A Crocheted Beard for the Old Man Inspired Me to Write the Rest of the Story…

Posted by: Sing Books with Emily on: August 28, 2013

In: Art of Singing a Song | Case for Singable Books | Heartfelt Musings | Lyrics | Poetry | Power of Music | SBWE in Person | Sing Along Tracks | Sing Books with Emily Sing-Along Materials | Singable Book Title | Singable Poem | Singable Poetry | Song History | Vocal Tracks | Written by ELEG
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Browsing on that wonderful site Etsy.com where people sell their wonderful handmade items, I happened upon a site of a woman who sells crochet beards (The Contrary Canary) and I got an idea for THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A BEARD. The shop owner said she would indeed make me a large crochet beard for THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A BEARD and it is as delightful and funny as all-get-out:

I thought it would be hilarious to don the beard and sing the song for the kids.

The next step will be to find and affix the two owls and a hen four larks and a wren to the beard, and we’re off to the races.

Then I went on a little bender and wrote a story for the old man and his birdie pals…

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There was an Old Man with a Beard (Who Fed the Birds)
Original Limerick by Edward Lear
Additional Words by Emily
Traditional TuneBook Assembled by Sing Books with Emily

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THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A BEARD (WHO FED THE BIRDS)
Original Limerick by Edward Lear
Additional Words by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
Traditional Tune

There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, “It is just as I feared!
Two owls and a hen,
Four larks and a wren
Have all built their nests in my beard!”

He gave them a nice bit of dinner
He noticed they’d gotten much thinner
They dined on bird seed
A suitable feed
At cooking he was a beginner.

Together they all took a class
They craved a more-tasty repast
Though birdseed was fine
They sought meals divine
They were hungry and had to learn fast!

Then the Old Bearded Man and the fowl
Filled their dishes with food cheek-by-jowl
The food was delicious
And also nutritious
Their tummies would no longer growl!

There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, “I’m no longer a- feared!
Two owls and a hen
Four larks and a wren
Share dinner with me in my beard!”

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There Was an Old Man with a Beard
Limerick by Edward Lear
Traditional Tune
Illustrated by Kelly Oechsli
To view or print this song sheet, click here:
there was an old man w a beard lear oechsli