My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Other subjects

'I KNOW AN OLD WOMAN, WHO SWALLOWED A FLY.....'

6 replies

THERESA · 16/05/2002 16:31

I'll be so impressed if anyone can help me with this one. I've got the above song in my mind and can't stop singing it, but I can only remember the first 2 bits, (ie the fly and then the spider!). I've sung this to my daughter and she thinks it's great, so we both want to know the rest of it! I know it's by Burl Ives and I have seen a website which mentions an album of his which contains the song, but I don't really fancy forking out for it!
Does anyone know of any books that might contain the words? (Or does anyone know the words and can they be bothered to type them in for me!)
I'd be ever so greatful for any help.
Thanks

OP posts:
Report
Jaybee · 16/05/2002 16:35

Check out this
website
Hope that link works.....

Report
thumper · 16/05/2002 16:50

Thought it might be fun to write this down, forgot how long it was! My dd used to love this when very little, still does Especially the wriggle, tickle and jiggle bit, usually accompanied by tickles!
Not sure if all words are correct, might have improvised a bit. Hope it makes sense. Enjoy!


I know an old lady, who swallowed a fly, I dont know why she swallowed a fly, perhaps she'll die.

I know an old lady who swallowed a spider, that wriggled and jiggled and TICKLED inside her, she swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed a fly, perhaps she'll die.

I know an old lady who swallowed a bird, how ABSURD to swallow a bird. She swallowed a bird to catch the spider that wriggled and jiggled and TICKLED inside her. She swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her, she swallowed the spider to catch the fly, i don't know she swallowed the fly, perhaps she'll die.

I know an old lady who swallowed a cat, fancy THAT, to swallow a cat, she swallowed the cat to catch the bird, she swallowed the bird to catch the spider (that wriggled and jiggled and TICKLED inside her) she swallowed the spider to catch the fly etc etc.

I know an old lady who swallowed a dog, What a HOG to swallow a dog, she swallowed the dog to catch the cat, etc etc.

I know an old lady who swallowed a goat, right down her throat, she swallowed that goat! She swallowed the goat to catch the dog etc etc.

I know an old lady who swallowed cow, I don't know HOW she swallowed a COW. She swallowed the cow to catch the goat etc etc.

I know an old lady who swallowed a horse.
She's dead of course.

Report
jodee · 16/05/2002 17:42

That reminded me of an old favourite, hope you don't mind me sticking this in:

Hole in the Bottom of the Sea

There's a hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a hole, there's a hole,
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea.

There's a log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a log in the hole in the bottom of the sea,
There's a hole, there's a hole,
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea.

There's a bump on the log in the hole ... etc.
There's a frog on the bump on the log ... etc.
There's a fly on the frog on the bump ... etc.
There's a wing on the fly on the frog ... etc.

last verse:
There's a flea on the wing on the fly on the frog on the bump on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea...
There's a hole, there's a hole,
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea.

Report
Art · 16/05/2002 18:11

THERESA,
I think Colin and Jacqui Hawkins do a book, a lift the flap version - but I dont know the publisher.

Report
THERESA · 16/05/2002 20:01

I should know by now that I'll always get an answer from someone! I've printed this thread and will show my family as I've been quizzing them all for the words, I know that they will be ultra impressed! The poppyfields website is great Jaybee, I'll study it at leisure. I may buy the book as a treat for Jenny as she's just contracted chickenpox (I'm dreading trying to fill in the time during our 'confinement'!). Special commendations must go to jodee and thumper for taking the time and effort to type out those songs. I'm sure that they'll be appreciated by loads of other people who investigate this thread!
Thanks a million

OP posts:
Report
JoW · 21/05/2002 10:39

Yes I echo the thanks to Jodee and Thumper, v big effort, will enjoy singing real words to the spider song instead of completely made up ones

thanks

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.