Baa baa sheep sheep..

[Dancingfairy]

Just noticed that my babies toy sings this. Aibu in thinking it's unnesaccery to avoid "black"?

[tafftum]

I laughed out loud at rainbow sheep aha!
My baby cousin is in nursery and she sings baa baa black sheep, so maybe it depends on the nursery?

[Treaclepie19]

I always sing black sheep but then I also do versions of white sheep and pink sheep.
When I used to teach the children would make up their own versions.

[Hereward1332]

I wholeheartedly support a ban as it discriminates against pigs who, while not able to produce wool, may nonetheless identify as sheep.

[derxa]

Yes Zwartbles are totally dark. Suffolk sheep have black heads.

[eastwest1234]

My son sings Barbara Black Sheep.

No one taught him it. Just a misunderstanding on his part

Some sheep do have black faces....not everything is racist you know 🙄

[Somerford]

Then someone told me it was actually about people picking cotton

A sheep isn't a person, and cotton isn't wool.

[BeyondWitchbitchterf]

Times, Ann has explained the origin upthread -it's about the wool tax and how black wool was less valued (as it can't be dyed, iirc)

[BeHappyMummy]

Does it matter OP?

Therr can be many varients of Baa Baa Black sheep. It's just a song. Sing the original to your DC if it bothers you so much.

[Notevilstepmother]

I think it’s just about a black sheep, some sheep are black and some are not. I don’t think there is any hidden meaning about that bit.

[TimesNewRoman]

This used to really annoy me as I was sure there were no racial connotations. Then someone told me it was actually about people picking cotton. I dont know if this is true or not but i feel a bit funny about it now. Would love for someone to tell me im wrong.

[FingersCrossedHard]

Isn't it

Thank you said the master
Thank you said the dame
Thank you said the little boy that lives down the lane

[Oysterbabe]

DD sings black sheep at nursery, but I was horrified she doesn't sing the end verse were everyone says thank you!

What end verse?!

[ShutYoFace]

FFS are we not allowed to say the word black now, for the colour black

You just did. Who do you think is stopping you?

[SilverySurfer]

Bonkers.

[KittysMyName]

FFS are we not allowed to say the word black now, for the colour black?

[bridgetreilly]

Black sheep

[SleepingStandingUp]

Baa Baa sheep sheep us probably nice and easy to sing top but no one puts the black sheep in the corner and takes away his song. It's his wool dammit, he got shorn for it, he should get to sing about it

[Rebeccaslicker]

I remember the day I realised it was the same tune as "twinkle twinkle" and the ABC song.

Mind. Blown!!

[Annwithnoe]

Rainbow sheep would have brought in lots of money ffs they don’t need a song about them. I’m feeling very cross now about the black sheep that can’t even have a song to itself. I may also be premenstrual

[meredintofpandiculation]

Some breeds of sheep have a black head/face I’m assuming that’s where the song comes from. There are quite a few wholly black individuals in various breeds so I imagine the song is referring to these, rather than to blackfaced but otherwise white sheep - no idea of the genetics behind the black individuals.

[Dancingfairy]

We've had it since Xmas and it only just register now as I tend to ignore annoying toys that sing constantly, but when I heard it I was like .

[toomuchfaster]

DD sings black sheep at nursery, but I was horrified she doesn't sing the end verse were everyone says thank you!

[Annwithnoe]

The song refers to the controversial wool tax. One for the master (crown), one for the dame (church)...
Wool from black sheep or mixed color wool didn’t bring as good a price, so left very little profit for the boy down the lane (farmer) who got none in the original version.
It has no connection with race whatsoever.

[squishysquirmy]

Thinking about it more, rainbow sheep doesn't scan properly so is a bit rubbish.

[chaser90210]

I have this table and have laughed at the ridiculousness of it op!