As children, many of us learned the rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep and, as adults, recite it to our children. So, where exactly did this nursery rhyme originate from, and what does it really mean?
Origins
The rhyme which asks “Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?” has its origins in England, probably to sometime around the 12th century AD when wool was one of England’s major trade products.
In 1272, the then-Prince Edward returned home from the Crusades after learning that his father, King Henry III, had passed away. Edward was then crowned King Edward I of England. After his coronation, Edward had to find a way to fund military ventures, so he began imposing new taxes on the wool industry.
Meaning
Throughout history, nursery rhymes such as Baa Baa Black Sheep have been more than just baby songs. The meaning behind nursery rhymes is often deeper and darker than what we teach children about these baby songs. In this particular nursery rhyme, the mention of three bags of wool seems to allude to the economic climate in England.
The bag of wool for the master is probably referring to the fact that one-third of the price of each sack of wool was for the king, who took it as a tax to fund military spending. The dame probably refers to the monasteries in England. The little boy is essentially the poor farmer who tended the flock and saw no financial gain for his role as the laborer; he only got one-third of his total earnings due to taxation (without representation).
The Controversy
In 2014, schools in Australia began changing the lyrics to this nursery rhyme in order to make it seem less offensive. Teachers claimed that the song was both racist and sexist in content, so “black” and “boy” were both changed.
Pop Culture References
Baa Baa Black Sheep has been referenced throughout the years in different aspects of pop culture. In 1888, author Rudyard Kipling used it in a semi-autobiographical short story of the same title about himself and his sister.
The song made history in 1951 when it became one of the first two songs (the other song was “In the Mood”) to be digitally recorded and played on a computer.
The TV show Black Sheep Squadron was originally titled Baa Baa Black Sheep and ran from 1976 to 1978. It was an American dramatization of U.S. Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington and his World War II squadron, Marine Attack Squadron 214. The Major later went on to name his book after the nursery rhyme, hence the original title of the show later on.
As is the case of most nursery rhymes, their history entails a deeper meaning. This meaning is often not interpreted, or considered by those who sing and celebrate the songs. As nursery rhymes go, ‘Baa, Baa, Black Sheep’ is one of the more controversial. Scholars have come to believe that the song dates back to Medieval times and that it is related to the “Great Custom”.
This was, at the time, a new wool tax that was introduced by Edward I after he returned from the Crusades. It was conceptualized in order to supply the monarch with the extra money he needed for further military expenditures. At the time of the new tax, the wool trade was booming in England. It was in very high demand for cloth making.
The tax was in place from 1275 until the 15th century. This interpretation of the poem was set out in The Real Personages of Mother Goose, written by Katherine Elwes Thomas and published in 1930.
An Alternative Interpretation
Since Medieval times, the meaning has been lost, found again, and lost again. In the intervening years, some have considered alternative meanings to the song. It could, simply be speaking about sheep and their wool. Or, as some believed, specifically around the mid-1980s in England, the song alludes to slavery. The phrase “ Black sheep” is considered by some to be a reference to African slaves, and the wool as an allusion to the labor they were forced to endure. There is no evidence for this interpretation.
At one point, when this controversial interpretation was being taught in the UK, there were rumors that school districts were considering banning the song. Since then, there have been a few instances in which schools and nurseries have altered the lyrics replacing the word black with alternative adjectives, such as “happy,” “rainbow,” and “little”.
This classic nursery rhyme has attracted recent controversy as it was believed to be politically incorrect, but most scholars agree that it has little to do with the slave trade. The most common conclusion is that it’s actually about the Great Custom, which was a tax on wool in the 13th century. Under the new taxes the price of a sack of wool was split between the farmer, king and church. It takes on sinister connotations if you consider that the original last line was ‘And none for the little boy who cries down the lane’, indicating that the poor shepherd boys were left with no profits due to the heavy tax.
2. Georgie Porgy
Georgie Porgy pudding and pie
Kissed all the girls and made them cry
When the boys came out to play
Georgie Porgy ran away
Although it hasn’t been confirmed, there are a number of historical figures who could be the ‘Georgie’ in question in this rhyme. One popular interpretation is that the rhyme relates to George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham who possibly had a homosexual relationship with James I and was bestowed with a multitude of titles from the monarch. However, there were also many rumours that he seduced many ladies of the court, the ‘running away’ fits nicely with his skill for avoiding confrontation for his actions. Another option is George IV, who was often mocked for his large size and fondness for the opposite sex. George’s cowardice was also legendary, despite being an avid knuckle-boxing fan.
3. Lucy Locket
Lucy Locket lost her pocket
And Kitty Fisher found it
Not a penny was there in it
Only a ribbon around it
Like most nursery rhymes, the origin story of this classic rhyme is disputed, but if true it tells a very dark story. It is possible that Lucy and Kitty were actually real people and not just that; they were 18th-century prostitutes. The ‘pocket’ is believed to refer to one of Lucy’s lovers who she dropped when he ran out of money. Kitty was quick to swoop her rival’s lover up despite his lack of funds. The ‘ribbon’ refers to the common method that prostitutes used to keep their money safe – by a ribbon tied around their thigh.