Lady Godiva

Godiva (sometimes Godgifu) (c. 980 – 1067) was an Anglo-Saxon lady, who, according to legend, rode naked through the streets of Coventry in England, in order to gain from her husband a remission of the oppressive toll imposed on his tenants.

Popular culture

Godiva was immortalized anew in the poem Godiva by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Related Topics:
Godiva - Alfred, Lord Tennyson

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Patron Saint of engineers

In many university engineering faculties, military engineering corps, and other engineering organizations, Lady Godiva is considered to be the patron saint of engineers.

Related Topics:
University - Engineering - Military engineering - Patron saint

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Certain organizations historically staged an annual "Godiva Ride" where a naked female rode a horse across campus. This practice has declined concurrent with modern feminist attitudes and concern for students' safety.

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Many engineers' rallying songs make reference to Lady Godiva, particularly Godiva's Hymn.

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Music

Several popular songs make contemporary usage of the Lady Godiva image. These include The Velvet Underground's "Lady Godiva's Operation" off their 1968 LP White Light/White Heat, referring to a drag queen who had taken on the name Lady Godiva. Peter and Gordon's "Lady Godiva" (1967), and a reference in Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" (1978):

Related Topics:
The Velvet Underground - 1968 - LP - White Light/White Heat - Drag queen - Peter and Gordon - 1967 - Queen - Don't Stop Me Now - 1978

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"I'm a shooting star leaping through the skies

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Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity

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I'm a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva

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I'm gonna go go go

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There's no stopping me"

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Colloquialisms

From the movie Tillie and Gus (1933)

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:Tom (Clifford Jones): That ferryboat race was the world's biggest gamble!

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:Gus (W.C. Fields): Well, don't forget... Lady Godiva put everything she had on a horse!

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