Here is a story book illustrated by Pam Adams in 1973. I’m not sure where the words or lyrics come from, but I think I knew this song when I was young, which was long before 1973. Read the book. Then sing the song.
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY Key G
G A D7
(1)There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. I don’t know why she swallowed the fly.
D7 G
Perhaps she’ll die.
G A7 D7
(2)There was an old lady who swallowed a spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
G A D7
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, but I don’t know why she swallowed the fly.
D7 G
Perhaps she’ll die.
G A7 D7
(3)There was an old lady who swallowed a bird. How absurd to swallow a bird.
G A7
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled Etc.
G A7 D7
(4)There was an old lady who swallowed a cat. Fancy that, she swallowed a cat.
G A7
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, she swallowed the bird to catch the spider that wiggled Etc.
G A7 D7
(5)There was an old lady who swallowed a dog. What a hog, to swallow a dog.
G
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, she swallowed the cat to catch the bird, Etc.
G A7 D7
(6)There was an old lady who swallowed a goat. Just opened her throat and swallowed the goat.
G
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog, she swallowed the dog to catch the cat, Etc
G A7 D7
(7)There was an old lady who swallowed a cow. I don’t know how she swallowed the cow.
G
She swallowed the cow to catch the goat, she swallowed the goat to catch the dog, Etc.
G D7 G
(8)There was an old lady who swallowed a horse. She’s dead, of course!
