06 Dec 07 - 11:34 AM (#2209785) Subject: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Penny S. I was watching a programme on accents recorded by German researchers from POWs in WW1, and one of the common pieces was the parable of the prodigal son, beginning, "There was a man who had two sons..." when out from my dim and distant memory swam a song. I do not know its origin or where I learned it(certainly not from a US university song book, which provides the nearest match). Any ideas? There was a farmer had two sons, and these two sons were brothers, Josephus was the name of one, Biancus was the other. Now these two brothers had a pig, and it was double jointed, They took it to the blacksmith's shop, to get its trotters pointed. Now these two (men) fell sick and died, from eating apple jelly, Josephus died upon his back, Biancus on his birthday. Line missing, ending with "ell" Josephus he went up to heaven, Biancus went as well. Penny |
06 Dec 07 - 02:43 PM (#2209916) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: BB Roy Harris recorded a version of this back in '99. He got it from Duncan MacClellan of the Inverness Folk Club 'ages ago'. Duncan's version came from a Scottish comedian called Donald Dallas. Frank Crumit sang a version he called 'Bohunkus'. Barbara |
06 Dec 07 - 03:35 PM (#2209954) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Mick Pearce (MCP) My copy of the Roud Index lists about a dozen entries for this (No.6360), all from the USA or Canada, with titles Josephus and Bohunkus, Bohunkus, Old Grimes is Dead, Sing |
06 Dec 07 - 03:42 PM (#2209961) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Mick Pearce (MCP) (continues - accidental return there) Sing Brethren Sing, Bohunker and Kychunker and Twin Lakes (3 Newfoundland entries). I'm sure I've got a version of this somewhere, but it's not in my obvious first choices of places to look! Mick |
06 Dec 07 - 04:24 PM (#2209986) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Newport Boy This was discussed in an old thread here I have a version of this, collected from my mother in about 1957. She'd sung it as a junior schoolgirl in South Wales before 1920. I think she'd learned it from my Great Aunt Gert, born 1883. My mother's cousin confirms that she learned it from Gert. I noted the following words in 1957. FARMERS TWO SONS There was a farmer had two sons, and these two sons were brothers, Josephus was the name of one, Piancus was the others. Now these two brothers had a shirt, and it was washed on Mondays. Josephus wore it all the week, Piancus wore it Sundays. Now these two brothers had a horse, and it was very thin. They took it to the riverside, and gently pushed it in. Now these two brothers had a pig, and it was double jointed, They took it to the blacksmith's shop, to have its tail repointed. Now these two brothers both are dead, from eating apple jelly, They laid Josephus on his back, Piancus on his belly. Yes, these two brothers both are dead, I trust you wish them well Josephus he went up to heaven; Piancus - who can tell? My mother always sang the 'belly' as a Welsh word - I don't know the phonetics for the 'll'. The tune she sang was very similar to Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn. I have it fairly accurately notated, and will post an ABC tomorrow. I'd always assumed this was a local children's song, but it seems that the basic idea is much earlier, and that it possibly had been learned from a music hall (vaudeville) act. Phil |
06 Dec 07 - 05:27 PM (#2210031) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Mick Pearce (MCP) There are two versions in the Max Hunter collection: Josephus and Bohunkus from Reba Dearmore, Mountain Home, Arkansas, 1969 and Bohunkus and Josephus from Bill Ping, Santa Rosa, California, 1972 (an Old Grimes version). The text is there and sound too (Reba Dearmore's tune is essentially Auld Lang Syne). Mick |
06 Dec 07 - 05:48 PM (#2210050) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Newport Boy As promised above, my tune in (crude) ABC. X: 1 T:Farmers Two Sons M:3/4 L:1/8 Q:1/8=90 K:G D|DG B3A|GE D3D|DG B3G|AA3 c| BA G3A|BG E3D|DG B3A|GG3| Phil |
06 Dec 07 - 05:58 PM (#2210055) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Mo the caller The Old Grimes verse is a bit like something we sang in the school Senior Choir "Old Abr'am Brown is dead and gone you'll never see him more He used to wear a long brown coat that buttoned down before" And then the same words with a lot of fancy counterpoint |
