Whiffenpoof Song
The Browns Lyrics


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We're poor little lambs
Who have lost our way
Baa baa baa!
We're little black sheep
Who have gone astray
Baa baa baa!

Gentlemen songsters off on a spree
Doomed from here to eternity
Lord, have mercy on such as we
Baa baa baa!

We're poor little lambs
Who have lost our way
Baa baa baa!
We're little black sheep
Who have gone astray
Baa baa baa!

Gentlemen songsters off on a spree
Doomed from here to eternity




Lord, have mercy on such as we
Baa baa baa!...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Browns's song Whiffenpoof Song express an ironic lamentation of a group of "poor little lambs" and "little black sheep" who have lost their way and gone astray. They portray themselves as hopeless and directionless creatures who are bound to their fate. However, the song also depicts them as "Gentlemen songsters off on a spree," suggesting that their aimlessness is not purely accidental, they have knowingly embarked on a reckless adventure that doomed them from here to eternity. The repetition of "Baa baa baa!" adds to the whimsical character of the song, as if the poor creatures can't express themselves in any other way.


The song's chorus, "Lord, have mercy on such as we," offers a hint of a deeper meaning to the whimsical lyrics. It suggests that the poor little lambs and little black sheep are representative of all those who have strayed from the path of righteousness and have been led astray by their desires and impulses in life. It is a universal observation that we all have a tendency to stray, to indulge in pleasures that can lead us off course, and that ultimately, we will all need mercy and forgiveness.


Line by Line Meaning

We're poor little lambs
We are vulnerable and lost


Who have lost our way
We are unsure and directionless


Baa baa baa!
We are calling out for help


We're little black sheep
We are outcasts and misunderstood


Who have gone astray
We are wandering and separated from the flock


Gentlemen songsters off on a spree
We are indulging in pleasure and excess


Doomed from here to eternity
Our behavior is leading to an inevitable downfall


Lord, have mercy on such as we
We are acknowledging our sins and asking for forgiveness


Baa baa baa!
We still need help and guidance




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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