it comes from the name of a giant in french literature gargantua. how about "gnu"? is it...?..? [ alarm rings ] the answer is, "gnu"... as in, what's new at the zoo? a gnu! so, how'd you do? that's "word" for now! >> it's a famous poem with a stirring message. but nicole says it needs a little help in the accuracy department. here's the real story behind that famous midnight ride. >> just about every schoolkid knows the phrase "one if by land, and two if by..." >> "sea." >> "sea"? >> "sea." >> "sea." >> like i said, we all know the line. that's because it's part of a famous poem written by henry wadsworth longfellow. it begins with the words... some people believe that longfellow's poem is about as accurate as a colonial musket with a bent barrel. >> well, it is a beautiful poem, but it's horrible history. >> and he should know. bob damon is a historian. he explained to me some of the inaccuracies in longfellow's poem. let's start with its most famous line. >> "one if by land..." >> "...and two if by sea." >> it's wrong. the british were never going by sea. so it was a river,