06 Dec 07 - 07:19 PM (#2210121) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Mick Pearce (MCP) I thought I had a version somewhere: This is from Cox Folk-Songs of the South: OLD GRIMES Old Grimes is dead, that good old man, We ne'er shall see him more; He used to wear an old gray coat, All buttoned up before, my boys, All buttoned up before. I wish I had a load of wood, To fence my garden round; For the neighbours' pigs they do get in And root up all my ground, my boys, And root up all my ground. Our old cat has got so far She'll neither sing nor pray; She chased a mouse all round the house And broke the Sabbath day, my boys, And broke the Sabbath day. Somebody stole my banty hen, I with they'd let her be; For Saturday she laid two eggs, And Sunday she laid three, my boys, And Sunday she laid three. Cox's notes say: The first stanza will be recognised as belonging to the well-known poem by Albert Gordon Green. The rest is a comic perversion after the fashion of a nursery rhyme. Communicated by Miss Lily Hagans, Morgantown, Monongalia County, January 2, 1916; obtained from an old lady, Mrs Boyd. There are plenty of references to the song on the net. It seems to have been recorded by several quartets in the 20s and appeared in several university song books. The Ballad Index Supplement quotes several texts. I also have a version (1v plus tune) from the Frank C Brown collection of NC songs, and I'll try and post that tomorrow. I can't find any likely-looking early source, though one Ohio univerity site said it wasn't know there before the 1890s, but that's not really much help. Mick |
07 Dec 07 - 06:24 AM (#2210380) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Penny S. That looks a bit like the tune I remember. I'm wondering if I heard it from my father who knew songs from a Boys Brigade book. Penny |
07 Dec 07 - 05:56 PM (#2210882) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Mick Pearce (MCP) Here's the North Carolina tune I mentioned above. The notes include the information For different textual versions cf BSM 259, JAFS xxvi 125-6 and Texas FS 224-5 Mick X:1 T:Old Grimes Is Dead S:Miss Zilpah Frisbie of McDowell county; recorded Durham, July 24, 1923 B:The Frank C Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore L:1/8 M:6/8 K:F C|F2 D C2 F|A2 G F2 w:Old Grimes is dead, that good old man; C|D2 F FFD|(D C2-) C2 w:We ne'er shall see him no more.__ C|F2 F G2 G|A2 B c2 w:He used to wear a long-tailed coat (A/G/)|F2 F A2 G|(G F2-) F2|] w:All_ but-toned down be-fore.__ |
07 Dec 07 - 06:01 PM (#2210884) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: BB There a verse above that's interesting. There's a rather irreverent song from Exmoor about John Wesley - tune 'The Seven Joys of Mary' or 'The Old Grey Duck', which includes the following verses: John Wesley was a minister who lived in days of yore, He often wore an old brown coat that buttoned up before. John Wesley had another coat of quite a different kind; Instead of buttoning up before, it buttoned up behind. Barbara |
07 Dec 07 - 06:30 PM (#2210905) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Mick Pearce (MCP) The poem Old Grimes was published by Albert Greene in 1822 and is available in several places on the net. Here's a copy from Old Grimes - wikisource: Old Grimes is dead; that good old man, We ne'er shall see him more; He used to wear a long, black coat, All buttoned down before. His heart was open as the day, His feelings all were true; His hair was some inclined to gray, He wore it in a queue. He lived at peace with all mankind, In friendship he was true; His coat had pocket-holes behind, His pantaloons were blue. He modest merit sought to find, And pay it its desert; He had no malice in his mind, No ruffles on his shirt. His neighbours he did not abuse, Was sociable and gay; He wore large buckles on his shoes, And changed them every day. His knowledge, hid from public gaze, He did not bring to view, Nor make a noise town-meeting days, As many people do. His worldly goods he never threw In trust to fortune's chances, But lived (as all his brothers do) In easy circumstances. Thus undisturbed by anxious cares His peaceful moments ran; And everybody said he was A fine old gentleman. The poem seems to have been published a lot thereafter. Walt Whitman did an imitative version in 1840 - Young Grimes When old Grimes died, he left a son-- The graft of worthy stock; In deed and word he shows himself A chip of the old block. In youth, 'tis said, he liked not school-- Of tasks he was no