The Woad Ode is a humorous song, set to the tune of Men of Harlech. It recounts the ancient British tradition of fighting naked in woad dye, but is not intended as a history lesson. It first became popular in 1920s as a song in the English Boy Scouts. The author was William Hope-Jones, a housemaster at Eton, who wrote it some time before 1914, as he sang it at a College dinner at that time. "Ho Jo" appears in the M.R. James' ghost story [http//gaslight. mtroyal. ab. ca/jamesX31.

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  • The Woad Ode is a humorous song, set to the tune of Men of Harlech. It recounts the ancient British tradition of fighting naked in woad dye, but is not intended as a history lesson. It first became popular in 1920s as a song in the English Boy Scouts. The author was William Hope-Jones, a housemaster at Eton, who wrote it some time before 1914, as he sang it at a College dinner at that time. "Ho Jo" appears in the M.R. James' ghost story [http//gaslight. mtroyal. ab. ca/jamesX31. htm Wailing Well] (1928), in which a group of masters take the Eton Scout Troop on an ill-fated camping expedition. 1. What's the use of wearing braces? Spats and hats and boots with laces? Vests and pants you buy in places Down on Brompton Road? What's the use of shirts of cotton? Studs that always get forgotten? These affairs are simply rotten, Better far is woad. Woad's the stuff to show men. Woad to scare your foemen. Boil it to a brilliant hue And rub it on your back and your abdomen. Ancient Briton ne'er did hit on Anything as good as woad to fit on Neck or knees or where you sit on. Tailors you be blowed!! 2. Romans came across the channel All dressed up in tin and flannel Half a pint of woad per man'll Clothe us more than these. Saxons you can waste your stitches Building beds for bugs in britches We have woad to clothe us which is Not a nest for fleas Romans keep your armours. Saxons your pyjamas. Hairy coats were made for goats, Gorillas, yaks, retriever dogs and llamas. March on Snowdon with your woad on, Never mind if you get rained or snowed on Never want a button sewed on. Go it Ancient Bs!! The original last line appears to have been "If you stick to Woad". Other last-line variations "Bottoms up to woad", "W - O - A - D", "Good for us today". "Go it Ancient Brit". "Woad for us today!" "Bollocks to the breeze!" This song is also known as Woad, The Woad Song and Woad of Harlech. A filk parody version is Code. Lament of the Ancient Brit
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  • Woad
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  • English
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  • William Hope-Jones
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  • 1921, The Hackney Scout Songbook
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  • The Woad Ode
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  • William Hope-Jones
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  • The Woad Ode is a humorous song, set to the tune of Men of Harlech. It recounts the ancient British tradition of fighting naked in woad dye, but is not intended as a history lesson. It first became popular in 1920s as a song in the English Boy Scouts. The author was William Hope-Jones, a housemaster at Eton, who wrote it some time before 1914, as he sang it at a College dinner at that time. "Ho Jo" appears in the M.R. James' ghost story [http//gaslight. mtroyal. ab. ca/jamesX31.
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  • The Woad Ode
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