Traditional American Song - The Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly
"There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" (alternatively "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly" or "I Know an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly") is a children's song with a cumulative structure. The song was written by Alan Mills, and the lyrics were penned by Rose Bonne. Probably the best-known version of the song was released on Brunswick Records in 1953, and sung by Burl Ives.
The song tells the story of an old woman who swallowed increasingly large animals, each to catch the previously swallowed animal. There are many variations of phrasing in the lyrics, especially for the description of swallowing each animal.
I know an Old Lady, who swallowed a fly.
But, I don't know why, she swallowed the fly.
Perhaps, she'll die!
I know an Old Lady who swallowed a spider.
It wiggled and tickled and jiggled "inside her."
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
But I don't know why she swallowed the fly.
Perhaps, she'll die!
I know an Old Lady who swallowed a bird.
How absurd - to swallow a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
that wiggled and tickled and jiggled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
But I still don't know why she swallowed the fly.
Perhaps, she'll die!
I know an Old Lady who swallowed a cat.
Imagine that! She swallowed a cat!
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
that wiggled and tickled and jiggled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
But I still don't know why she swallowed the fly.
Perhaps, she'll die!
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