[PAR] [TLE] Alan Mills (music) [SEP] Alan Mills, CM, (born Albert Miller September 7, 1913(sometimes given as 1912) – June 14, 1977 ) was a Canadian folksinger, writer, and actor.  He was best known for popularizing Canadian folk music, and he composed the classic folk song "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" (with lyrics by Rose Bonne) which was later recorded by Burl Ives, Peter Paul and Mary and many others.  He also appeared on several radio and television programs and in movies.  He was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1974 for his contributions to Canadian folklore.  Mills has also released several albums on Folkways Records of Canadian and French folk songs. [PAR] [TLE] There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly [SEP] The phrase and title There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly—alternatively, "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly," or "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly," or "I Know an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly"—is a children's rhyme and song of a kind known as cumulative.  The song tells the story of an old woman who swallowed increasingly large animals, each to catch the previously swallowed animal.  There are many variations of phrasing in the lyrics, especially for the description of swallowing each animal.  The spider and fly are described in each verse, but the other animals are only described when they are introduced starting with the bird.  The absurdity stems from the increasingly improbable solutions that only worsen the initial problem and are more likely to cause the woman's death: the logic of swallowing of even more animals of preposterous sizes without dying, contrasted with the expected, matter-of-fact recounting of her death from swallowing an animal larger than herself, when in fact the swallowing of any animal as a solution was absurd.
[PAR] [TLE] Alan Mills ( music ) [ SEP ] Alan Mills , CM , ( born Albert Miller September 7 , 1913(sometimes given as 1912 ) – June 14 , 1977 ) was a Canadian folksinger , writer , and actor . He was best known for popularizing Canadian folk music , and he composed the classic folk song " I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly " ( with lyrics by Rose Bonne ) which was later recorded by Burl Ives , Peter Paul and Mary and many others . He also appeared on several radio and television programs and in movies . He was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1974 for his contributions to Canadian folklore . Mills has also released several albums on Folkways Records of Canadian and French folk songs . [PAR] [TLE] There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly [ SEP ] The phrase and title There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly — alternatively , " I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly , " or " There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly , " or " I Know an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly"—is a children 's rhyme and song of a kind known as cumulative . The song tells the story of an old woman who swallowed increasingly large animals , each to catch the previously swallowed animal . There are many variations of phrasing in the lyrics , especially for the description of swallowing each animal . The spider and fly are described in each verse , but the other animals are only described when they are introduced starting with the bird . The absurdity stems from the increasingly improbable solutions that only worsen the initial problem and are more likely to cause the woman 's death : the logic of swallowing of even more animals of preposterous sizes without dying , contrasted with the expected , matter - of - fact recounting of her death from swallowing an animal larger than herself , when in fact the swallowing of any animal as a solution was absurd .
Alan Mills composed the classic folk song that tells the story of what?
Alan Mills composed the classic folk song that tells the story of what ?
woman who swallowed increasingly large animals
woman who swallowed increasingly large animals