“She sells sea shells by the sea shore” is a tongue twister that has been cited in print since at least 1904.
 
“Has a friend who, started a new job recently. It’s kinda hard to say what she does though ... she sells sea shells by the sea shore” is a joke that was posted on Twitter by Kyle Lewis on February 5, 2009. “Its difficult to say what my wife does- she sells seashells by the seashore (cortesy of Mock the WeeK)” was posted on Twitter by Mark on September 30, 2009. The joke possibly originated on the British topical, satirical celebrity panel show Mock the Week.
 
         
2 October 1904, Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicle, pg. 15, col. 5:
SHORT SENTENCES TO SAY SUDDENLY.
See if you can say these sentences fast:
She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
 
Twitter
Kyle Lewis
@KyleALewis
has a friend who, started a new job recently. It’s kinda hard to say what she does though ... she sells sea shells by the sea shore
10:43 PM - 5 Feb 2009
   
Twitter
Matt C
@mattcrouchuk
shares “It’s difficult to say what job my wife does. She sells sea shells by the sea shore.” http://plurk.com/p/229415
7:09 AM - 26 Sep 2009
     
Twitter   
Mark
@Llanigan
its difficult to say what my wife does- she sells seashells by the seashore (cortesy of Mock the WeeK)
5:26 PM - 30 Sep 2009
 
Twitter
Barry Purcell
@solo1y
My aunt… well, it’s hard to say what she does exactly. She sells seashells by the seashore.
1:39 AM - 2 Oct 2009
 
Twitter
Wyre Forest RT
@WyreForestRT
Its hard to say what my wife does for a living…...
she sells sea shells by the sea shore.
1:50 PM - 7 Mar 2010
 
Twitter
Richard Singleton
@Haggers1986
Replying to @PeteBarks
@PeteBarks my wife’s got a new job, it’s hard to say what she does, she sells sea shells by the sea shore
1:49 PM - 5 Feb 2015 from Epsom, South East
       
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/ratzeyemiste August 16, 2015
It’s hard to say what my wife does for a living
She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
 
Twitter
#StayGeneRic
@GenericIsJack
My girlfriend got a new job but it’s difficult to say what she does, she sells sea shells by the sea shore.
8:13 AM - 28 Nov 2015
   
Twitter
98.5 KTK
@ktk985dotcom
It’s difficult to say what my wife does: she sells sea shells by the sea shore #KTKmorningshow #StormJanieChris 98.5FM
7:56 AM - 21 Mar 2016
     
Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/porichoygupto April 29, 2018
It’s really hard to say what my wife does for a living.
She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
   
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/Rick_and June 19, 2018
Its difficult to say what my wife does
She sells seashells by the sea shore.
 
Google Books
Really Bad Dad Jokes:
More Than 400 Unbearable Groan-Inducing Wisecracks Sure to Make You the Funniest Father With a Quip
By Joe Kerz
New York, NY: Simon and Schuster
2019
Pg. 270:
IT’S REALLY HARD TO SAY WHAT MY WIFE DOES FOR A LIVING.
She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
 
Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/loWbAtTeRy67 June 16, 2019
It’s difficult for me to say what my wife does
She sells sea shells by the sea shore
COMMENTS
CapabilitE
Is she named sally by any chance
 
wouldiwas-shookspear
No her name is shelly