:

There’s a lot to be said for the Cub Scouts

Expectations weren’t too high to meet

We would carve some soap

And effortlessly dope Leaders into thinking it was neat

Gee, I wish I was back in the Cub Scouts

A boy was never bored for very long

BB guns became

The source of all my fame

And all I had to recollect was “Ready, Fire, Aim”

Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Cub Scouts

Verse #3:

There’s a lot to be said for the Cub Scouts

The leaders made it easy to advance

Adventure loops and pins

We’d earn them in our dens

Coasting rank to rank with all our friends

Gee, I wish I was back in the Cub Scouts

Your Mom and Dad were never far away

You’d get a block of pine

You’d trace out your design

And Dad would engineer it but those medals earned were mine

Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Cub Scouts

Outro:

Eagle Scout someday, Seems so… far away

Loads of merit badges

Are getting in my way

I thought that I was through with all my care and strife

But after years and years of tough Scouting life

Oh, gee, I wish I was back in the Cub Scouts now

More songs

Since many council camps have closed for the summer because of the pandemic, you might be missing those cherished camp songs. Philmont Scout Ranch is also closed this summer. Musicologist Ellyn Washburne has recorded many tunes at the New Mexico high-adventure base that you can listen to here.

For more fun Cub Scout songs, check out the Songbook, now available digitally.

If you have a fun tune you’d like to share, you can submit it at go.scoutingmagazine.org/showandtell or you can email us at onscouting@scouting.org.