Born in Valdosta, Georgia, and raised in Marietta, Georgia, Royal became a local star at the Bamboo Ranch in Savannah in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for the 1965 US Top 10 pop hit "Down in the Boondocks", which, along with the singles "I Knew You When" (Top 20, 1965) and "Hush" (1967), were written and produced by Joe South. Another South composition, "Yo-Yo," just missed the top 40 in Canada and charted poorly in the U.S. when Royal released it in 1967, but a later remake by The Osmonds was a much greater success. His 1969 single, "Cherry Hill Park", peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the 1970s his recording of "Heart's Desire" gained popularity among Northern soul enthusiasts and was regularly played in Northern soul nightclubs.
During the 1980s, Royal had a successful comeback with several Top 10 country hits, including "Tell It Like It Is", "Burned Like a Rocket", and "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow".
Royal's career experienced a second major period during the 2000s due to regular airplay on "oldies" radio stations. His music was further exposed to younger generations through a movement known as The Beat Army, an online music forum based on Facebook which is operated by author and music producer Paul Collins. Royal continued to tour regularly, performing concerts at casinos, music festivals and clubs in Canada, the United States, Japan and throughout Europe. His set lists include a mixture of songs representing multiple genres from the 1960s to the present.
Royal played Robert Ally in the indie Western film Billy the Kid (2013), co-starring country singer Cody McCarver.
Royal died in his sleep on October 6, 2015 in Morehead City, North Carolina.
Campfire Girls
Billy Joe Royal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a few piano lessons
Buy a little doll to have for your best friend
Do all the things that little girls do
Cause if you don't know how to be true
You better go start over again
You said I was your only boy
I found out you just played me for a fool
Now don't you know it's wrong to lie and make the one who loves you cry
I wonder where you missed the golden rule
You better go join the Campfire Girls
Take a few piano lessons
Buy a little doll to have for your best friend
Do all the things that little girls do
Cause if you don't know how to be true
You better go start over again
I thought you knew like everyone that love's a sacred thing
And not a game to play with every boy
But you thought it was funny
When you put me down for him
To you my heart was just another toy
You better go join the Campfire Girls
Take a few piano lessons
Buy a little doll to have for your best friend
Do all the things that little girls do
Cause if you don't know how to be true
You better go start over again
You better go join the Campfire Girls
Take a few piano lessons
Buy a little doll to have for your best friend
Do
all the things that little girls do
The song Campfire Girls by Billy Joe Royal is a cautionary tale for girls who play games with their boyfriends' hearts. The lyrics address a girl who has been dishonest and manipulative with her partner, causing him emotional pain. The singer advises her to go back and relearn the basics of honesty, kindness, and love that are typically taught to young girls in organizations like the Campfire Girls. He suggests that by participating in activities like learning piano, having a doll for a best friend, and doing all the things that little girls do, she can rediscover these values and become a better partner in future relationships.
At the same time, the song can also be interpreted as a critique of gender roles and expectations in society. The idea that women are expected to be nurturing, innocent, and naive – "doing all the things that little girls do" – is challenged by the lyrics. On the other hand, the boy in the song is portrayed as a victim of the girl's deceit and emotional manipulation, reflecting traditional gender roles that cast men as protectors and providers.
Line by Line Meaning
You better go join the Campfire Girls
You need to go back to basics and learn how to behave like a little girl who knows how to be genuine, trustworthy and honest.
Take a few piano lessons
Learn and practice something that adds value to your life and helps you become a better person.
Buy a little doll to have for your best friend
Find and cherish a true friend, who you can confide in and share your joys and sorrows with.
Do all the things that little girls do
Revisit the innocent, curious, and kind nature of a little girl and practice the same qualities in your adult life.
Cause if you don't know how to be true
If you don't know how to be honest, faithful, and loyal in your relationships, you're not living a fulfilling and meaningful life.
You said I was your only boy
You promised to be exclusive and loyal to me.
But you sure lead me wrong
You betrayed my trust and hurt me deeply by being dishonest and unfaithful.
I found out you just played me for a fool
I discovered the hard truth that you were not true to your word and took advantage of my love and affection.
Now don't you know it's wrong to lie and make the one who loves you cry
It's never acceptable to hurt someone who loves you by lying and breaking their trust.
I wonder where you missed the golden rule
I'm curious to know how you could forget the basic principle of treating others the way you want to be treated.
I thought you knew like everyone that love's a sacred thing
I believed that you, like everyone else, knew the value and sanctity of love and treated it with respect and care.
And not a game to play with every boy
Love is not a game, it's a serious commitment that should not be taken lightly or played around with.
But you thought it was funny when you put me down for him
You made a joke out of my feelings and chose someone else over me, not caring how much it would hurt me.
To you my heart was just another toy
You treated my love as something disposable and insignificant, not realizing the emotional impact of your actions on me.
Contributed by Miles D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.