The above is pretty close to the version I learned in the 1950's. Used to sing it to my kids who loved the inventive rhyming and phrasing. I've hunted for Brompton in my British Isles atlas. There are 5 Bromptons and 4 Bramptons listed but I could find no Brompton Road. I have no record of where I found the song, who I learned it from or of it's source. I had two "original" verses:

WOAD [Tune: Men of Harlech]

1] What's the use of wearing braces,
   Hats or spats or shoes with laces,
   Vests or pants you buy in places
   Down on Brompton Road.
   What's the use of shirts of cotton,
   Studs that always get forgotton?
   Those 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.

Ancient Briton's never 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 may save your stiches
   Building beds for bugs in britches;
   We have woad to clothe us which is
   Not a nest for fleas.

    Romans, keep your armors,
    Saxons, your pajamas.
    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 need a button sewed on;
   Good for us today!

Somewhere along the line I came across another verse which was written in later years as it uses terms more characteristic of the 1950s, but utilizes similar inventive rhyming and phrasing:

3] Modern man's become more drastic,
   Keeps his pants up with elastic,
   Buys his socks and coats of plastic
   Down in Unley Road,
   Dacron jumpers have no style on;
   Orlon undies just look vile on,
   Even if it snowed.

    Keep your vile synthetics,
    Chesty Bond athletics,
    Drip-dry shirt collects no dirt
    And smells of hair oil, lotion and cosmetics.

All together, in all weather,
Never wear an ounce of cloth or leather;
Not a fig-leaf or a feather.
We'll just stick to woad!

Is anyone familiar with an Unley Road? Anywhere?

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