Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series about the song "Make New Friends" ("Make New Friends, But Keep The Old").
This post provides information about the Girl Scouts' friendship circle and friendship squeeze as well as information about the spin (untwisting) that may occur after the linked arm version of the friendship circle.
This post also showcases video examples of Girl Scouts singing "Make New Friends" in friendship circles. In these videos, "Make New Friends" isn't sung in a round.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/12/make-new-friends-make-new-friends-but.html for Part I of this series. Part I provides comments about Joseph Parry who created the poem that serves as the basis for the song "Make New Friends".
Comments about the Girl Scouts and about others singing "Make New Friends" are also included in this post along with some additional verses for this song.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/12/video-examples-of-singing-make-new.html for Part III of this series. Part III showcases videos of "Make New Friends" being sung in the musical format known as "a round" by choirs and by Girl Scouts. Part III also showcases videos of "Make New Friends" sung in American Sign Language (ASL).
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and educational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Joseph Parry, the author of the late 19th century poem that forms the basis of the song "Make New Friends". Thanks also to all the other people who have contributed verses to this song and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Pancocojams Editor's Note:
The inclusion of this series on this pancocojams blog (whose purpose is to present examples of Black cultures throughout the world) doesn't mean that this song was composed by or was/is only sung by Black people.
I'm including information about the song "Make New Friends But Keep The Old" because I was curious about it as a result of seeing it performed by my granddaughter, a Daisy Girl Scout, and by other members of various Girl Scout troupes at a recent event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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INFORMATION ABOUT GIRL SCOUT FRIENDSHIP CIRCLES & FRIENDSHIP SQUEEZE
I.From https://daisyscouts.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/friendship-squeeze-make-new-friends/ Friendship Squeeze & Make New Friends; November 14, 2009 — Heidi
"Friendship Squeeze
Have all girls and adults stand in a circle holding hands.
You can do the traditional right over left crossed arms if it is not too complicated.
Discuss the purpose and the “rules” of the squeeze, we are passing our friendship on to the next girl in the form of a gentle squeeze, reminding us that we are all connected to each other. No hard squeezes and no fake squeezes.
You may have to practice several times to get it right. You might ask the girls when they have received
the squeeze to put their right foot into the circle, or you can keep its location a secret.
You usually start the squeeze but later on you can designate a special girl to start it.
When the squeeze gets back to you, you can say “Goodnight, Daisies” or goodbye or whatever is
appropriate and release them.
Older Girl Scouts like to spin out. On the signal and still holding hands, each girl at once lifts their
crossed arms over their heads and turns facing outside of the circle, uncrossing their hands and bringing
them down by their sides. They then release hands.
Make New Friends
Make new friends, but keep the old.
One is silver, the other is gold.
A circle is round, it has no end.
That’s how long, I will be your friend.
A fire burns bright, it warms the heart.
We’ve been friends, from the very start.
You have one hand, I have the other.
Put them together, We have each other.
Silver is precious, Gold is too.
I am precious, and so are you.
You help me, and I’ll help you
and together we will see it through.
The sky is blue, The Earth is green
I can help to keep it clean
Across the land, Across the sea
Friends forever, We will always be
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II. From http://londongirlscoutsrocks.blogspot.com/2010/08/friendship-circle-girl-scout-tradition.html
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2010; POSTED BY GIRL SCOUTS ROCK!
"Friendship Circle... A Girl Scout Tradition
The friendship circle is often formed at the end of meetings or campfires as a sort of closing ceremony. Everyone gathers in a circle where they cross their right arm over their left in front of them and hold hands with the people on either side. Once everyone is silent, the leader starts the friendship squeeze which is passed from hand to hand. Often the girls will silently make a wish or think of something they are thankful for after their hand has been squeezed before they pass the squeeze along. Also, in some larger groups, the girls put their right foot out into the circle when they receive the friendship squeeze, so that everyone can see it travel along the circle."
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III. From https://www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-scouts/traditions.html
"Traditions
Traditions give Girl Scouts a sense of history—and inspire them to be the best they can be.
Sharing traditions with millions of Girl Scouts—and the huge network of Girl Scout alumnae who came before them—helps remind girls they belong to a big, powerful sisterhood
[...]
Friendship Circle: Representing the unbroken chain of friendship among Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world, the Friendship Circle involves Girl Scouts standing in a circle, crossing their right arms over their left, and clasping hands with their friends on both sides."
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The Girl Scout tradition of standing in a circle and linking arms while singing "Make New Friends" reminds me of the custom of linking arms while singing the American civil rights song "We Shall Overcome". Notice that in some of the Girl Scouts "Make New Friends" videos embedded in this post that some of the girls sway back in forth or shake their hands up and down to the beat while singing that song. The "swaying back and forth" movement is also sometimes done while singing "We Shall Overcome". I remember that accompanying movement being done in the mid 1960s when people sung "We Shall Overcome" and it still is sometimes done now (in the 2000s).
My guess is that the linked arm, swaying movement was done while singing "We Shall "We Shall Overcome" before it was done while singing "Make New Friends."
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-we-shall-overcome-civil-rights-song.html for a pancocojams post entitled The "We Shall Overcome" Civil Rights Song & Its Linked Arms/ Hands Held Stance.
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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Video #1: Girl Scout Friendship Circle
GingerBlossom, Published on Dec 10, 2009
Ginger doing girl scout friendship circle.
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Video #2: Girl Scout songs and closing circle
Susan Filicicchia, Published on Sep 26, 2012
Troop 16108 sings a few Girl Scout songs and shows how to complete a friendship circle, which is perfect for closing a meeting or event.
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Video #3: Make New Friends
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, Published on Nov 21, 2014
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Video #4: Cambridge WI Daisy Girl Scouts, singing "Make New Friends" Nov. 2014
Carolyn Bryant, Published on Nov 25, 2014
Cambridge WI Daisy Girl Scouts
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Video #5: Girl Scouts 101 - Circle Friendship Song
T Nugteren, Published on May 23, 2015
To earn our Bronze Award, our troop has made 'Girl Scout 101' videos, to share important facets of Girl Scouts with others. This information is great for girls who may be interested in Girl Scouts, young or new troops and even older girls who are joining Girl Scouts for the first time.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is a leadership adventure and the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior (or girls in 4th & 5th grade) can achieve.
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Video #6: Girl Scout Camp 2017 Make New Friends Circle
Carolyn Bryant, Published on Dec 25, 2017
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This concludes Part II of this three part pancocojams series about the song "Make New Friends".
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