kids running roughshod over it and having run off all the counselors, one of whom has committed suicide after they let a snake into the mess hall, and the organizer of the camp being arrested by police after the kids start a forest fire. The song begins with the boy writing the letter asking his parents to send more money, because he has lost all his pocket money playing dice with the other campers. The song then ends with the boy having to wrap up the letter as he is about to join the others in burning down the neighboring camp lodge. The Hebrew version was translated by playwright Hanoch Levin, and performed by the IDF's Armored Corps band's lead singer Tiki Dayan. The girl camper, in this version, goes through similar situations to the English original, but the camp itself is hinted to be more like a prison (e.g. she is writing from "my cell"). The camper wishes she could be back in school with its abusive teachers and principal. The Dutch version "Brief uit la Courtine" sung by Rijk de Gooyer is not about a children's summer camp, but about a soldier in the Dutch army camp at La Courtine, France. The Austrian comedian Paul Pizzera presented a German interpretation with the title "Jungscharlager" in 2013. The American Jewish singer/comedian Country Yossi sings a Yiddish version called "Camp Zlateh" on his 1988 album "Captured". See also Camp Runamuck, a sitcom (1965–66) loosely inspired by the song Camp Granada, a 1965 board game inspired by the song Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! (book), a 2004 children's book based on the song Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! (musical), a musical revue inspired by the song Sandra Gould, who released a response novelty recording, set to the same music, entitled "Hello Melvin (This Is Mama)". Perrey and Kingsley did an instrumental version, called Countdown at 6, on The In Sound From Way Out. Like "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh", it is based on Amilcare Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours". K9 Advantix used a parody version of the song. References and notes External links Lyrics of this song 1963 singles 1963 songs Allan Sherman songs Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album Musical parodies Novelty songs Warner Records singles Cashbox number-one singles Fiction about summer camps Songs about children Songs about fathers Songs about mothers Songs about letters (message) Jewish comedy and humor United States National