To be furious over 'ba ba spotty sheep'

[Littlesmiler]

As the title really! My DD started school nursery in September, and this past week, when she has been at home and singing nursery rhymes with us, she's been singing baa baa spotty sheep as opposed to black sheep.

We have always sang the 'black sheep' version as it's what myself and DP learned when we were little and as it is the 'proper' version. All the family sing the classic version also, as is traditional. So the only place that's singing this ridiculous version is school.

I just can't believe they're changing a kiddy nursery rhyme that's been around for god knows how long, as someone somewhere has deemed it inappropriate? I'd love to know why- as black sheep are an actual thing! Would it be the same if it was 'white sheep'? Probably not.

Just so annoyed, probably being irrational as I've had the implant out after 3 years and having my first visit from Mother Nature 🙈

AIBU to just want classic nursery rhymes to stay as the classic version??

Hmmmmmmmm.

Furious? Is that the word you were looking for? Not 'bemused' or something like that?

Its kind of stupid, but really if this makes you FURIOUS, you need to get some perspective on life.

furious? really!

It is utterly ridiculous. Regressive cultural movements from the left.

Furious?
We sang pink sheep. Black sheep. Purple sheep. Why pick one colour?!

C- must try harder next time OP.

I have no idea what is going on here, but either way its hilarious! cheers OP!

Maybe not furious but pretty damn puzzled over it, it's absolutely ridiculous

Would it be the same if it was 'white sheep'? Probably not.

Step away from the Daily Mail.

My favourite part of your post is that 'all the family sing the classic version'. I can imagine you all sitting round like the Von Trapps singing your hearts out!

would it be the same if it was "white sheep"? Probably not.

Good one op

I get the 'furious'. The rage I feel when DS listens to the American version of Ring-a-ring of Roses knows no bounds. 'Ashes, ashes, we all fall down' aaaaaaargh.

To be honest reading my post back I didn't mean it at all in a racist way. I should say my family has all kinds of backgrounds, from Canadian, Irish and African.. so in no way am I racist believe me. Just finding it ridiculous that an age old kiddy song is being changed for no good reason. We're all human, I just doesn't understand why it would offend anyone, never mind be changed. And as DD is my first child, I have no experience of stuff like this. It's all so different from my own childhood thats what I'm struggling to understand- how it's all changed so much in less than 30 years. I'm a traditionalist what can I say 💁🏽

This is a language myth, created by people bemoaning political correctness, that some fools have taken as fact.

That said, furious? Hardly worth that kind of investment. Unless, of course, you're from the DM and are looking for similarly irate responses.

If this happened, the lyrics were probably changed in order to expand the children's vocabularies.

It's an educational setting for toddlers, not heritage songs preservation committee.

Well, you're assuming there's no good reason. They may just be using different colours or patterns to help with learning. I don't know why the conclusion you would jump to is pc gone mad unless that's at the forefront of your thinking in general.

Is it not just another verse?

Baa baa pink sheep have you any spots?
Yes sir yes sir lots and lots
Lots on my fingers and lots on my toes
And lots on the end of my pink little nose.

It's fun! It makes us all laugh. Ds was so proud to teach it us. (With a know it all big sister he rarely gets to teach anything!) We sing both verses.

My dds sing the traditional one and baa baa pink sheep have you any spots, yes sir yes sir I've got lots, some on my fingers, some on my toes, some on my tummy and some on my nose. Teaches little ones to point to parts of their body and it's fun. Nursery rhymes evolve, like all things in life. Are you always so aggressively anti change op? Seems a bizarre reaction to me.

There is a second verse of Baa Baa black sheep

Baa Baa black sheep have you any wool, Yes sir Yes sir three bags full one for the master and one for the dame and one for the little boy that lives down the lane.

Baa Baa white sheep look over there, see all the nanny goats going to the fair. White white shoes and white socks and white curly hair, see all the nanny goats going to the fair.

I only know that version as an extra verse, as Mum cites above. Nobody has any issue with black sheep. Sheep are black, sheep are white and sheep are many other colours in between.

Probably shouldn't mention twinkle twinkle little star, my dad drives a rusty car...

As a student nurse in 1983 we were told to sing with the white sheep version. If sister tutor hadn't been so scary we would have fallen about laughing but still what does it matter? The kids like any version.

Now started singing 'oranges and lemons' with my grandson and by the end of the rhyme I felt quite horrified by the gruesomeness.

I sometimes find myself singing songs with small children as part of my work. A few years ago I asked a black mum if she was offended at the idea of Ba ba black sheep and she was totally bemused. Shrugged and said "It's just a colour, that's how the song goes."