Lyr Req: Song about Woad

Subject: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Raggytash
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 05:49 AM

Can anyone supply the lyrics for a song I half remember from the Sea Sprouts

Whats the use if wearing braces
pants and vest and boots with laces
spats or hats you buy in places
down in Brompton Road

Whats the use of shirts of cotton
studs that always get forgotten
theses affairs are simply rotten
better far is woad

Woads the stuff the show men
woads to scare your foe men
boil it to a brilliant hue
slap it on your back and your abdomen
ancients Britons never hit on
anything as good as woad to stick on
necks or knees or where you site on
better far is woad

as for the rest, I can half remember bits .........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Raggytash
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 05:51 AM

PS I have seen it on the digitrad but seem to recall there is more

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 05:57 AM

If you search the DT for 'Woad' you should find the words to this song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Raggytash
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 07:21 AM

Brian,
Like I said I think there are more words than those posted in the DT, I seem to recall at least a third verse,

Cheers

Raggy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 07:23 AM

Sorry! I was guilty of not fully reading your posts. I'm pretty sure that this has been discussed in a previous thread. Otherwise I do have a copy of the words somewhere - but I'm not sure where at the moment.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 07:33 AM

Check out this thread song of the Ancient Britons

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Raggytash
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 08:19 AM

Thanks Brian,
I'll have a proper read when I'm not supposed to be working! :-)

Raggy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Amos
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 08:40 AM

Note the first four lines are added in later in the thread. I learned them thus:

What's the use of wearing braces?
Boots with buttons, shoes with laces?
Coats and ties you buys in places
Down on Bronckton Road.

But in the thread they are closer to the ones you remember from Sprouts.

A

Subject: Lyr Add: WOAD
From: LadyJean
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 02:01 AM

The version I learned from Anne Jackson and Jennifer Armstrong went as follows:

What's the use of wearing braces
hats and spats and boots with laces
these affairs you buy in places down on Brompton Road.
What's the use of wearing 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 blue, and rub it on your back or your abdomen
ancient briton never hit on anything quite like woad to fit on.
neck or back or wher you sit on, woad for us today.

Now, I've forgotten the second verse, darn!

But it was followed by:
Romans save your armor.
Saxons your pajamas!
Hairy coats were made for goats, gorillas, yaks, retriever dogs and llamas.
March on Snowdon with your woad on, never mind that you get rained or snowed on.
Never need a button sewed on.
W O A D woad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 02:19 AM

Funny that, everyone forgets the first half of the second verse..... It begins:

Romans came across the channel,
All dressed up in tin and flannel,

But I've had stand up arguments with people who should know better and say that there never was a first half to the second verse. There is one person who still insists I'm wrong despite all these threads here! But he's like that, he remembers things his way only, regardless of the truth.

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Melani
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 02:28 AM

I believe Oak, Ash, and Thorn have recorded it.

Subject: Lyr Add: WOAD
From: Micca
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 04:00 AM

This is the version I usually sing including the bit that gets "lost" in the 2nd verse
Woad                (to "Men of Harlech")

What's the use of wearing braces,
Shirts and vests and boots with laces,
Hats and spats you buy in places,
Down on the 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 blue
And smear it on your back and your abdomen.
Ancient Britons never hit on
Anything as good as woad to fit on
Arms or legs or where you sit on.
Better far is woad!

Romans came across the Channel,
All dressed up in tin and flannel,
Half a pint of woad per man'll,
See as well as 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 armour!
Saxons, your pyjamas!
Hairy coats were made for goats,
For camels, yaks, retriever dogs and llamas.
Climb up Snowdon with your woad on,
Never mind if you get rained or snowed on.
Never needs a button sewed on,
Better far is woad!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 06:12 AM

Micca

Close to what I remember. Only difference I can recall is we sang "Tailors, you be blowed" at the end of the verses.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: GUEST,SALLY
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 06:56 AM

Third Verse to "Ancient Brits/Woad" etc.

Modern Man's become more drastic,
Keeps his pants up with elastic,
Buys his socks and coats of plastic
    Down in Unley Road          [or a road of your choice !]
Dacron Jumpers have no style on
Orlon undies just looks vile on.
Even Cubs would not wear nylon,
    Even if it snowed.
Keep your vile synthetics
Chesty Bond athletics.
Drip-dry shirt
Collects the dirt
and smells of hair-oil, lothion and cosmetics.
All Together in all weather,
Never wear an ounce or cloth or leather,
Not a fig-leaf nor a feather -
    We'll all stick to WOAD.

[printed in Australian Scouts' Song-book]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Micca
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 07:11 AM

Thanks Muchly, Sally, I hadn't seen or heard that one it is now added

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Amos
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 07:23 AM

Liz:

Well, I know you are right, and I always sing the first half of the second verse.

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Ferrara
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 09:39 AM

Us folks at FSGW (the Washington, DC, area) have always sung the whole second verse. Small differences but that's the folk process.

It was sung very frequently here when I joined FSGW in about 1978, you don't hear it as often now but a lot of folks join in if one person can just remember all of it ;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 12:55 PM

In DT, the note says "sung by Joe Hickerson." If anyone's wondering, it's on With a Gathering of Friends (Folk Legacy)-- a terrific album.

