What is the origin of this European melodic concert chant?

[bbernardini]

(I've posted this in the Lounge as well.)

I was listening to a Status Quo concert today, when I heard a chant I've heard a million times (approx.) on various concert recordings made throughout Europe. The lyrics consist of "Woah-oh-oh-ohhhhh-oh!", and the notes are:

I - bVII - V - bVII - I

For the roman numeral-challenged:

1 - b7 - 5 - b7 - 1

For those who don't know music theory, let's give an example in the key of E:

E - D - B - D - E

The rhythm:

Half note - quarter note - quarter note - dotted quarter - eighth note

Anybody have any ideas where this came from?