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