In form and feature face and limb I grew so like my brother,
That folks got taking me for him and each for one another.
It puzzled all our kith and kin, it reached an awful pitch,
For one of us was born a twin yet not a soul new which.
One day (to make the matter worse) before our names were fixed,
As we were being washed by nurse we got completely mixed.
And thus you see by fates decree or rather nurses whim,
My brother John got christened me and I got christened him.

This fatal likeness even dogged my footsteps when at school.
For I was always getting flogged, as John turned out a fool.
I put this question helplessly to everyone I knew,
"What would you do if you were me to prove that you were you"?
Our close resemblance turned the tide of my domestic life.
For somehow my intended bride became my brothers wife.
In short, year after year the same absurd mistake went on.
And when I died the neighbors came and buried brother John!

(I'm not sure this was a song but it should have been.)