TATAR #11 There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly

 

by Rose Bonne and Alan Mills (1952)

This is pretty much the first song I remember hearing as a child. I'd always assumed that it was one of those nursery rhymes that have been passed down from the mists of history. Not so. It was written back in the '50s by actual songwriters. And I should have guessed. It has all the elements of a great comedy song.

Some people think that comedy songs are all about the rhymes. I'm not so convinced. At least, the rhymes aren't always the thing that gets the laughs. I read a book recently by a stand-up comedian who noted that, for all his efforts in writing his material, audiences laughed most at his silly voices. It may not be the height of wit and sophistication but silly voices are undeniably funny and this song has a lot of 'em. And I appreciate that.

Another important element is surprise. So this song sets up the pattern of the rhyme:

There was an old woman who swallowed a fly

I don't know why she swallowed a fly

We get the same for all the animals ("How absurd to swallow a bird", "What a hog to swallow a dog" and so on). All except for the disruptive little spider who mucks up the pattern every time we run through the list:

There was an old woman who swallowed a spider

That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her

Now that "wiggled and jiggled and tickled" is a fun rhyme. But it's the surprise that make it even more fun and memorable.

And here's another secret to a great comedy song. It feels like it's getting funnier. The animals keep getting bigger in size and the extended joke and visual imagery gets more and more ridiculous. The music does the same as it modulates up a couple of semitones and the singers' voices get higher and higher. Right up until the final payoff:

There was an old woman who swallowed a horse

She's dead, of course

Amen!

Best. Song. Ending. Ever.

And that "Amen" makes me laugh every time.

RIP little fly.