Mary Had a Little Lamb | Lyrics and Free Beginner Piano & Guitar Sheet Music

from the MMF Songbook



History for 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'

The lyrics to Mary Had a Little Lamb were inspired by an actual story. At the suggestion of her brother, young Mary Sawyer took her lamb to school one day. A young man who was visiting the school was inspired by the presence of the lamb. The next day he returned to the little red schoolhouse and handed Mary a piece of paper with the three original stanzas of Mary Had a Little Lamb on it.

The school mentioned in the rhyme is believed to be The Redstone School. It was built in 1798 and moved from Sterling, Massachusetts to Sudbury, Massachusetts in 1927. There is a statue of Mary's lamb in the town center of Sterling, Massachusetts.

In 1877 Thomas Edison recited Mary Had a Little Lamb in the first recording of the human voice. He re-recorded it again in 1927 for posterity. Listen to Thomas Alva Edison's recording of Mary Had a Little Lamb.


Lyrics for 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'

Mary had a little lamb,
its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went,
the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day,
which was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play,
to see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out,
but still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about,
till Mary did appear.

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
the eager children cry;
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know",
the teacher did reply.


Alternate Lyrics for 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'

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.

And so the teacher turned it out,
turned it out, turned it out,
And so the teacher turned it out,
but still it lingered near.

And waited patiently about,
patiently about, patiently about,
And waited patiently about,
till Mary did appear.

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
Love Mary so? Love Mary so?
"Why does the lamb love Mary so,"
the eager children cry.

"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
The lamb, you know, the lamb, you know,
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,"
the teacher did reply.


Browse Related Resources for ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb‘

Piano Sheet Music

Mary Had a Little Lamb for Beginner/Level 1 Piano Solo

Guitar Sheet Music

Mary Had a Little Lamb for Beginner Guitar Solo (Tab)

Guitar Chords

Mary Had a Little Lamb Guitar Chords



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