Two-hundred and twenty-five years ago today, Sarah Josepha Buell Hale was born in Newport, New Hampshire. Widowed at age thirty-four and with five children to support, she turned to writing and editing. In addition to helping make education fashionable for women and campaigning to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, she is credited with penning “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” a rhyme inspired by a neighbor child, Mary Sawyer.
In celebration, here’s a sampler of varied takes on this funny little verse.
Scroll down and enjoy!
Otis Redding’s Version
Tommy Dorsey’s Version
Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Version
Sesame Street’s Comedy Sketch Version
Damielou’s Version
Thomas Edison’s Version
UB Iwerks ComiColor’s Version
The Native American Church Version
Fletcher Henderson’s Version
Fantasia’s Version
The Paul McCartney and Wings’ Version
The Break Room Conversation Version
The Dolly’s Circus Version
The Evil Version
The Southern Gospel Version
The Hanna Barbera Singers 1966 Version
The American Sign Language Version
Happy Birthday, Sarah Josepha Buell Hale. Rest assured the beat goes on!
