Jump to content

Two Little Boys


Carl

Recommended Posts

Here's the first Sonfact on this one:

This was originally recorded by British Music Hall star Harry Lauder in 1903. It tells the story of 2 brothers who share horses as boys and later share them in battle during the civil war.

We had a user ask if this is the US Civil war. I thought it was, but the song wasn't written by an American.

Any ideas?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two Little Boys

Melody - Theodore F. Morse, 1903

Edward Madden

Two little boys

Had two little toys,

Each had a wooden horse;

Gaily they played

Each summer's day -

Warriors both of course.

One little chap

Then had a mishap,

Broke off his horse's head;

Cried for his toy,

Then cried for joy

As his young playmate said:

"Did you think I would leave you crying

When there's room on my horse for two?

Climb up here, Jack. we'll soon be flying;

I can go just as fast with two.

When we grow up we'll both be soldiers,

And our horses will not be toys;

And I wonder if we'll remember

When we were two little boys."

Long years passed,

War came so fast;

Bravely they marched away.

Cannons roared loud

And in the mad crowd

Wounded and dying lay.

Up went a shout -

A horse dashes out,

Out from the ranks so blue.

Galloped away

To where Joe lay

And then came a voice he knew:

"Did you think I would leave you dying

When there's room on my horse for two?

Climb up here, Joe, we'll soon be flying

Back to the ranks so blue.

Do you know, Joe, I'm all a-tremble,

Perhaps it's the battle's noise;

But I think it's that I remember

When we were two little boys."

I think Gary Glitter did a version.... ;)

The 'out from the ranks so blue' line might be a clue....?

Edited by Guest
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Both Morse (music) and Madden (lyrics) were American. Morse was born in Washington and Madden was born in New York. So they are probably talking about Civil War.

I know I should search for some information and write it myself in order to submit it, but meanwhile I found some information about Madden here.

And This might help too.

Edited by Guest
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I remember years ago hearing Rolf Harris, who had a number one in the UK with this song, explain that he first heard it when it was sung to him by an Aborigine in the Australian outback.

Not sure it has to be about a specific war does it.... why can't it just be a song about two people who happen to be in a war, any war?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...