“There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe” is one of the oldest and more popular children’s rhymes.
It was first recorded in 1794 in the Gammer Gurton’s Garland collection by Joseph Ritson but some researchers claim the lyrics could be older than this period.
King George II and his wife Queen Caroline both have been claimed to be the character of this song, due to the fact that they had eight children together, all of them being members of a parliament which the king himself did not control very successfully.
The lyrics were often put in the context of his trial to financially restore his family and country as well. King George was often nicknamed as an old lady during his reign.
“There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe” Lyrics
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 whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.