There was an old woman
There was an old woman
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;
She whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.
Origin
This is a very old rhyme which first appeared in print (or at least a version of it) in 1797, so it may have some significance in folklore.
It was an ancient custom to throw a shoe after a bride when she left on her honeymoon as a blessing of fertility on the union. This may well be the reason for the old woman living ‘in’ the shoe and having lots of children.