The lead sheet for “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” is available for download as a PDF.

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep

“Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” is an English nursery rhyme with roots dating back to at least the mid-18th century, first appearing in print around 1744. The lyrics describe the sharing of wool and are often interpreted as a simple rhyme reflecting everyday rural life in England.

The melody most commonly associated with the rhyme comes from the French tune “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman,” already popular in Europe by the 1760s. That same melody was later immortalized through Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Variations on “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman”, K. 265/300e (c. 1781–82), though Mozart did not compose the tune itself.

During the 19th century, the rhyme became firmly linked to this melody as children’s songs were standardized in books and classrooms. Sharing the tune with “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and the alphabet song helped cement it as part of a small family of universally recognizable children’s melodies.

Lead Sheet

“Baa, Baa Black Sheep” is available for download as a PDF in a bundle with 10 other songs.

Happy Birthday – Frère Jacques – Hush, Little Baby – London Bridge is Falling Down – Mary Had a Little Lamb – This Old Man – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – Baa, Baa Black Sheep – The ABC – Three Blind Mice – Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Download 11 Nursery Rhymes – Lead Sheets (11 Individual PDF Files)