The Clarion Club

THE CLARION CLUB

Oh! Who rides by day and night, round about

Tinkling his bicycle bell?

Hark how he nears us with laudate shout.

Hurrah! Hurah! ‘Tis the Clarion Scout!

List to the story he tells.

What tho’ the weather be cold as an icicle,

Bravely he clings to his Clarion bicycle

Scattering leaflets, sticking up labels,

Filling a breach at old hostelry tables.

Such is the being I’ll sing you about.

Three hearty cheers for the Clarion Scout!

(Chorus):

Hurrah for the Clarion Scout!

Hail him with a strenuous shout!

As bold as Lysander

To push propaganda.

Hurrah for the Clarion Scout.

Down to the haunts of parson and squire,

Putting opponents to rout;

Bestriding his steed with pneumatic tyre,

Through village and hamlet, thro’ mud and thro’ mire,

Rideth the Clarion Scout.

Nailing down lies and disposing of fables,

Improving the landscape by sticking up labels:

What does he care for the wind and the weather?

Be he alone or a hundred together,

He’s always eager to join in a bout.

Then give three cheers for the Clarion Scout!

What do these labels mysteriously teach?

What is the message they bring?

Something that comes within everyone’s reach:

A gospel of Brotherhood – that’s what they preach.

In praise of that gospel I sing.

They say that all produce belongs to the toiler;

To sweep from old England each idler and spoiler,

Abolish the sweater and rack-renting knave;

The land for the people – the just and the brave,

These lessons with vigour he’s spreading about

Is humanity’s saviour, the Clarion Scout.