This is an old old song, based apparently on Mary Queen of Scots, or Bloody Mary (in the picture above, she has the carving knife). I recorded a sweeter version – no carving knife.
In the photo to the right you can see the farmer’s wife and her knife. It’s from a book called The Absurd ABC by Walter Crane. The book is in the public domain in the USA. I got it from Project Gutenberg which has lots of copyright free materials.
With this song, either create a gap-fill, or do a dictation. Play the song several times asking students to write down all the words. Then do a recycle version. See below.
Three Blind Mice (Bloody Mary Version)
Three blind mice (2x)
See how they run (2x)
They ran after the farmer’s wife
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife
Did you ever see such a thing in your life
As three blind mice?
Three Blind Mice (Nice Mouse Version)
Three blind mice (2x)
See how they run (2x)
They ran after the farmer’s wife
Who cried to the farmer, “Oh, save my life!”
The farmer replied, “They ‘re really quite nice,
The three blind mice.” (2x)
Vocals by Chelsea, Kristin, and Max Venuti
Here is another version of “Three Blind Mice”. It’s fairly advanced, so give students some pre-listening help.
Three Dumb Fish
Three dumb fish
Here they come
Swimming through the scum
In a puddle of rain in a satellite dish
Then one dumb fish made a stupid wish
“Before I die I must see Paris”
And out he jumped
Boy, that fish was drunk
Your students may make and sing their own songs too: “Three Wise Squid”, or “I Want Food”, or “Ten School Books”, or “Jean Claude Van Damme.” Use the karaoke version (no singing) below.
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This song was recorded before 1923, and is in the public domain. It means I’m free to record it and publish it on my web site, and you’re free to use it.
