Little Boy Blue is a traditional English-language nursery rhyme about a little boy who has the task of being a shepherd.
Like many nursery rhymes, this song is quite old as reflected by a young boy being tasked with a job rather than being sent to school.
The earliest recorded allusion to the song goes back to 1744 when a version was printed in Tommy Thumb’s Little Song Book.
There are chances the song is much older than that, though.
And yet the catchy rhyme continues to entertain kids and teach them about farm animals.
Lyrics for Little Boy Blue
There are several versions of the nursery rhyme. This is one:
Little Boy Blue,
Come blow your horn,
The sheep’s in the meadow,
The cow’s in the corn;
Where is that boy
Who looks after the sheep?
Under the haystack
Fast asleep.
Here’s another slightly different version with a third verse:
Little Boy Blue,
Come blow your horn,
The sheep’s in the meadow,
The cow’s in the corn.
Where’s The boy
Who looks after the sheep?
He’s under the haystack,
Fast asleep.
Will you wake him?
No, not I,
For if I do,
He’ll sure to cry.