lover; He wrote sums in a ciphering book, Which had a pasteboard cover. Young Grimes ne'er went to see the girls Before he was fourteen; Nor smoked, nor swore, for that he knew Gave Mrs. Grimes much pain. He never was extravagant In pleasure, dress, or board; His Sunday suit was of blue cloth, At six and eight a yard. But still there is, to tell the truth, No stinginess in him; And in July he wears an old Straw hat with a broad brim. Whether the song versions were based on the poems or whether Greene was inspired by the song would be an interesting question to answer. Bartlett's Quotations 1919 offers these two in notes to the 1st verse of Old Grimes: John Lee is dead, that good old man,— We ne'er shall see him more; He used to wear an old drab coat All buttoned down before. To the memory of John Lee, who died May 21, 1823. An Inscription in Matherne Churchyard. Old Abram Brown is dead and gone,— You'll never see him more; He used to wear a long brown coat That buttoned down before. Halliwell: Nursery Rhymes of England, p. 60. The first quote from 1823 would suggest either that someone was quick at appropriating Greene's verse or (perhaps more likely?) that the verse was already in circulation. Mick |
08 Dec 07 - 11:24 AM (#2211320) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: BB More and more interesting! The root of the John Wesley song is obviously the same. "John Wesley had three daughters fair, and they was tall and thin, He took them to the river bank and threw the buggers in. There came along three farmer's sons, and they was tall and stout; They saw them struggling in the stream and pulled the buggers out." "John Wesley had an old straw hat without no crown nor brim, 'Twouldn't 'a' bin much use to thee, and 'twadn't no use to him." We tend not to sing this in 'polite' circles! Barbara |
08 Dec 07 - 08:07 PM (#2211638) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Joe_F My mother sang There was a farmer had two sons, And these two sons were brothers. Josephus was the name of one, Bohuncus was the other. Now these two sons to the theater went Whenever they saw fit. Bohuncus in the gall'ry say, Josephus, in the pit. Now these two sons are dead and gone. We may their story tell: Josephus, he to heaven went; Bohuncus, he to -- Mick Pearce's "Old Grimes" shares a motif with There was a Presbyterian cat Went hunting for her prey. She caught a moose within the hoose Upon the Sawbath day. The people they were horrifiet, And they were grieved sair, And so they brocht that wicked cat Before the ministair. The ministair was horrifiet, And loodly he did say, "O wicked cat, to catch a moose Upon the Sawbath day. The Sawbath's been, frae days of yore, An institution," And so they led that wicked cat To execution. MORAL: The higher up the plum tree graws, The sweeter graw the plums. The mair the cobbler plies his trade, The braider graw his thumbs. |
08 Dec 07 - 09:26 PM (#2211674) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Jon From my memory of Bangor sessions. Now it came to pass in the fullness of time That these two brothers di-ed. They buried Josephius upside down. And Banqueius on his si-ed I think there was also a verse about stealing the fathers coffin lid to make a sh....en house door. |
11 Oct 12 - 11:56 AM (#3418123) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST The fragment I remember myu mother singing was: There was a framer had two sons And these two sons were brothers. Josephus was the name of one, Bohunkus was the others. Now these two sons are dead and gone, Long may their ashes rest. Josephus of the cannibals died Bohunkus by inquest. |
12 Oct 12 - 06:14 AM (#3418505) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Nigel Parsons Posted This is clearly related. Possibly comments above about the 'welsh' pronunciation of 'll' in 'belly' feed back to this version: JOHN/HENRY Tune: Bugeilio'r gwenith gwyn. Lyrics Unknown There was a man, he had two sons, And these two sons were brothers. John Henry was the name of one, And Henry John, the other. Now these two sons, the found a bike. The found it in a hollow. And whereso'er the front wheel went, The back would surely follow, Now these two sons, they bought a cow. They milked it with a spanner. The milk came out in shilling tins, The smaller ones; a tanner. Now these two sons took ill and died. They died of eating jelly. John Henry died upon his back, And Henry John his belly. Notes: 'shilling' 12 old pence, one 20th of a pound sterling. 'Tanner' six old pence. One fortieth of a pound. Jelly: gelatinised fruit cup. |
