Sheepy And The Goat: A Song History

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"Sheepy and the Goat" is a children's song known on record from the family of Arthel "Doc" Watson: Dolly Greer sang it as the last of four children's pieces in a medley with "Julie Jenkins," "Hushabye" and "Baa Nanny Black Sheep."[1] The family was recorded by Ralph Rinzler and Daniel Seeger in September 1964 and May 1965, and the medley came out in 1977 on The Watson Family Tradition, issued by Topic in Britain and by Rounder in the United States; Mainly Norfolk lists the song as Roud 15661.[1] Rounder's 1995 CD reissue added no tracks and carried booklet notes mostly by A. L. (Bert) Lloyd, and Rod Stradling's review of it lists Dolly and Tina Greer, described as cousins, among the singers heard.[1][2] The sources consulted here say nothing about where Dolly Greer learned the song or how far back it goes.[1][2] Don Pedi includes it in Mountain Dulcimer Mother Goose, his collection of old-time songs and nursery rhymes for solo dulcimer and voice, where it is one of the DAD-tuned pieces and shares the book with "Baa Nanny Black Sheep."[3]

Etching of a goat standing beside three sheep lying in a field, with a second goat behind them

Karel Dujardin, Two Goats and Three Sheep, etching, 1655. Goats and sheep, shown for the title; the etching has no connection to the song.

Our book that contains the song "Sheepy And The Goat"

Sources

  1. Mainly Norfolk: "The Watson Family".
  2. Musical Traditions: "The Doc Watson Family: Tradition" (review by Rod Stradling).
  3. Don Pedi: "Mountain Dulcimer Mother Goose".
  4. Image: Karel Dujardin, Two Goats and Three Sheep, etching, 1655. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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