Two Little Boys

Last updated

"Two Little Boys"
Song
Songwriter(s) Edward Madden
Composer(s) Theodore F. Morse

"Two Little Boys" is a sentimental song about two friends who grow up to be soldiers. Recorded as early as 1903 in the United States, it became an international hit for Australian Rolf Harris 66 years later. It was published in 1903 [1] by American composer Theodore F. Morse and lyricist Edward Madden.

Contents

The first of numerous recordings was by American singer Billy Murray who released it in the United States in 1903 with the title "When We Were Two Little Boys". [2] [3] It became a popular music hall song of the time. Sheet music published in the United States in 1903 has a photograph of vaudeville singer and recording artist Dan W. Quinn, with the words "Successfully sung by Dan W. Quinn". [4]

The song parallels a childhood incident, the two boys playing soldier with wooden horses, and a dramatic battlefield rescue when they have grown up to be soldiers. The war referred to in the song is not identified.

The song may have inspired others, such as "Two Little Sailor Boys", also by Madden, 1906, [5] and The Four Virginians' "Two Little Lads", which used the same melody to tell a different story, as well as lesser lyric changes, such as the bluegrass band The Country Gentlemen referring to the fallen soldier as the other's "brother" instead of "comrade" in their 1962 version.

In 1969, the song became a No. 1 single in the United Kingdom for Australian entertainer Rolf Harris, and some believed the song had Crimean War or Boer War origins.

Origins

The song appears to have its origins in the fiction of the Victorian children's writer Juliana Horatia Ewing, whose book Jackanapes was a story about the eponymous hero 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. [6]

There is some indication that the song also shares a similarity to an incident in the Boer War, in March or April 1900, described in a book written about the war by two members of an English volunteer regiment [7] published in 1902. The incident is described on page 60, and involved members of the Australian contingent:

It was during one of these patrols that the Boers, lying in wait for the Australians, fired into them, killing one of their horses; the dismounted man sprang up behind a comrade and galloped away pursued by the Boers. Suddenly in front appeared a strong barbed wire boundary fence, five or six strands high. The Boers made sure of their prey; but the Australians, riding without hesitation at the wire, cleared it, every one of them, the horse carrying two men as gallantly as the rest. Needless to say, these were no Cape ponies or Argentines, but fine Australian horses; indeed it was impossible not to be filled with admiration at the way this contingent was mounted, many of the horses in the ranks being high-class steeplechase animals of bone and substance, and of a very fine stamp.

The lyric "out from the ranks so blue" could also refer to the American Civil War, a reference to the blue uniforms worn by Union troops. [8] The United States Army also occasionally also wore blue uniforms in the Spanish American War of 1898. [9]

Rolf Harris

"Two Little Boys"
Single by Rolf Harris
B-side "I Love My Love"
Written1969
Released22 November 1969
Recorded1969
Length3:19
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Theodore F. Morse, Edward Madden
Producer(s) Mickey Clarke
Rolf Harris singles chronology
"Bluer Than Blue"
(1969)		"Two Little Boys"
(1969)		"Tennessee Birdwalk"
(1970)
Official audio
"Two Little Boys" on YouTube

In 1969 the song "Two Little Boys" was revived by Australian entertainer Rolf Harris with Alan Braden co-writing and arranging the song after having it sung down the phone from Australia to him by Harris. Back in the UK, Harris persuaded his television producer to incorporate the song into his BBC variety show. Alan Braden arranged and co-wrote the song for the TV show, and a favourable audience reaction prompted Harris to record and release it as a single. The song reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart on 18 December 1969, where it stayed for six weeks, thus becoming the first chart-topping single of the 1970s as well as the last of the 1960s. On BBC Radio Blackburn in 1979, Margaret Thatcher picked it as a favourite song. [10] In Australia the single reached number 7 in 1970, and was in the top 25 charting singles for that year. [11]

In October 2008, Harris announced he would re-record the song, backed by North Wales's Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir, to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I. [12] Proceeds from the new release went to The Poppy Appeal. [13] Harris was inspired to make the recording after participating in My Family at War, a short series of programmes in the BBC's Remembrance season, which was broadcast in November 2008. [14] He discovered that the experiences of his father and uncle during World War I mirrored the lyrics of the song. [15]

Other versions

The song was covered on the 1971 7th studio album by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, Transition. [16]

The song was also covered in 1980 by Splodgenessabounds and reached number 26 on the UK Singles Chart. [17]

In the film Trainspotting , Spud sings the song in the pub after Tommy’s funeral.

Scottish comedian Billy Connolly recorded a parody of the song with new lyrics entitled "Two Little Boys in Blue" on his Raw Meat for the Balcony LP in 1977. This version of the song told the story of two boys who grow up to be policemen.

American cartoonist and songwriter Shel Silverstein recorded "Civil War Song" in 1962, a parody of tragic and sentimental Civil War ballads unearthed by "folk music revival" pop singers at the time. Appearing on his album Inside Folk Songs, it is sung from the perspective of a third prospective recruit, who decides instead of choosing the blue or gray uniform to "wear my tight blue pants and grey sport jacket", protest the war with a "picket sign and a bottle of wine", and "stay at home with the girls".

