Set to Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours”, “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter from Camp)” is a novelty hit loosely based on Allan Sherman’s son Robert’s short stay at Camp Champlain one summer.

According to the owner of the summer camp’s nephew, Robert wanted to leave Camp Champlain as soon as he arrived, writing letters to his parents about how miserable he was. Eventually Robert threw a butter knife at a fellow camper and was expelled. However, the family later sent a letter to the camp asking if Robert could return (the camp denied their request).

“Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter from Camp)” is comprised of a similar (though exaggerated) story line to Robert’s camp experience, detailing a boy’s dislike of a summer camp until the end, where the boy decides he wants to be there.

The song became a #2 hit in the US in the summer of 1963, holding the position for three weeks. It was held from the top spot by Stevie Wonder “Fingertips Part 2” and Angels “My Boyfriend’s Back”. In the UK, it reached #14.

The following year, a new version of the song with different lyrics about being back at Camp Granada titled “Return To Camp” (aka “Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter From Camp) (New 1964 Version)”) reached #59 in the US.