ARTIST: Trad and Anon
TITLE: Woad
Lyrics and Chords


[To the tune of Men of Harlech, words likely by William Hope-Jones, a master at Eton, written pre 1914]


What's the use of wearing braces
Hats and spats and shoes with laces
Vests and coats you buy in places
Down in Brompton Road

/ C Am C - / F - G7 - / C F C - / C G7 C - /

What's the use of shirts of cotton
Studs that always get forgotten
Such 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 blue
   And rub it on your legs and your abdomen

   / G - - - / C - - - / C Am C Em / C Am C - /

   Ancient Britons never hit on
   Anything as good as Woad to fit on
   Neck and knees and where you sit on
   Tailors, you be blowed

   / F C F C / D7 - G7 - / C F C - / C G7 C - /

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, ye may save your stitches
Building beds for bugs in britches
We have Woad to clothe us, which is
Not a nest for fleas

   Romans, save your armor
   Saxons, your pajamas
   Hairy coats were made for goats
   Gorillas, yaks, retriever dogs, and llamas

   So march on Snowdon with your Woad on
   Never mind if you get rained or snowed on
   Never need a button sewed on
   Woad for us today

Go it ancient B's!

Click here to submit corrections.

How to read these chord charts

Go back to the Table of Contents

Go back to the Index

Go back to my main page