I guess the two dead boys thread by its nature had to be zombified twice.
But then I appreciate hearing about variants of these, so I’m not complaining.
This is how I learned it in California back in 1978
Early in the morning, in the middle of the night
Two dead boys got up to fight
One was blind, the other couldn’t see
Chose the devil as the referee
Back to back they faced each other
Drew their swords and shot each other
The deaf police man heard the noise
Came and killed the two dead boys
If you don’t believe me that the story is true
You can ask that blind man, he saw it too.
I am so happy that I wasn’t the only one who had heard this story.
I have taught to my daugter to pass it on.
“Hello, young zombies, wherever you are…”
The best story I know about this song concerns the 1930 “hot jazz” recording by Hoagy Carmichael and his Orchestra, featuring Bix Beiderbecke, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Bud Freeman, Bubber Miley, Eddie Lang, and Gene Krupa. (For all you non-jazzbos, those are VERY FAMOUS musicians)
During the second verse, when the band joins in singing, you can clearly hear violinist Joe Venuti happily going “Barnacle Bill, the SHITHEAD.”
Hey, and it’s online!
The version my dad taught me:
One dark night in the middle of the day,
Two dead boys came out to play.
Back to back they faced each other.
Pulled out their swords and shot each other.
A deaf policeman a mile away
Heard those shots and shot those two dead boys.
I know the “It was midnight on the ocean” variants as part of the lyrics to “Ain’t We Crazy” by Harry “Haywire Mac” McClintock (of “Big Rock Candy Mountain” fame).
“I’ll take my cock
And break the lock”, said Barnacle Bill the sailor.
And as for the original posted poem, as I learned it surely went like this…
“And if you don’t believe this lie, it’s true”.
And here’s another:
As I was sitting in my chair,
I knew the bottom wasn’t there,
Nor legs or back,
But I just sat,
Ignoring little things like that.
A fine addition to the dirty ditty. I will be sure to add it.