I think Joe's version in DT is complete. The version in the other thread that Brian cited (Song of the Ancient Britons)is missing the part about "Saxons you can keep your stitches...."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: CelesteF
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 01:00 PM

That was me in the last post. Mudcat didn't recognize me without my cookies. :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 02:44 PM

Slight thread drift - this thread turned up a day after we had a theme night on "Boozing" at Herga. I'm afraid that I indulged in singing "What's the use of drinking tea, indulging in sobriety and teetotal perversity, it's healthier to booze" (another opportunity to sing the tune of Men of Harlech to different words).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: KathWestra
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 04:25 PM

I've just e-mailed Joe Hickerson Sally's aussie addendum to WOAD, which he'll love. He still sings the song frequently in concerts, but ends it:

never need a button sewed on (slight pause)
W    O    A    D    Woad! (spelled out word at one beat per letter)

Subject: Lyr Add: WOAD
From: Reiver 2
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 09:02 PM

Thought I had some notes on WOAD (the song) in my old handwritten notebook. Found the song but no notes as to where, or how, it originated. I sang it almost the sama as Micca's version:

WOAD (Tune: Men of Harlech)

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 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 blue,
   And rub it on your legs and your abdomen.
   Ancient Britons never hit on
   Anything as good as Woad to fit on
   Neck or knees or where you sit on,
   Tailors, you be blowed!

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 stitches,
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!

I'd never seen Guest Sally's 3rd verse. It's a hoot and I'll add it to the words in my notebook.

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: LadyJean
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 10:25 PM

I remembered the second verse this afternoon. Glad somebody else did too. Woad is an antiseptic. There was an actual reason for painting yourself blue with the stuff, sort of like putting on the iodine before you get cut.
Incidentally, woad is dark blue, not the sky blue Mel Gibson's pseudo Celts wore in "Braveheart".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Raggytash
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 04:00 AM

Come on Kitty lets have the rest of your parody

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: lady penelope
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 04:39 AM

The pagan choir I used to sing in did Woad for a bit of light relief, we sang the version Micca put up, pretty much, but I think we ended it "Go it, Ancient B's" ........Don't ask me, I just sing the stuff.....

Liz used to sing the "booze" version as well. I like any song that can get the word - Hyperbolic - into it. I used to have the words to this but the piece of paper it was on has been lost in the various "laundries" that our shelves have undergone this year.

"Never drink the homemade beer or anything that isn't labelled clearly....."

TTFN Lady P.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 05:46 PM

It's probably knocking around the DT as 'the Alcoholic's Anthem' or in one of the related 'boozing songs' threads.

Abherrations metabolic always had me amazed - where else would you get that?

Amos - of course, I'm ALWAYS right.

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 05:48 PM

I never believed Mel Gibson's woad - particularly after he was shown with a clean face but an unhealed cut on his forehead - woad would have taken considerably longer than that to wear/wash off. About 6 months longer!

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 08:58 PM

More thread drift, but OK then, for Raggytash and Lady P:

As absorbed by osmosis from Herga Morris (at least one of whom also sang Woad, but not often):

A music verses:

What's the use of drinking tea?
Indulging in sobriety?
And teetotal perversity?
It's healthier to booze.

What's the use of milk and water?
These are things that never oughter
Be allowed in any quarter.
Come on, lose your blues.

B music:

Mix yourself a shandy.
Drown yourself in brandy.
Sherry sweet or whisky neat
Or any other liquor that is handy.

C music

What's the blinking sense in drinking
Anything that does not get you stinking.
There is nothing quite like sinking
Blotto to the floor.

Back to A:

Put an end to all frustration.
Drinking could be your salvation.
End it all in dissipation
Rotten to the core.

Aberrations metabolic
Ceilings that are hyperbolic.
These are for the alcoholic
Lying on the floor.

B:

Vodka for the arty.
Gin to make you tarty.
Lemonade was only made
For drinking when your mother's at the party.

C:

Steer clear of Watney's* beer
Or anything that is not labelled clear (-ly)
There is nothing else to fear
So, Bottoms Up, Good Health.

* The process of osmosis occurred in the 1970s. It may originally have been "watered" (or "home made" as suggested by Lady P)not Watneys. Or just any inferior brew as considered locally appropriate for the singer.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Micca
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 03:45 AM

for details about Woads persistence on skin try here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Reiver 2
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 02:51 PM

Thanks, Herga Kitty. That's great! Reminds me a little of "The French drink wine, the English tay (tea), the Yankee gulps his hot black coffee. Child drinks milk nine times a day, the Scotsman sips his whiskey toddy. Keep your wine and keep your tay, me curse on him who gives me coffee. I'll have porter if I may, it makes me feel content and happy. Porter quaffs down with a laugh, the gentry have their aching livers. Water is alright in tay, for fish and things that swim in rivers." And so on and so forth. I must look for a thread on "The French Drink Wine." There must be one somewhere at the Mudcat.

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 02:57 PM

Reiver 2

Since posting the words I've been trying to remember whether the sherry came before the whisky (which would make sense if dining was also involved)or afterwards (which could explain the aberrations and hyperbolic ceilings).

Never mind, there's always time for one for the woad.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Reiver 2
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 03:18 PM

"one for the woad." I love it! A few 'catters tend to take themselves too seriously -- glad to know there are some of us who like to lighten up a bit.

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 07 Nov 03 - 03:24 PM

I shouldn't really joke about drink-driving because my job is about promoting road safety. But of course, that's why I do. It's the sort of job you can't drive away from.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Nov 03 - 03:11 PM

to keep the threads together...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Woad
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Nov 03 - 04:33 PM

If you're looking for deeper information on woad, follow these links:

Woad as body paint--words, history, chemical derivations is here.

Woad as a song, it's earliest origins is here.

SRS