One of the things to keep in mind about folk poetry is that, in the original, and in established versions, folk poetry invariably rhymes. This is particularly true of the Two Dead Boys rhyme and readers should understand that variants … Continue reading
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Caroline Flaherty in London, England, sent this foreshortened, fragmented (and slightly edited) version: “One fine day in the middle of the night, A fire broke out in the ocean, A deaf man heard it, A blind man saw it.” “A … Continue reading
The following examples of line content vary considerably from person to person. The examples given are the primary variants that have been sent in to us but we received many others. The reader must appreciate, however, that there is not … Continue reading
This rhyme was given by a number of readers as an introduction to the “Two Dead Boys”. Whether it was originally designed as part of the “Two Dead Boys” rhyme or was created later and then added as an introduction … Continue reading
A great deal of electronic mail has been sent to us about the rhyme since we first uploaded this page. The material that follows is an analysis of the line variants followed by a composite version and the analysis of … Continue reading
One fine day in the middle of the night, Two dead boys* got up to fight, [*or men] Back to back they faced each other, Drew their swords and shot each other, One was blind and the other couldn’t, see … Continue reading
Although the Two Dead Boys poem (“One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night”) is often referred to as a nonsense rhyme, the description is not strictly accurate. It is clearly understandable in any of its many forms and … Continue reading
One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night “Two Dead Boys”, folk rhyme Contents: Introduction “One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night” (Edited Journal version) “Line Analysis 1” “Line Analysis 2” “Ladies and gentlemen, hobos and tramps” … Continue reading
BC Folklore Membership in the BCFS includes a subscription to B.C. Folklore, the Journal of the Society. The Journal is an irregular publication, usually published twice a year. Contributions are invited on any aspect of folklore, but preferably with British … Continue reading
The American anthropologist Dr. George M. Foster, in Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore Mythology and Legend, (1949) Maria Leach (ed.) New York, 1972, p.510 writes “HUMMINGBIRD: A minor character in American Indian folktale and mythology. The northern Paiute Indians [U.S. … Continue reading