In the version commonly sung today, the lyrics allow for a substitutable animal and its respective sound.
- Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.
- And on that farm he had a [animal name], E-I-E-I-O,
- With a [animal noise twice] here and a [animal noise twice] there
- Here a [animal noise], there a [animal noise], everywhere a [animal noise twice]
- Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.
For example, a verse using a cow as an animal, and moo as the cow's sound would be:
- Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.
- And on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O.
- With a moo moo here and a moo moo there
- Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo
- Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.
Sometimes the 'with a' before the animal sound is dropped. Another version similar to the above goes:
- Old MacDonald has a farm, E-I-E-I-O.
- And on the farm he has a cow, E-I-E-I-O.
- Moo moo here, moo moo there
- Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo
- Old MacDonald has a farm, E-I-E-I-O.