Mary Had A Little Lamb

Album: Children's Favorites (1830)
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Songfacts®:

  • "Mary Had A Little Lamb" is a famous nursery rhyme; unlike many such ditties it is not particular ancient, nor does it have any sinister connotations - as for example "Ring Around the Rosie" - and it has a very precise origin.

    Although it is widely believed to be an English rhyme, "Mary Had A Little Lamb" was actually written by an American schoolteacher turned novelist and magazine editor. Sarah Josephina Hale (1788-1879) was born in New Hampshire, and published the nursery rhyme in May 1830, although it appears to have been written sometime before. It was inspired by a young girl named Mary Sawyer who took her pet lamb to school at the suggestion of her brother.

    It is possible though not confirmed that part of the poem was written by John Roulstone, who visited the school at that time. Roulstone was studying for the ministry, and the purpose of his contribution - if any - may have been to add a spiritual or a moral dimension.

    The music was added later by Lowel Mason. A statute representing the lamb was erected in Sterling Massachusetts, the home of Mary Sawyer.
  • In 1877, Thomas Edison recorded it with his phonograph device, the first time (it was believed) the human voice had ever been so captured, but in February 2008, a recording of "Au Clair De La Lune" was discovered (and retrieved the following month) which dates to April 1860. It is an endearing comment on human nature that the two earliest recordings were both of nursery rhymes.
  • Unsurprisingly, "Mary Had A Little Lamb" has been both imitated and parodied, and not all of these parodies are suitable for children! One of the more palatable imitations is the Stevie Ray Vaughan version, which Sarah Hale would have recognised, and would not have been ashamed of. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for all above

Comments: 4

  • Rozwilldesign@gmail.com from Co@ Ashton from Florida: I am writing a family oriented blog/podcast episode about this song. Would you like to contribute?
  • Ashton from FloridaMary sawyer is my great great grandmother.
    I hold an original copy of this.

    Also I have to mention that the song was originally written by a boy who actually went to school with Grandma Mary and Hale who many years later added to it published it denying credit to Jhon Roulstone, who had passed away 7 years after writing the original.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 9th 1972, Paul McCartney & Wings began their ‘Wings Over Europe’ tour* when they performed in concert at Chateauvillon, Ollioules, France...
    At the time the group's "Mary Had a Little Lamb" was at #29 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; the following week it would peak at #28 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 7 weeks...
    In the United Kingdom it was at #15; three weeks earlier on June 18th, 1972 it had reached #9 {for 2 weeks}...
    * It was the first time Paul McCartney would tour since being a member of the Beatles, who quit touring in 1966.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 6th, 1877, the first recording of a human voice was made; Thomas Edison recited the nursery rhythm 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' on the first tinfoil cylinder phonograph...
    Eighty five years later in 1962 James Darren released "Mary's Little Lamb", it peaked at #39 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart...
    And in 1972 Paul McCartney's "Mary Had A Little Lamb" reached #28 on the Top 100 (both are available of You Tube).
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