Music Lovers & Songwriters:
"Two Little Boys" is a story song written by American composer Theodore F. Morse and
lyricist Edward Madden. It was written in 1902 and became a popular music hall song of
the time, especially by Scottish singer Harry Lauder.
Its origin is from the Victorian children's writer Juliana Horatia Ewing, whose book
Jackanapes was a story about him and his friend Tom, who having ridden wooden horses as
two little boys, end up together on a battlefield. There, Jackanapes rides to the rescue of
the wounded and dismounted Tom. Jackanapes nobly replies to Tom's entreaties to save
himself, "Leave you"? To save my skin"? No, Tom, not to save my soul". And unfortunately
takes a fatal bullet in the process.
Probably[ the most popular version in the United States was by Beryl Middleton (1969),
released as a single, as well as on her album, "Hello, I'm Beryl Middleton". She also
recorded a version with the Airmen of Note - the U.S. Air Force band. Her rendition was
voted the #1 song in Washington, DC by radio station WMAL in 1970.
The Washington DC bluegrass band The Country Gentlemen released "Two Little Boys"
in their album Bluegrass at Carnegie Hall in 1962 on Starday. They subsequently
released it in four more compilation albums.
Others who’ve touched this song: Hearts & Flowers, John Denver, the UK post-punk band
'Splodgenessabounds', and Kenny Rogers. Scottish duo Hue and Cry did a jazz-inspired
version on a Xmasday album. Hartlepool United football fans sing it on the terraces since
the 1980s. (A version by some fans reached #24 on the UK Singles Chart in 2006). In
1969, it became a #1 single for UK entertainer Rolf Harris where it stayed for six weeks.
On BBC Radio Blackburn in 1979, Margaret Thatcher picked it as a favorite song.
The Frames and The Irish Rovers have recorded it. Tim Freedman closed an episode of ABC
TV Q&A with a live rendition. Roger Whittaker in a British drama series . In Scottish
comedian Billy Connolly’s parody, the two boys grow up to be policemen. Shel Silverstein
recorded a parody from the perspective of a third brother wearing tight blue pants and a
grey sport jacket who opts out of fighting to "stay at home with the girls." South African
Des Lindberg recorded a version where the boys are an Afrikaans (Boer) boy and an English
boy who grow up to fight on opposite sides of the Anglo Boer War.
My version is totally influenced by The Country Gentlemen, and was done live at the
Appalachian Jubilee at the Capitol Theater in Chambersburg, Pa..
Musicians:
Warren Reeder Dobro
Ed Schaeffer Lead Vocal, All Guitars, Bass
Dan Cassidy Fiddle
To listen, click below:
http://rattlesnakehill.org/Web_Music/edsmusic.html
Enjoy!
Ed
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