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Subject: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,Avrosimones Date: 18 Feb 05 - 05:39 PM Hi, I have a song in my head and I believe it has the lines; 'There was an old woman who swallowed a fly, why oh why did she swallow a fly?' And thats as far as I get. I was wondering if anyone knew the full lyrics. Cheers. |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Peace Date: 18 Feb 05 - 05:48 PM Here ya go. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD WOMAN WHO SWALLOWED A FLY From: GUEST,Guest: Sandynewlap Date: 18 Feb 05 - 05:50 PM I know an old woman who swallowed a fly. I don't know why she swallowed that fly. Perhaps she'll die. I know an old woman who swallowed a spider That wriggled and tiggled and jiggled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed the fly. Perhaps she'll die. I know an old woman who swallowed a bird. How absurd, to swallow a bird! She swallowed the bird to catch the spider That wriggled and jiggled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed that fly. Perhaps she'll die. I know an old woman who swallowed a cat. What of that, she swallowed a cat! She swallowed the cat to catch the bird. She swallowed the bird to catch the spider That wriggled and jiggled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed that fly. Perhaps she'll die. I know an old woman who swallowed a dog. 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 wriggled and jiggled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed that fly. Perhaps she'll die. I know an old woman who swallowed a cow. I don't know how she swallowed that 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 wriggled and jiggled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. I don't know why she swallowed that fly. Perhaps she'll die. I know an old woman who swallowed a horse. She died of course! Sandynewlap |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,Avrosimones Date: 18 Feb 05 - 05:51 PM Thats great! Just what I was looking for. Thanks a lot. Now I just need to learn it... |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: PoppaGator Date: 18 Feb 05 - 06:43 PM I learned this one from my Dad, not from a record, but I think that the definitive recording (where he probably learned the song) is by Burl Ives. |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 18 Feb 05 - 07:31 PM Posted in thread 60787 back in '03: swallowed Also in the DT. Posted in thread 31066 back in '00: swallowed |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Geoff the Duck Date: 18 Feb 05 - 07:36 PM Big Mouth??? Quack! GtD. |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Azizi Date: 18 Feb 05 - 10:04 PM I actually saw a woman swallow a fly. It was some years ago when most of the passangers of a bus full of children campers and their parents/guardians and younger siblings were singing songs such as [but not actually]this one. A fly flew in this woman's mouth...AND I NEVER SAW IT COME OUT!! That sure shut her up quick. Most people didn't see it-but my daughter and I did. We were successful in holding our laughter until we got off the bus.. And then we laughed until we cried [okay maybe I wasn't a good role model that time..but I've made up for it..] One thing I'll say...I'm glad it wasn't me. The lesson learned from this experience? When you open your mouth, watch out for flying flies flying by. Azizi |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Peace Date: 18 Feb 05 - 10:12 PM Humans are purported to swallow somewhere between 5 and 8 spiders in the course of their lives. I don't know who counts these things. But that ought to keep the fly population down, huh? |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker Date: 18 Feb 05 - 10:13 PM this is the song that traumatized me at an early age and made me and my entire family think folk music was shite.. not so much for the bizarre horrific subject content.. but the way my boring old wanky folky uncle insisted on ruining every family celebration and xmas party in the early to late 1960's by turning the record player off getting his guitar out.. and inflicting this ****in' ***** *** boyscout sundayschool song on us all.. thank f*** early 70's folk rock rescued me from the appalling nightmare of my folky guitar playing shite song warbling uncle..!!!!! |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Azizi Date: 18 Feb 05 - 11:08 PM Brucie, you wrote that "Humans are purported to swallow somewhere between 5 and 8 spiders in the course of their lives" You mean other than on the TV show "Survivor"??! The games people play..what's fun for some people isn't funny at all for others... Azizi |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Peace Date: 18 Feb 05 - 11:13 PM I have never seen Survivor. I have no TV. I am thnkful for many things in this life, and not having a TV is near the top of the list. However, see the following regarding humans swallowing spiders: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mspidereat.html |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Azizi Date: 18 Feb 05 - 11:21 PM I have never seen Survivor either. And I do have a TV. It's about making choices that benefit your life. And as to people swallowing spiders while their sleeping... Ugh!! Perish the thought. Azizi |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Pauline L Date: 19 Feb 05 - 12:51 AM I don't know why she swallowed a fly...An eating disorder, perhaps? |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: CStrong Date: 19 Feb 05 - 09:10 AM A nice alternate last verse: I know an old lady who swallowed a minister How sinister It finished her |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 19 Feb 05 - 09:48 AM I knew an old lady who swallowed a rhinocerous. PrePOSSerous! Dave Oesterreich |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,eric the red Date: 19 Feb 05 - 10:09 AM I always thought that you didn't understand ' tradition ' guest punkfolkrocker. eric |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker Date: 19 Feb 05 - 10:26 AM just because somethings traditional.. dont necessarily mean its any good or justifiable in inflicting on further generations.... |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker Date: 19 Feb 05 - 10:30 AM ps.. for what its worth.. i have actually joined mudcat membership.. just cant remember or be bothered to refresh cookie very often.... |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker.. Date: 19 Feb 05 - 10:39 AM |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: punkfolkrocker Date: 19 Feb 05 - 10:48 AM ..and anyway.. the selfish way my sundayschool/boyscout type folkie uncle regularly imposed his musical and cultural values on our family's celebrations definitely alienated my family from taking interest in and enjoying any folk music traditions.. so his arrogant lack of consideration was a bit counter productive to say the least.. |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Azizi Date: 19 Feb 05 - 10:50 AM Well since we're being ''PrePOSSerous".. I know an old lady who swallowed a monkey How funky! **** I know an old lady who swallowed a fish what a bitch! **** [and even worse than that one] I know an old lady who swallowed a lion It tasted fine * *try it-it can work if you want it to.. Azizi |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,mick Date: 19 Feb 05 - 11:56 AM At least your uncle didn't put you off altogether punkfolkrocker : and at least he was singing live.Growing up in 1960s England I used to be horribly embarrassed by my irish father's "terrible" voice which he insisted on inflicting on everyone at family gatherings.Then around the 1980's somebody played me a recording of something called a sean nos voice, and I recognized it as how my old fella had been singing . |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fish From: GUEST Date: 18 Jun 10 - 07:30 PM Why oh why did she swallow a fish |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Artful Codger Date: 18 Jun 10 - 09:05 PM 'Twas her death wish. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY From: GUEST,qwertyuioplkjhgfdsazxcvbnm Date: 09 Oct 10 - 01:40 PM 1. There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. I don't know why she swallowed a fly. Perhaps she'll die. 2. There was an old lady who swallowed a spider That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside 'er. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.... 4. There was an old lady who swallowed a bird. How absurd to swallow a bird! She swallowed the bird to catch the mouse.... 5. There was an old lady who swallowed a cat. Imagine that, to swallow a cat! She swallowed the cat to catch the bird.... 6. There was an old lady who swallowed a dog. What a hog to swallow a dog! She swallowed the dog to catch the cat.... 7. There was an old lady who swallowed a pig. She danced a jig when she swallowed the pig. She swallowed the pig to catch the dog.... 8. There was an old lady who swallowed a duck. What bad luck to swallow a duck! She swallowed the duck to catch the pig.... 9. There was an old lady who swallowed a goat. She opened her throat to swallow the goat. She swallowed the goat to catch the duck.... 10. There was an old lady who swallowed a cow. I don't know how she swallowed the cow. But she swallowed the cow to catch the goat.... 11. (Last verse) There was an old lady who swallowed a horse. She DIED, of course! |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Charley Noble Date: 10 Oct 10 - 10:37 AM Now my mother was fond of eating carpenter ants, or so she said when we were young. She claimed that they were very tasty, aromatic in a citrus kind of way. Of course consuming carpenter ants may shorten my mother's life. She's only 93! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,vantheman Date: 10 Oct 10 - 09:02 PM Years ago when I was young and fit I did a great deal of cycling. From time to time I would inhale the odd fly. My companion,who was a pharmacist,told me not to worry as it was a source of protein. |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: Taconicus Date: 11 Oct 10 - 02:23 PM The way we sang it was only slightly different. I think your memory may be off and the following is actually a correction but heck, it's possible there's more than one version. Anyway, on the second and subsequent verses... That wriggled and jiggled and squiggled inside her She swallowed the spider to catch the fly But I don't know why she swallowed the fly Perhaps she'll die. Other "corrections": Just think of that, she swallowed a cat! - and - I know an old woman who swallowed a horse She's dead, of course! |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,qwertyuioplkjhgfdsazxcvbnm Date: 21 Oct 10 - 06:39 PM ive never heard SQUIGGLED before |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: GUEST,qwertyuioplkjhgfdsazxcvbnm Date: 21 Oct 10 - 06:43 PM also,the thurd verse was... there was an old lady who swallowed a mouse whatg a louse to swallow a mouse she swallopwed the mouse to catch the spider... |
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Subject: RE: Why oh why did she swallow a fly? From: BobKnight Date: 21 Oct 10 - 08:06 PM She was an old witch, and it was an evil plot to bore us all to death. |
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