I received the recording below of Old Miss Mouse a couple of years ago. Though the quality of the recording is rough, I find it to be charming.
The Ramsey’s sent me this song with the note, “I was glad to see your song There Was a Little Mouse. My grandfather (who died 25 years ago at the age of 90) taught all his grandchildren the song ‘Old Miss Mouse’. I am now trying to teach it to my 3 sons and four grandchildren. This is the way we learned it…”
Old Miss Mouse
Old Miss Mouse lived on yon hill.
Tum-a-ling, dumma della, merry ki-e-mo.
If she ain’t moved away, she’s livin’ there still.
Tum-a-ling, dumma della, merry ki-e-mo.Ki-ma-kerry, dulce ma-kerry
Ki-ma-kerry, ki-e-mo
Tum-a-straw bum-a-little lillie-bow lar-a-tum-a-ling
dumma della, merry ki-e-mo.
If anyone would like to share another version of Old Miss Mouse or There Was a Little Mouse, please feel free to comment below.
-Lisa
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July 25th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
Hello.
I am Mayuko Takemura, a Japanese, female, 31.
It is nice meeting you.
I listened to Old Miss Mouse, and fascinated the song.
The words sounds very cute.
Is the song traditional?
I do not understand the meaning,
but very curious about the story.
I am very appreciate, if you give me any information.
Sincerely,
Mayuko Takemura
July 26th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Hi Mayuko,
Thanks for writing.
Old Miss Mouse seems to be a traditional song and it must be old judging by what the contributors said about it. I can’t find it in any of my books. I’m wondering if it could have a connection to the song Frog Went A-Courtin’ – which has Miss Mouse in it. Some of the versions of Froggie Went a Courtin’ have “ki-e-mo” or “kimeo” in it too.
You may not fully understand the song Old Miss Mouse as many of the “words” in it have no real meaning – they’re words like tralala – which is just a musical word with no meaning. It comes close to being a nonsense song.
If anyone knows anything else about Old Miss Mouse – please let us know!
-Mama Lisa