Youth Activity Archive

A rhythmic chant-style song with motions that tell the story of Princess Pat’s banner.

This is a Repeat and Answer Song. This song has movements – see recordings to learn the traditional movements.

Recordings

• Spotify – Melinda Carol
• YouTube – Girl Scout Songs
• YouTube – GSNV – shows third verse movements
• YouTube – Ultimate Camp Resource
• YouTube – HCY Camp
• YouTube – The Learning Station – shows third verse movements

Lyrics

Chorus:
A rick-a-bamboo, (a rick-a-bamboo) <Hands wave down, move hips>
Now what is that? (now what is that?) <Raise hands in “I don’t know” gesture>
Its something made, (its something made) <Move fists one on top of the other>
By the Princess Pat, (by the princess pat) <Repeat Egyptian move>
Its red and gold, (its red and gold) <Jazz hands>
And purple too, (and purple too) <Hold up two fingers>
That’s why its called, (that’s why its called) <Place hands around mouth to yell>
A rick-a-bamboo, (a rick-a-bamboo) <Hands wave down, move hips>

Sing each Verse followed by the Chorus:

The Princess Pat, (the princess pat) <Egyptian hand movement & hips>
Lived in a tree, (lived in a tree) <Arms up over heads, making a tree bow>
She sailed across, (she sailed across) <Wave hands over water>
The seven Seas, (the seven seas) <Hold up seven fingers, then shape hand into a “C”>
She sailed across, (she sailed across) <Repeat wave hands over water>
The channel two, (the channel two) <Outline a channel, Then hold up two fingers>
And she took with her, (and she took with her) <Sling bag over shoulder>
A rick-a-bamboo, (a rick-a-bamboo) <Hands wave down, move hips>

Now Captain Jack, (now Captain Jack) <Salute>
Had a mighty fine crew (had a mighty fine crew) <Hold up jacket lapels>
He sailed across, (he sailed across) <Wave hands over water>
The channel two, (the channel two) <Outline a channel, Then hold up two fingers>
But his ship sank, (but his ship sank) <Hold nose and move body like sinking>
And yours will too, (and yours will too) <Point and hold up two fingers>
If you don’t take, (if you don’t take) <Sling bag over shoulder>
A rick-a-bamboo (a rick-a-bamboo) <Hands wave down, move hips>

The Princess Pat, (The Princess Pat) <Repeat Egyptian move>
saw Captain Jack. (saw Captain Jack.) <Salute>
She reeled him in, (She reeled him in) <Pull in imaginary rope>
and brought him back. (and brought him back.) <Pull arms towards body>
She saved his life, (She saved his life) <Pat chest over heart>
and his crew’s too, (and his crew’s too,) <Good job fist pump>
And do ya know how? (And do ya know how) <Raise hands in “I don’t know” gesture>
– with a rick-a-bamboo! (with a rick-a-bamboo!) <Hands wave down, move hips>

History

The song refers to Princess Patricia of Connaught (1886–1974), a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. In 1914, at the start of WWI, a Canadian regiment was named in her honor: the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). She was their Colonel-in-Chief and famously hand-sewed the regiment’s first colors (flag).

The “Rick-a-bamboo” in the song is a folk corruption of the Gaelic phrase “Ric-A-Dam-Doo,” which reportedly means “The cloth of our mother.” This was the nickname given to the hand-sewn regimental flag Patricia gave to her soldiers. In the original military context, it was a symbol of protection and pride. In the scouting version, it became a mysterious, magical something that saves the day.

The song transitioned from a patriotic Canadian regimental tribute into a nonsense echo song in the mid-20th century. The colors mentioned (“red and gold and purple too”) are a direct reference to the Royal Standard and the regimental colors of the PPCLI.

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