14 Oct 12 - 12:52 PM (#3419692) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Joy A My Grandfather (b. 1900) from Georgia sang: There was a farmer he had two sons and these two sons were brothers Josephus was the name of one and Bohunkus was the other These two boys they had a mule and this here mule was blind Josephus walked in front of the mule, Bohunkus walked behind |
17 Oct 12 - 06:50 AM (#3421181) Subject: Lyr Add: On Mules From: Nigel Parsons Following on, an old Scout campfire song: Mules, A Cation (ttto Auld Lang Syne) On mules we find, Two legs behind. And two we find before. We stand behind Before we find What the two behind be for! |
02 Jan 14 - 02:00 PM (#3588442) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Charlie I've also heard this song at Inverness Folk club in the 1980's. The guy who sang it said he came across it on an old '78 belonging to his Grannie, and it was recorded by Lonnie Donegan. I remember a verse: Josepheus was a wicked man, ..............(can't remember), He stole his Father's coffin lid, To make a henhouse door. |
02 Jan 14 - 03:38 PM (#3588464) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Richard Mellish Mike Waterson had a version in which the brothers' names were Adolphus John and John Adolphus. Besides the introductory verse I think it had only two others: the one about the thin horse (which they took to the River Went) and the one about their dying. |
20 Jun 14 - 07:50 AM (#3634878) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Brian My recollection of this is slightly different, being as follows:- There was a man who had two sons And these two sons were brothers Adolphus John was the name of one And John Adolphus the other Now these two men they bought a suit They bought it on a Monday Adolphus John wore it all the week And John Adolphus on Sunday Now these two men they had a horse Oh dear it was so thin They took it to the river side And pushed the poor thing in Now these two men they died they did From eating fish and jelly Adolphus John died on his back And John Adolphus on his…..birthday Now these two men are dead and gone I'm sure you wish them well Adolphus John went to heaven above And John Adolphus…..as well |
20 Jun 14 - 11:31 PM (#3635192) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: LadyJean My mom sang the first verse about the two sons. She sang Bohunkus. A Bohunk is someone from the Czech Republic. In Western Pennsylvania, a hunky is someone of Eastern European ancestry, Czech, Slovak, Serb, Croat, Russian, Ukrainian etc. are all hunkies. It's considered a perjorative, but I know people, among them my next door neighbor, who proudly call themselves Hunkies. He's got Hunky4 for his license plate. |
21 Jun 14 - 10:46 AM (#3635363) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Gutcher The Inverness connection mentioned above would be from recollection of this song recorded on a 78rpm record by two natives of that area------ Dan Dallas and Lee Fraser--the length of the song being restricted by the then technology. This recording can be found on you-tube. |
21 Jun 14 - 02:53 PM (#3635411) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Bill D I missed this way back then... somewhere I learned: There was a farmer he had two sons and these two sons were brothers Josephus was the name of one and Bohunkus was the others Now these two sons are dead & gone, and they have gone to rest. Josephus of the cholera died, Bohunkus by request. |
02 Jun 15 - 06:06 PM (#3714072) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,AIH My father used to sing this song to amuse his three daughters. His version was; There was a man who had two sons and these two sons were brothers. Josephus was the name of one Bohankus was the other. Now these two sons had suits of clothes and they did wear them well. Josephus he to Elwood went, Bohankus went to...Eustis. Elwood and Eustis were two small town in central Nebraska close to where we lived. |
20 Dec 15 - 11:39 PM (#3759989) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,M.E. Lawrence So happy to have found this thread! (I tried Googling these lyrics about 10 years ago, but no joy.) My late papa used to sing me a song enjoyed by his father, a Swede who emigrated to Utah in 1884 and became a union activist in the coal mines: [Memory fails me], he had two sons, And both those boys were brothers. Josephus was the name of one, Josephus was the name of one. Bohunkus was the other, Bohunkus was the other. Bo-hun-kus wa-a-a-s the other name. This was sung, with great vigor and emphasis, to the tune of "Joy to the World." Further verses, which I've forgotten, continue with tall-taleish descriptions of the two brothers' qualities and exploits. |