Two Little Boys is the original title of New Zealand film Deano and Nige's Best Last Day Ever. [18] The Rolf Harris version appears early in the film before giving way to a punk version as the two leads are introduced. Throughout the film one of them imagines himself as a soldier helping his childhood friend despite the cost to himself. As the actors/characters are from Australia and New Zealand, this could also serve as a nod to the ANZAC spirit - the historic military brotherhood shared between the two countries since World War I.

"Two Little Boys" was a title of an episode of The Brittas Empire , the song is referenced during the episode and its tune is played towards the end of the episode. [19]

A techno duo called Two Little Boys released a 1991 single titled "Stylophonia", which extensively samples the voice of Rolf Harris explaining the stylophone instrument and singing the chorus of "Two Little Boys". [20]

Football chants

Hartlepool United football fans have sung "Two Little Boys" on the terraces since the 1980s. A version by a group of Hartlepool fans was released as a double A-side with "Never Say Die" on the single "Poolie Pride", recorded under the name of "Monkey Hangerz", reaching number 24 on the UK Singles Chart in 2005.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolf Harris</span> Australian entertainer (1930–2023)

Rolf Harris was an Australian musician, television personality, painter, and actor. He often used unusual instruments like the didgeridoo and the Stylophone in his performances, and is credited with the invention of the wobble board. He was convicted in England in 2014 of the sexual assault of four underage girls, which effectively ended his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dreaming (song)</span> 1982 song by Kate Bush

"The Dreaming" is the title song from Kate Bush's fourth studio album The Dreaming and was released as a single on 26 July 1982. "The Dreaming" peaked at No. 48 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Splodgenessabounds</span> English punk rock band

Splodgenessabounds are an English punk rock band formed in Keston, Kent. The band is associated with the Oi! and punk pathetique genres. Their frontman is Max Splodge. They have scored three UK Singles Chart entries, including one Top 10 hit and a second Top 30 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Hammond</span> British-Gibraltarian musician, producer (born 1944)

Albert Louis Hammond OBE is a British-Gibraltarian singer, songwriter and record producer. A prolific songwriter, he also collaborated with other songwriters such as Mike Hazlewood, John Bettis, Hal David, Diane Warren, Holly Knight and Carole Bayer Sager. Hammond's son Albert Hammond Jr. is a guitarist in American rock band the Strokes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Trooper</span> 1983 single by Iron Maiden

"The Trooper" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released as the second single on 20 June 1983 from the band's fourth studio album, Piece of Mind (1983). It was one of only a few songs to achieve frequent radio airplay in the United States, thus peaking at No. 28 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock. It also achieved success in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 12 in the UK Singles Charts, as well as gaining a better reception than the band's previous single, "Flight of Icarus". The song is one of their most popular and remains an essential track of heavy metal music.

Shampoo were an English female punk pop music duo in the 1990s, formed by Jacqueline "Jacqui" Blake and Caroline "Carrie" Askew. Their 1994 song "Trouble" from the debut album We Are Shampoo reached No. 11 in the UK Singles Chart and was featured in 1995's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie.

Fox were a British-based pop band popular in the mid-1970s. Led by American songwriter and record producer Kenny Young, the band was perhaps best known for its charismatic Australian lead singer Noosha Fox. They had three top 20 hits on the UK Singles Chart - "Only You Can" and "Imagine Me, Imagine You" in 1975 and "S-S-S-Single Bed" in 1976, and Noosha Fox had a solo hit in 1977 with "Georgina Bailey".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whole Lotta History</span> 2006 single by Girls Aloud

"Whole Lotta History" is a song by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud, taken from their third studio album Chemistry (2005). The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania, and produced by Higgins and Xenomania. Described as "a lush ballad", "Whole Lotta History" was slightly remixed and released as a single in March 2006. It continued Girls Aloud's string of hits by becoming their twelfth consecutive single to chart within the top ten on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Christmas (song)</span> Song by Billy Hayes and J W. Johnson

"Blue Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson and most famously recorded by Elvis Presley, although it was first recorded by Doye O'Dell in 1948. It is a tale of unrequited love during the holidays and is a longstanding staple of Christmas music, especially in the country genre.

<i>Prince Charming</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Adam and the Ants

Prince Charming is the third and final album by Adam and the Ants, released in November 1981. This album features bass player Gary Tibbs in place of Kevin Mooney, the bassist on Kings of the Wild Frontier. The album included the band's two number one UK hit singles "Stand and Deliver" and "Prince Charming" as well as "Ant Rap".

