Song Video
Lyrics
I know a ditty nutty as a fruitcake
Goofy as a goon and silly as a loon
Some call it pretty, others call it crazy
But they all sing this tune:.
Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
Yes! Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
If the words sound queer and funny to your ear, a little bit jumbled and jivey
Sing "Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy".
Oh! Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you-oo?
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?
Information About Mares Eat Oats
Originally titled Mairzy Doats, it was written in 1943 by Milton Drake. Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston. It was recorded for the first time by Al Trace and his Silly Symphonists. WOR New York was the first radio station to play the song.
The song is based on an old English nursery rhyme. Drake's four year old daughter came home reciting the old rhyme, and he found it interesting. It was made popular when it hit the pop charts in 1944 with the version performed by The Merry Macs.
RB singer Tommy Ridgely recorded a version in 1958, and Carlo Mastangelo of the Belmonts turned it into an up tempo rock and roll song in 1963. Sherry Lewis sang it several times on her program Lamb Chops Play Along.
Alan Alda, as Hawk Eye Pierce, used it to teach English to Koreans on the T.V. show MASH. It was even used as a computer password in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It has become so popular, that it has even been turned into a square dance call.
Alternative Lyrics & Related Songs
This version has other animals in it
Dogs eat bugs and birds eat bugs.
And little owls eat liver.
A kid will eat liver too, wouldn't you.
Whailzy deals and sealzy deals
And baby fishy doysters,
A squiddley doysters too,
Wouldn't you?
Well if the words sound queer,
And funny to your ear,
All of you girlsters and boysters,
Say, ' Whales eat eels
And seals eat eels,
And baby fish eat oysters!"
Whales eat eels and seals eat eels
And baby fish eat oysters,
A squid will eat oysters too,
Wouldn't you?
A whale will eat oysters too,
A squid will eat oysters too,
A kid will eat ivy too,.
Wouldn't you?
Cowzy day and goatzy day
And little pigzy donuts;
A kiddely donuts, too, wouldn't you?
(Repeat)
Now if the words sound queer,
And funny to your ear,
You think you're gonna go nuts,
Say cows eat hay, and goats eat hay,
And little pigs eat donuts.
This is just a single verse
Mares eat oats and
does eat oats and
little lambs eat ivy
kids will eat ivy to
wouldn't you?
Sing to this if you just want to sing about Mares
Mares eat oats
and does eat oats
and little lambs eat ivy
a kid'll eat ivy, too
wouldn't you?
Maresy doats and doesie doats
and little lambsidivie
a kidlley ivy too
wooden shoe?