21 Dec 15 - 03:48 AM (#3760011) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Steve Gardham It would appear that a wide range of tunes is used. It might be worth pointing out that old Grimes/Abram Brown etc is definitely a separate song to Josephus and Bohunkus allowing for a little bit of crossover. Both songs have been subject to the addition of commonplaces over time. Both are very widespread. In my native Yorkshire the 'Old Grimes' song has long been traditional in several quite different forms. 'Old Grimey/Old Johnny Walker' etc... |
21 Dec 15 - 03:56 AM (#3760014) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Steve Gardham Among the commonplaces are the verses/motifs double-jointed pig riverside-gently pushed her in......'Lily-white Hand/Distressed Maid' Cow milked with a spanner. |
01 Jan 16 - 05:02 PM (#3762240) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,John Tuach This is the Donal Dallas 1920's version.. http://points-north.net/donal.aac |
02 Jan 16 - 10:45 AM (#3762343) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST My father's version had the brothers named John Andrew and Andrew John. Regarding the above Josephus verse said to be recorded by Lonnie Donegan. In about 1956 he was at a ceilidh in Morris Blythman's house in Glasgow. A singer I do not know sang and led the whole company in an uproarious parody of church hymn singing, 'lining out' each line in the style of the Highland Wee Free Church of Scotland as follows. Joe Weavis was a weekit (Scots for wicked) man We'll see his likes no more He stole his father's coffin lid To make a henhouse door. Dongean sang next - Grand Coolie Dam. I was not there but Morris played me [and many others] the tape. |
02 Jan 16 - 03:13 PM (#3762416) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,John Tuach Better audio file plus newspaper article at http://points-north.net/donal/ |
02 Jan 16 - 04:25 PM (#3762429) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Gutcher hello John T. ---cannot get any results from two links given the you-tube record of Dan and Lee mentioned by me above seems to have been removed. |
12 Nov 16 - 05:45 PM (#3820204) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Andrew John My welsh grandfather used to sing: There was a farmer, he had two sons. Now these two sons were brothers. John Andrew was the name of one and Andrew John the t'other. Now these two sons, they built the chimney, stack up higher and higher. To stop the dirty, stinking cats from piddlin' in the fire. I don't know if there was any more, my nanna always stopped him from singing at that point ;) |
13 Nov 16 - 05:19 AM (#3820266) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST The chimney/cats piddling is a commonplace of the 2 songs once again. |
14 Nov 16 - 05:29 AM (#3820443) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Dave Hunt - aka Dr Sunshine My parents were in a concert party and one of the sketches was - Two of the men came on dressed as Methodist Ministers.."Good evening Brother'..."Good evening Brother' 'What are we singing this evening?'' " I have a new song....here's the music" So they look at the sheet music "What's it called?" "Drink to me Only" ...."Tut Tut! Can't sing about drink" ....so they tear the top bit of the sheet music off....and so it goes on..." I'll sing tenor you have to sing Bass (pronounced as in Bass beer) " Tut Tut...that's a beer!" tear off next bit of music "Well here we go...moving from bar to bar" "Tut tut,etc.". tear off more music ....then same thing using "written in 1849....sorry I can only do 4-4,... Pizzicato,... Pause sign...looks like a Dogs Eye..."Sounds like a cocktail"..... Who wrote it? ...Paganini...That's page nine...finally get to bottom " Pub. Boosey and Hawkes" "PUB? BOOSEY!" Screw up last bit and discard "Well Brother we'll just have to sing our old one" (Here's where this tale is leading!!) There was a man who had two sons And these two sons were brothers Adolphus John the name of one John Adolphus was the other Now these two men they died they did From eating cake and jelly Adolphus John died on his back John Adolphus on his…..birthday Now these two men are dead and gone We know you wish them well Adolphus John went up to heaven John Adolphus went…..as well The late lamented Prof Wingnut (Vic Baker) and I revived it a few times for Music Hall shows, Nothing to remember as each cue written on the music sheet in black felt tip! |
