The First 'Oh Hell!'

The origins of the game of golf are lost in the mists of time, but there is a good case for crediting the Ancient Romans with its invention, and in particular those guarding the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire on Hadrian's Wall. They played a game called 'paganica' with stones and a stick to while away the time, and probably uttered golf's first curse after feeling the sting of a bad shot hit with freezing cold hands.

Original music and lyrics: Traditional

[If you would like musical accompaniment, please click here]
	The first 'Oh Hell!' a golfer did say Was a poor Roman soldier in Hadrian’s day. With a stick hitting stones on the Wall he patrolled, On a bleak winter’s day that was so cold. Oh hell, oh hell, Oh hell, oh hell! Born is the game we’d love to play well. He lookèd up and saw a hole Beckoning him to try and make it his goal. So to a stone he gave a great thwack, But he duffed it and said "Can I have that one back?" Oh hell, oh hell, Oh hell, oh hell! Born is the game we’d love to play well. He had another shot but it was just as bad And a third and a fourth until he got so mad. "It just can’t be that hard to hit a little ball That’s not even moving as it sits by the Wall." Oh hell, oh hell, Oh hell, oh hell! Born is the game we’d love to play well. Then his centurion came and said "What’s your game? "You’re supposed to be guarding the Empire, not playing.” So the soldier tried to show him how to swing the club, But all he could manage was another flub. Oh hell, oh hell, Oh hell, oh hell! Born is the game we’d love to play well.