Mary Had a Little Lamb

This is a beautiful nursery rhyme written by a young John Roulstone and modified by poet Sarah Josepha Haler back in 1830. The rhyme is actually based on a true story of a girl known as Mary Sawyer who lived in Sterling, Massachusetts. The story goes that Mary took care of a lamb that had been rejected by its mother on the family farm.

She grew so affectionate and close to the lamb that one day her brother encouraged her to take the lamb to school. She tried to hide the lamb under her desk in a basket at her feet, but she was quickly spotted by a teacher and the story became quite famous locally.

“Mary Had a Little Lamb” as well as “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” are both popular nursery rhymes featuring sheep as the main characters having catchy, memorable melodies.
The moral lesson behind this rhyme is to treat others with kindness and love.

Mary Had a Little Lamb Lyrics

Mary had a little lamb, 
Little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb
Its fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went,
Everywhere that Mary went 
The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day, 
School one day, school one day,
It followed her to school one day
Which was against the rules.

It made the children laugh and play,
Laugh and play, laugh and play,
It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.

“Why does the lamb love Mary so?
Mary so, Mary so?
Why does the lamb love Mary so?” 
The eager children smile.

“Mary loves the lamb, you know,
Lamb, you know, lamb, you know,
Mary loves the lamb, you know,”
The teacher did reply.

Mary Had A Little Lamb Music Sheet