03 Mar 17 - 10:41 AM (#3842653) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Helen My Welsh father sang: There was a man who had two sons,these two sons were brothers, John Andrew was the name of one and Andrew John the other. These two sons they bought a suit, they bought it on a Monday, John Andrew wore it all the week and and Andrew John on Sunday. These two sons they bought some bricks to build the chimney higher,to stop the cats from peeing down and putting out the fire. Now these two sons are dead and gone, they died from eating jelly, John Andrew died upon his back and Andrew John his belly. 60 years on it still makes me laugh 😃. |
04 Mar 17 - 08:59 AM (#3842799) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST Just remembered another verse: These two sons they bought a cow, they bought it for a tanner, every night and every morn they milked it with a spanner. |
13 Apr 20 - 07:18 PM (#4045915) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Liz I remember my Scottish grandparents singing Andrew John/ John Andrew in the 60s and 70s. Their verses included "bought a shirt, they bought it on a Monday, John Andrew wore it all the week and Andrew John on Sunday." "bought a horse and it was very thin; They had to plaster up its sides to keep its breakfast in" And one not mentioned so far "Now these two brothers went to war, They went to see how things is; John Andrew joined the 10th Hussars, and Andrew John the Kings's." After that they died of eating fish and jelly, and now they are gone, I'm sure you wish them well. John Andrew he has gone to heaven, and Andrew John (long pause) as well. It always had to be sung very seriously, rather lugubriously, which made it all the funnier. |
14 Apr 20 - 04:50 AM (#4045966) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: John MacKenzie Doug Stuart from the Black Isle does a wonderful version of this, and it's done in the Gaelic, call and response, hymn singing style. The story I heard was that they weren't allowed to sing sacred songs outside of the church, so in order to learn the tunes, they put nonsense words to them. |
14 Apr 20 - 06:04 AM (#4045985) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Nigel Parsons Of course, this also scans to "Mary had a little lamb", allowing verses to flow back and forth between all verses: Mary had a little lamb, It's fleece was white as snow And everywhere that Mary went The lamb was sure to go. Mary had a little lamb. She also had a bear. I've often seen her little lamb, But I've never seen her bear. Mary had a little bear, She treated it so kind. And everywhere that Mary went You'd see her bear behind. Mary had a little dress, The skirt was split in half. And every step that Mary took, The boys would see her calf. Mary had another dress, Split right up the front. But she didn't wear that one. Mary had a little pig. She couldn't stop it gruntin' She took it down a little path And kicked its little head in |
14 Apr 20 - 06:09 AM (#4045987) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Nigel Parsons allowing verses to flow back and forth between all verses: That last word should have been 'versions'. My error, I can't even blame spell-check. |
13 Mar 21 - 09:48 AM (#4097443) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Alan Ross Here is a link to Donald Dallas's 'rendering'. I had all of his recordings sent to me, but they are all equally dire and unfunny. There is one however, I might put on video called 'The Elusive Loch Ness Monster', which Britpop rocker Jarvis Cocker once played on BBC Radio 6 and is slightly above the rest. Donald Dallas died in 1946 and all his works and recordings can be classed as public domain. He was a strongman, Athlete, PE teacher and MC at Highland Games he was also an amateur stage entertainer. His works are recorded in the strongest Inverness accent possible, and often refer to a fondness for the whisky. Someone found him funny, and numerous recordings were made for the BELTONA record label in the early 1930's. He often wrote bizarre monologues, punctuated with re-written trad. melodies. I am Invernessian, and still struggle with his accent and speech. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jyZcbZA6qE |
14 Jun 21 - 11:39 AM (#4110136) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST Now, these two boys had suits of cloths, and they were made for Sunday. Bohunkus wore his every day and Josfuncus wore his on Monday. Thanks |
