There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe Lyrics

A well-known traditional English nursery rhyme, first published around 1794, about an old woman with so many children she "didn't know what to do." Best for ages 3–7. The vivid, slightly absurd image of a family living inside a giant shoe sparks imagination and makes the rhyme instantly memorable, while the tidy AABB rhyme scheme (shoe/do, bread/bed) gives young children clear, predictable sound patterns — exactly the rhyme awareness that predicts later reading success. Use it as a prompt for drawing the shoe-house or for gentle conversation about big families and helping at home. Because some older versions are harsh, most modern singers stop after the broth-and-bread lines. For how rhymes like this build pre-reading skills, see [how nursery rhymes build reading skills](/blog/how-nursery-rhymes-build-reading-skills) and our [top 15 nursery rhymes kids should know](/blog/top-15-nursery-rhymes-kids-should-know).

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth without any bread,
Then kissed them all sweetly and sent them to bed.