Found this explanation on a youtube video of this song...
'The song was created by a black woman who had to look after her master's child, while her own child died from neglect. She would sing this to the masters white child. It is right that it has such a sad sound to it really. The little lamb crying for its mommy is obviously her own dead/dying child. The original had the lyric "birds and butterflies, peck at his eyes", but it had to be changed to the less violent version...for the kids and all.'
Found this explanation on a youtube video of this song...
'The song was created by a black woman who had to look after her master's child, while her own child died from neglect. She would sing this to the masters white child. It is right that it has such a sad sound to it really. The little lamb crying for its mommy is obviously her own dead/dying child. The original had the lyric "birds and butterflies, peck at his eyes", but it had to be changed to the less violent version...for the kids and all.'