Quarter Note @ 80

Played in 6/8 time Key of G q=quarternote h=half w=whole
e=eighth
first line is time
second line is tone
third line is lyric
fourth line is chord
bars separated by |
( I hope this works!)
--------------------------------------------------------
e | e e e e e e | e e e q...
D | G G B G G D | G G B G...
I |KNOW AN OLD LADY WHO| SWALLOWED A FLY
| G |
e e e q. e |e e e q. | (1/8rest) q.| q.q.|q..
A A A A G |F D D D | D | E F |G
I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE|SWALLOWED THE FLY|I GUESS SHE'LL DIE
A7 | D7 | D

(follow the same pattern for each verse, adjust timing of notes for syllables)

2. There was an old lady who swallowed a spider that wiggled and jiggled and tiggled inside her, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I guess she'll die.

3. There was an old lady who swallowed a bird, to catch the spider, who wiggled and jiggled and tiggled inside her, she swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die.

4. There was an old lady who swallowed a cat. She swallowed the cat to catch the bird , She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, who wiggled and jiggled and tiggled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, And I don't know why whe swallowed the fly. I guess she'll die.

(similarly)

5. There was an old lady who swallowed a dog. Wasn't she a hog, to swallow a dog. She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, etc.----

6. There was an old lady who swallowed a goat. Just opened her throat and swallowed a goat. She swallowed the goat to catch the dog, etc.

7. 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 goat etc.

8. I know an old lady who swallowed a Rhinoceros, How preposterous, to swallow a Rhinocerous....etc

9. (Last verse) I know an old lady who swallowed a minister. How sinister!! It finished her.

Pete's notes from the original songbook...
"Alan Mills, ebullient Canadian singer came across these these verses in a magazine, changed them a bit, added a few more, and added a tune. Countless, future generations of children will enjoy the result."
{Words by Rose Bonne. Music by Alan Mills (c) 1962 Peer International Corp.)

As a further comment on this song. Upon playing the songs of Pete Seeger as an eager 15 year old folk-singer-guitar-player I determined that this song was not what I wanted to sing and play. Several years later as a young father I realized how effective this song is with kids. My suggestion is not to sing this yourself, unless you want to see a group of five year olds rolling their eyes at you. We tried to alternate the repeating verses among kids or divide the kids into groups and make each group responsible for its verse. This also is evidence that Pete sings to all the people in the world, including the little ones.

Pax

(Line breaks <br> added by Joe Offer)