• Duration: 4 minutes
  • Chorus: SATB unaccompanied
  • Published by: GIA Publications

The Lamb is the fourth work from the Songs of Innocence collection, and the only unaccompanied ‘song’.  The tender questioning and answering of the words and the binary form of the poem are reflected in a simple, strophic musical structure.  A different approach should be taken by the singers to the two individual verses: the first verse should feel more fragile and inquisitive whereas the second should be more assured.  Towards the end, the poem becomes a blessing – full of faith in a God who, like the Lamb, is meek and mild.

The Sheet Music for the complete collection of Songs of Innocence and the other standalone work A Cradle Song is also available.

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N.B. This is Blake’s original text including his punctuation and grammar which differs from conventional use.

The Lamb

Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed,
By the stream & o’er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice:
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee

Little Lamb I’ll tell thee,
Little Lamb I’ll tell thee;
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee,
Little Lamb God bless thee.

Words: William Blake (1757 – 1827)