There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
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"There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" ("There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly", "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, the lyrics were by Rose Bonne[1]
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.
[edit] In other media
- The song's lyrics were used as the text of a book by Simms Taback
- The song's title is shared with a book by children's illustrator Pam Adams (ISBN 0-85953-727-7)
- The animals who the woman in the song swallowed are illustrated in a t-shirt sold on the website Threadless, titled I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly.
- A version of this song was recorded by San Francisco punk band Flipper_(band) and released on a 7" single.
- A video version of this song was recorded with Julie Andrews and The Muppets[1] in 1985[2].
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Songs with Pictures" by M.B.K., Chicago Daily Tribune, November 12, 1961, page E34. (Reviewing a children's picture book, I Know an Old Lady illustrated by Abner Graboff of the music and lyrics of the song.)
