Full 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,
And 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 cry.
Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,
Lamb, you know, lamb, you know,
Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,
The teacher did reply.
About This Song
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" is a classic American nursery rhyme written by Sarah Josepha Hale and first published in 1830 in Poems for Our Children. It is believed to be based on a true incident where a young girl named Mary Sawyer brought her pet lamb to school in Sterling, Massachusetts.
The song holds a special place in history: Thomas Edison chose it as the first words ever recorded on his newly invented phonograph in 1877, making it not only a beloved children's rhyme but a landmark moment in the history of sound recording.
The gentle repetitive structure makes it easy for toddlers to memorize, and the warm story of friendship between Mary and her lamb continues to resonate with children and parents worldwide.