C A M O U P E D I A: a bowl of grapenuts made to taste just like a steak

Above World War I camouflaged lorry at Langley Field VA. School of Aerial Photography, c1918. Public domain.

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As Oscar Wilde famously said, “All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling.” It has yet to be determined what inspires bad camouflage music and lyrics —

WE ARE THE CAMOUFLEURS.
Words and Music by Arthur M. Fournier. Los Angeles, c1918.

This great big fight of nations, has pressed the wits of men.
The way they spring sensations, gets thrilling now and then.
So architects and stagehands, with artists started in.
At the game of camouflaging, hear their battle cry to win. For—

CHORUS
We are the camoufleurs with our pots and pails of paint,
We are boys so bold who make things what they ain’t.
We pull the wool right o’er their eyes.
Our middle name is disguise.
We are the Camoufleurs, the canny, cammy Camoufleurs.
We are the Camoufleurs.

Now orders came from Hoover—a hurry call to fake.
To make a wad of grapenuts, looks like a juicy steak.
Put cream into the milk cans, make hardtack into cake.
Ev’ry time they sprung a new one, they would sing for Wilhelm’s sake. For—

CHORUS
We are the camoufleurs with our pots and pails of paint,
We are boys so bold who make things what they ain’t.
We pull the wool right o’er their eyes.
Our middle name is disguise.
We are the Camoufleurs, the canny, cammy Camoufleurs.
We are the Camoufleurs.

Now way back there in our town, sit Tom and Al and Bill.
Those same old phoney soldiers, they’re playing poker still.
They’re passing round the pasteboards, and looking mighty wise.
But we’ve got that bunch a-guessing, us camouflaging guys. For—

CHORUS
We are the camoufleurs with our pots and pails of paint,
We are boys so bold who make things what they ain’t.
We pull the wool right o’er their eyes.
Our middle name is disguise.
We are the Camoufleurs, the canny, cammy Camoufleurs.
We are the Camoufleurs.

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Saturday, August 9, 2025

a bowl of grapenuts made to taste just like a steak