Racing Cars was a Welsh pop band, formed in the Rhondda Valley, Wales in 1973. Their only hit single was "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?", which peaked at number fourteen in the UK Singles Chart in 1977, and was inspired by the film, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Touring included dates supporting Bad Company in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport</span> 1957 song written by Rolf Harris

"Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" is a song written by Australian singer Rolf Harris in 1957 which became a hit around the world in the 1960s in two recordings. Inspired by Harry Belafonte's calypsos, most noticeably "The Jack-Ass Song", it is about an Australian stockman on his deathbed.

Tight Fit are an English pop group who had several hits in the early 1980s, including a UK No.1 for three weeks with their cover version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calvin Harris</span> Scottish DJ and producer (born 1984)

Adam Richard Wiles, known professionally as Calvin Harris, is a Scottish DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter. His debut studio album, I Created Disco (2007) was preceded by the singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls", both of which peaked within the top ten of the UK singles chart. His second album, Ready for the Weekend (2009), debuted atop the UK Albums Chart; its lead single, "I'm Not Alone", became his first song to peak the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Girls (Calvin Harris song)</span> 2007 single by Calvin Harris

"The Girls" is a song by Scottish musician Calvin Harris. It was released as the second single from his debut studio album, I Created Disco (2007), on 4 June 2007. "The Girls" was Harris' highest charting single on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number three on 10 June 2007. The demo version leaked on file sharing in April 2006 before I Created Disco was released after being featured on Pete Tong's Essential Selection. The song has been covered by electropop outfit Dragonette, who changed the main lyric to "The Boys".

<i>Neighbours</i> theme song 1987 single by Barry Crocker

The Neighbours theme song is the theme tune to the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Composed by Tony Hatch with the lyrics written by his then wife, Jackie Trent, it was once voted the world's most recognised television theme song. Neighbours was originally recorded by Barry Crocker, who also recorded the updated version. Subsequent versions have been recorded by a variety of artists.

"Yeovil True" was a single released by the English football team Yeovil Town in 2004. It reached number 36 in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolf Harris discography</span>

The discography of Australian musician, singer-songwriter, painter and television personality Rolf Harris consists of 30 studio albums, 2 live albums, 4 compilation albums, and 48 singles. He often used unusual instruments in his performances: he played the didgeridoo and the stylophone and is credited with the invention of the wobble board. Harris also collaborated with other artists, including Kate Bush, Rick Parfitt, and The Wiggles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Arise</span> 1960 single by Rolf Harris

"Sun Arise" is the fourth single released by Australian singer-songwriter Rolf Harris. Released in January 1961 in Australia and October 1962 in the UK, it was Harris' third charting hit in Australia and second in the UK. Unlike his early chart hits, "Sun Arise" was not a comedy record, but came within the genre of world music with its didgeridoo-inspired sound. It was produced by George Martin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only the Horses</span> 2012 single by Scissor Sisters

"Only the Horses" is a song by American band Scissor Sisters. The track is the first single from their fourth studio album, Magic Hour. It premiered on April 6, 2012, on BBC Radio 1, and was released to various iTunes Stores as a single on April 13, 2012, in Europe and was released on May 13, 2012, in the United Kingdom.

References

  1. ↑ "Catalog of Title Entries of Books Etc. July-Sept 1903 Third Quarter 1903, Library of Congress, Copyright Office". archive.org. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "When We Were Two Little Boys by Billy Murray Victor (2468) (release date, label shot and audio)". Internet Archive. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  3. ↑ Morse, Theodore F.; Madden, Edward (1903). "When We Were Two Little Boys". www.originals.be. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Images of sheet music, When we were two little boys, 1903". Library of Congress. 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "150.085 - Two Little Sailor Boys. Song. | Levy Music Collection".
  6. ↑ Graham Stewart. Cautionary tale of author J. H. Ewing. The Times . July 21, 2007.
  7. ↑ The Record of the Mounted Infantry of the City Imperial Volunteers by Guy H Guillum Scott and Geoffrey L McDonell, published in London in 1902 by E.& F.N. Spon, Limited, 125 Strand
  8. ↑ "Union uniform". Smithsonian Institution.
  9. ↑ "Khaki and Colt .45s: Head-to-Toe Dress for the Spanish-American War". The National Interest.
  10. ↑ "Two little boys, but in which war?". BBC News. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  11. ↑ Kent, David (26 November 1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  12. ↑ "Rolf remakes Two Little Boys hit". BBC News: Wales. BBC. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  13. ↑ "Rolf re-releases 1969 classic track". The Press Association. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.[ dead link ]
  14. ↑ "Yahoo New Zealand News". Nz.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  15. ↑ Adams, Stephen (11 November 2008). "Rolf Harris re-records Two Little Boys to mark 90th anniversary of end of WWI". Telegraph.co.uk. London: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  16. ↑ "Tracks on Transition - Kenny Rogers and The First Edition (August 1971) | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  17. ↑ "SPLODGENESSABOUNDS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  18. ↑ "Deano and Nige's Best Last Day Ever (2012)". MIDb.com. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "The Brittas Empire | Series 3 - 4. Two Little Boys". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  20. ↑ Two Little Boys - Stylophonia, 1991, retrieved 26 May 2023
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.