Ever chuckled at the poor dude getting on and off boats and buses with a pack AND a guitar? Well they’re not as dumb as they look. Their time comes.

Because, if they can find a campfire, they’ll be in their element. And, if they can play just a handful of the following songs below, they won’t be going back to their Thai beach hut alone.

Some are oldies, some are new. Some are cheesy. Some are cool. Some weren’t cool but magically are again. With a beer in your hand and with the sun setting – guitar dude suddenly becomes the coolest guy in the world.

If you can’t play, then download them. No self-respecting, blissed-out beach bar will turn your Ipod away.

Here are The 50 Greatest Campfire Songs Of All Time (in their coolest versions to download).

1. House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
2. Let It Be – The Beatles
3. Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
4. Time of your Life – Green Day
5. Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan
6. Our House – Crosby, Still Nash & Young
7. Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House
8. Something Inside so Strong – Labi Siffre
9. Love Song - The Cure
10. True Colours – Cyndi Lauper
11. Hotel California -The Eagles
12. In the Ghetto – Elvis Presley
13. Leaving On A Jet Plane – Frank Sinatra
14. Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) – Harry Belafonte
15. Fire and Rain – James Taylor
16. Hallelujah – John Cale
17. Working Class Hero – John Lennon
18. Take me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
19. Wandering Star – Lee Marvin
20. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas
21.Redemption Song – Joe Strummer & Johnny Cash
22. Talkin’ About a Revolution – Tracy Chapman
23. Daydream Believer – The Monkees
24. Down in Albion – Baby Shambles
25. Forever In Blue Jeans – Neil Diamond
26. Only Love Can Break Your Heart – Neil Young
27. Come As You Are – Nirvana
28. (Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
29. Baby, I Love your Way – Peter Frampton
30. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
31. Dirty Old Town - The Pogues
32. King of the Road – The Proclaimers
33. Everybody Hurts – R.E.M.
34. Killing Me Softly With His Song – Roberta Flack
35. Vincent – Don McLean
36. Handbags and Gladrags – Rod Stewart
37. Wonderwall – Ryan Adams
38. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head – Sacha Distel
39. New Slang – The Shins
40. Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel
41. There is a Light That Never Goes Out – The Smiths
42. Grazed Knees – Snow Patrol
43. Lost In Hollywood – System of a Down
44. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) – The Temptations
45. Africa – Toto
46. Handle with Care – Traveling Wilburys
47. All I Want Is You – U2
48. Island in the Sun. – Weezer
49. She’s Not There – The Zombies
50. There She Goes – The Las

Now that you know the list, Learn How To Play The Greatest Campfire Songs!

Feel free to sound off in the comments.

Steve Jackson compiled this list. His Ipod was revered in his old Hanoi hang out at Le Pub at 25 Hang Be Street. Having moved to Nicaragua, he’s now trying to find it a new home. Read about his adventures at Our Man In Granada.

In 2002, after a dozen years of office work, I took off around the world. I had a good job, with a good firm and I wasn’t happy. Changing jobs wasn’t enough.

So I traveled. First through South East Asia and then Central America. I visited a dozen countries in all and had the time of my life.

Coincidentally, my trip turned into something of a “Victims of US Foreign Policy World Tour.” Vietnam, Cambodia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama – I asked the same questions about their history and got roughly the same damning answers.

By the time I returned to the UK the next victim was being lined up. The Iraq war was inevitable. My marching, letter writing and blogging didn’t seem enough.

In the ‘70s our rock stars and businessmen joined the “brain drain” and left highly taxed Britain for the States. In 2004 I joined the “Shamed Drain” and followed the huge number of Americans, Brits and Australians who are not in love with their respective countries because of these events.

What did we do about it? We volunteered.

So without further ado, here are 10 Reasons Why Volunteering Is Better Than Traveling.

1. Eating banana pancakes and lying in a hammock is a great way to live. I won’t deny it. But through volunteer work you can be proud of what you did today, rather than revelling in doing nothing.

2. Spend a while somewhere and you find all the coolest places. By the time the Lonely Planet catches up – the party is already over.

3. You learn the language. That includes the swear words.

4. You learn that local people are not always trying to rip you off. More often than not, that REALLY is the price.

5. Because staying in one place means less plane travel. Travel is good. Planes are not good. It’s tricky but a longer time in fewer places is a step in the right direction.

6. You get to know the neighbourhood. In Vietnam I’d say: “HALLO!” 30 times before I reached the end of my street. Even my grumpiest moods were transformed.

7. You enjoy all the seasons. Hot, cold, rain. After I couldn’t get any wetter, walking to work up to my waist in water was actually one of the funniest, silliest, most joyous things I have ever done.

8. You learn not to wear stupid clothes. I’m sorry but backpackers walking around winter in Hanoi dressed in tiny shorts, singlets and flip flops look ridiculous. Where’s the beach? Not here dude.

9. If you choose the right volunteer organization, they will support you. I recommend VSO as it’s better to scrimp on their stipend wages than have to budget your own meagre savings or, worse still, shamefully ask mum and dad for more cash.

10. Because your efforts will never be forgotten by those that most needed your help. Sorry, but no one remembers a traveler passing through.

The world continues to be messed up without us. And maybe it’s selfish but at least our conscience is clear.

I can also tell you, as wonderful as traveling is – volunteering is on a different planet altogether. I never knew before how lucky I am and how happy I could be.

Update:

Just stumbled across this website that lists a stack of free volunteer position.

Steve Jackson has worked as a fundraiser at KOTO in Hanoi and has just started a new post at CafeChavalos in Granada, Nicaragua. Read about his adventures in Vietnam at Our Man In Hanoi and in Nicaragua at Our Man In Granada.