Young Lambs to Sell

Young lambs to sell! Young lambs to sell!
If I had as much money as I could tell,
I never would cry, “Young lambs to sell!”
Young lambs to sell! young lambs to sell!
I never would cry, “Young lambs to sell!”

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Meaning

“Young Lambs to Sell” is a short street-cry rhyme, capturing the voice of a peddler selling lambs. The refrain reflects the rhythm and sound of historic English marketplaces. The underlying sentiment is one of yearning—if the sheep-seller were wealthy, he would not need to hawk his flock. The repeated line evokes the humble wishes and everyday struggles of working-class street life in old England. According to “The Annotated Mother Goose (1962)” by William S. and Ceil Baring-Gould, the “lambs” in the rhyme were thought to refer to toys, not real animals.

Origin

The rhyme hails from the 18th or early 19th century, when street cries were a common feature of British cities like Yorkshire and Essex. Scholars trace its appearance to popular chapbooks and Victorian nursery collections. The phrase “lambs to sell” resonates with sellers’ chants sometimes heard in English urban centers during springtime lambing.

Time Period

Common in early 19th-century England, though likely present as an oral street-cry rhyme somewhat earlier. Included in Victorian anthologies and later nursery rhyme collections.

Why It Became Popular

Its sing-song repetition, simple structure, and connection to authentic street culture gave it broad appeal. Children and teachers found it easy to remember, and it offered a glimpse into historical everyday life.

Structure and Style

Meter: Repetitive, songlike, four beats per line
Rhyme Scheme: AAABA
Line Count: Five lines (standard version)
Style Notes: Street-cry, refrain, nostalgic

Themes

Poverty and aspiration
Street life and rural trade
Honesty in yearning

Language Notes

Uses plain, direct language, echoing the authentic cries of street vendors. The refrain “young lambs to sell” underscores the importance of persistence and hope.

Moral or Lesson

There is no explicit moral, but the rhyme points gently toward themes of work ethic, longing for easier circumstances, and the dignity of honest trade.

Historical or Cultural Notes

Rhyme preserves a slice of English marketplace culture, illuminating the voices of history’s often-overlooked tradespeople. It is often performed alongside other cries (“Hot Cross Buns!”) in themed rhyme recitations about city or rural life.

Notable Variants

Some versions repeat only three or four lines, or alter the aspiration/desire portion to fit local tradition.

Appearances in Media or Literature

Included in Mother Goose and Victorian nursery anthologies, and sometimes recited in plays, children’s lessons, or themed units on springtime and markets.

Suggested Activities

Role Play: Act out the role of a street vendor, calling “Young lambs to sell!” with props.
Discussion: Talk about the work of shepherds, markets, and traditional trades.
Music: Set the rhyme to a simple melody for class performance.
Art: Draw market scenes with sellers and animals from the rhyme.