28 Oct 23 - 09:09 PM (#4184702) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,David Allison, Hobart, Tasmania The story I heard as a young boy was from my Grandfather Donald Munro the Publican of the Plough Inn, Inverness, Scotland. He knew the recorder of the song a Donald Dallas who was a teacher at the Inverness Academy. The song is a parody on the church 'Presenter' who job it was to sing the first line of the the 'Psalms' to the semi-literate congregation. The version I knew and used to sing as a party piece is: There was a man who had the twa sons And these twa sons were brothers Josepheus was the name of the one And Banquius the name of the other Now Josepheus was a weekid man We'll ner see hem no more He stole his Faither's coffin lid To mak a hen-house door Now these twa brothers bought a coat They bought it on the Monday Josepheus wore it through the week And Banquius on the Sunday Now it happened in the course of tiam That these twa brothers diyed They burried Josepheus on his back And Banquius on his siade |
28 Oct 23 - 09:09 PM (#4191404) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,David Allison, Hobart, Tasmania The story I heard as a young boy was from my Grandfather Donald Munro the Publican of the Plough Inn, Inverness, Scotland. He knew the recorder of the song a Donald Dallas who was a teacher at the Inverness Academy. The song is a parody on the church 'Presenter' who job it was to sing the first line of the the 'Psalms' to the semi-literate congregation. The version I knew and used to sing as a party piece is: There was a man who had the twa sons And these twa sons were brothers Josepheus was the name of the one And Banquius the name of the other Now Josepheus was a weekid man We'll ner see hem no more He stole his Faither's coffin lid To mak a hen-house door Now these twa brothers bought a coat They bought it on the Monday Josepheus wore it through the week And Banquius on the Sunday Now it happened in the course of tiam That these twa brothers diyed They burried Josepheus on his back And Banquius on his siade |
29 Oct 23 - 03:24 AM (#4191405) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Rossey See my thread above about Donald Dallas. He was blopdy awful, but people thought him funny. He spoke and sang in a common Inverness accent. A PE teacher (he taught in various schools), a strongman, games announcer and am. dram. comedian. He made a series of 78's for Decca/Beltona in the 30's. His renderings are often adaptations of trad. songs with a broad Inverness dialect slant. He died in 1946, and his works can now can be classed as public domain, as his co-writers are also past the 70 years copyright reach. |
29 Oct 23 - 03:24 AM (#4184708) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: GUEST,Rossey See my thread above about Donald Dallas. He was blopdy awful, but people thought him funny. He spoke and sang in a common Inverness accent. A PE teacher (he taught in various schools), a strongman, games announcer and am. dram. comedian. He made a series of 78's for Decca/Beltona in the 30's. His renderings are often adaptations of trad. songs with a broad Inverness dialect slant. He died in 1946, and his works can now can be classed as public domain, as his co-writers are also past the 70 years copyright reach. |
30 Oct 23 - 02:57 PM (#4184809) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Steve Gardham Unless it's on another thread none of this gets us anywhere near an original. 'Bohunkus' was in 'Heart Songs' from the early years of the 20th century. My guess, it's late 19th century American, either Vaudeville or a nonsense poem set to music. |
30 Oct 23 - 02:57 PM (#4191407) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Steve Gardham Unless it's on another thread none of this gets us anywhere near an original. 'Bohunkus' was in 'Heart Songs' from the early years of the 20th century. My guess, it's late 19th century American, either Vaudeville or a nonsense poem set to music. |
30 Oct 23 - 06:25 PM (#4191406) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Thompson There was that Mudcat had some sons Some sister, and, yes, brothers And some of them would sing their songs But not so much the others… |
30 Oct 23 - 06:25 PM (#4184821) Subject: RE: Origins: Two sons were brothers From: Thompson There was that Mudcat had some sons Some sister, and, yes, brothers And some of them would sing their songs But not so much the others… |