Where is this rhyme from?

Question

I first heard this from my grandfather, then years later at school. No one I've asked so far could tell me where this is from or what it is called. But all have said it sounds familiar. Someone told me they thought it was a political satre from the 1800's, but I have been unable to verify it. I have also been told that some of the words are different from what they remember. Here it is:

On a bright, bright day in the middle of the night,
Two dead boys got up to fight.
Back to back they faced each other
Drew thier swords and shot each other.
The deaf policeman heard the noise
And went and killed those two dead boys.
If you think my tale is false
Ask the blind man who saw it all.

Answer 1

Here is one original version of the poem:

One fine day in the middle of the night,
Two dead boys* got up to fight,
Back to back they faced each other,
Drew their swords and shot each other,

One was blind and the other couldn't, see
So they chose a dummy for a referee.
A blind man went to see fair play,
A dumb man went to shout "hooray!"

A paralysed donkey passing by,
Kicked the blind man in the eye,
Knocked him through a nine inch wall,
Into a dry ditch and drowned them all,

A deaf policeman heard the noise,
And came to arrest the two dead boys,
If you don't believe this story’s true,
Ask the blind man he saw it too!

It is a poem from a tradition of humorous English poems which are sometimes known as "Nonsense poems".....the author of this particular poem is unknown and it probably grew out of an oral tradition of verse....

Answer 2

My father taught it to me when I was 5 or 6, but search as I might I couldn't find an origin for you.

Many stories like that came down simply by word of mouth and were never recorded anywhere.

But thanks for reminding me of it -- just another bit of wisdom I need to pass on to my kids!

Answer 3

My brother recites this one when he is trying to be funny. It might belong to Ogden Nash or someone like that. Drives me nuts, though.