There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Song Lyrics & Words
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I don't know why she swallowed the fly,
I guess she'll die.
There was an old lady who swallowed a spider,
that wiggled and wiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed the fly.
I guess she'll die.
There was an old lady who swallowed a bird.
How absurd to swallow a bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
that wiggled and wiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed the fly.
I guess she'll die.
There was 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 wiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed the fly.
I guess she'll die.
There was an old lady who swallowed a dog.
My what a hog, to swallow a dog.
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat.
She swallowed the cat, to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
that wiggled and wiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed the fly.
I guess she'll die.
There was an old lady who swallowed a cow.
I don't know how she swallowed a cow.
She swallowed the cow to catch the dog.
She swallowed the dog, to catch the cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
that wiggled and wiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed the fly
I guess she'll die.
I know an old lady who swallowed a horse...
She's dead of course!
Information About This Song
Some tamer versions of this song end each verse with "Perhaps she'll die."
Alternately, each verse can end with "I think she'll cry"
and the last verse ends with "She's full of course!"
After the "dog" verse, there is another verse that you can add and it goes: "I knew an old lady who swallowed a goat; Just opened her throat and swallowed a goat!" She swallowed the goat to catch the dog".
This song was written by Rose Bonne, with music by Alan Mills, Peer International (Canada) Ltd. bought the song's copyright 1952 and has held the copyright 1960 onwards. There is a book called "The Fireside Book of Childrens Songs" collected and edited by Marie Winn, published by Simon & Schuster under Library of Congress Catalog Card Number:65-17108.Watch a Video of the Song
Listen to the Music of the Song
No sound? Read our support page for help.
Comments (26)
By Li in China on 26 December 2008
One of the best websites that my son and I like the most!
By Pedro in Losa Angales on 6 February 2009
there was an old lady who swallowed a fly.hahaha.she swallows a spider,bird,cat,dog,cow,and dies with a horse.
By Carlos in Los Angeles on 7 February 2009
the story is funny.
By Jamine Buckley in Port Orchard Washington on 10 March 2009
thias song is great
By Katherine in Akron, Ohio on 14 March 2009
This was a book when i was in pre-school
By Sarah Marge in Wilmington Ma on 16 March 2009
haha love this the best line: there was an old lady who swallowed a horse, she died of course!
By Paula in Laurel, Ms Usa on 27 March 2009
This is a wonderful site for children that are learning to read. The song helped my child read the words. Learning through music is a great way to inspire my son to read. He is three years old, and he loves this site.
By Lucy in Tomball Tx on 16 April 2009
Thank you love this sitte ! I have a little day care at my home and my kids learn more and its fun to watch....
By Yessica in Joliet, Il, Usa on 17 April 2009
This is a great song, I always sing it to my baby and he loves it!
By Diana in Dover, Pa on 8 May 2009
A childrens story about a lady on the verge of death? Ha. This was one of my favorite stories when i was little. The video is very cute.
By Boo in Oakland on 11 May 2009
Wow I remember this from the 1st grade! Memories!
By Taylor Janes in Tipton on 27 May 2009
i like it
By Liz in California on 8 July 2009
This song is not appropriate for children. Parents who sing it to their kids surely must be mad!
By Youpi in London on 19 July 2009
Aww , I remember this , I used to love this story when i was little ♥
By Selene in New Zealand on 25 July 2009
this song so cool I have to learn it for girl guides im so lucky another girl has to learn im a little tea pot!
By Brad in Tulsa, Ok on 30 September 2009
I love this song and cant wait to sing it to my twins
By George in Detroit,usa on 22 October 2009
I was sitting and a playing a game on my phone,and this song popped in my head,so I looked it up and down laoded it.
By Stephanie in New Albany, Indiana, Usa on 25 October 2009
My grandmother used to sing this song to me when I was a little girl & tickle me on the "wiggled and wiggled and tickled inside her!" part. She is now deceased and has been for 6 years...With the anniversary of her death quickly approaching again, I am thinking about her a lot- and I have to say- THIS is one of my FONDEST memories of her. I had to look up the words- I can't wait to sing it to my 3 y/o little boy and 2 y/o little girl! =o) *In loving memory of Ruth Ann Voignier*
By Kasie in Hermantown, Minnesota on 16 November 2009
i used to love this song when i was little!
By Krystan in Ainsworth Iowa on 2 December 2009
in there some where didnt she swallow a goat to catch the dog?
By Tearra in Texas on 5 December 2009
oh my gosh its awesome to go back and reflect on my early elementary years and im a junior in high school now. It was great playing this song. It made me want to cry, because I'm getting older. WOW good times.
By Jimbob in Red Wing, Mn Usa on 8 January 2010
It still warms my heart (even at 65 y/o) to think of all the other hearts that have been warmed. Thank you, Rose Bonne
By Heather in Alliance, Ohio, Usa on 17 February 2010
My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Ailes, sang this song to us. I loved having her for a teacher. I know everyone did. She's fondly remembered and sadly missed. I'm now singing the song to my 3 yr old.
By Benjamin Dover in Brisbane on 1 March 2010
hi my name is ben dover hehe:-)
By Alex in San Francisco, Usa on 3 March 2010
this song actually really creeps me out. i think the animals are different kinds of substitutes for human contact, i don't want to be too dark, but the fly is like original sin. really weird to sing to children if they think about what they sing.
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This song has been printed from BusSongs.com.
By Kristi Davis in Leonard, U.s on 10 November 2008
Great!