Bo Peep February 15, 2017 All Rhymes 0 Comments

The farmer and company gather with the cheese

The Farmer in the Dell

The farmer in the dell, The farmer in the dell,
Hi-ho, the derry-o, The farmer in the dell.
The farmer takes a wife, The farmer takes a wife,
Hi-ho, the derry-o, The farmer takes a wife.
(The same format continues using the following)
The wife takes a child… The child takes a nurse… The nurse takes the cow… The cow takes a dog… The dog takes a cat… The cat takes a rat… The rat takes the cheese… The cheese stands alone

Listen as male American:

Listen as female British:

Posted in All Rhymes, Animals, Daily Life & Objects, Historical & Traditional, Mother Goose Classics, People & Characters, Play & Action, Songs & Verses

Tagged cat, cheese, child, cow, dog, farmer, nurse, rat, wife

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Meaning:

“The Farmer in the Dell” is a classic singing game where participants form a circle and enact each line of the song by selecting new people or characters. It emphasizes community interaction and the cycles of rural life, with a humorous or bittersweet ending where the “cheese stands alone.”

Origin:

Originated in Germany, where it was known as “Es fuhr ein Bauer ins Holz” (“A Farmer Went to the Woods”). It spread to English-speaking countries by the 19th century and was adapted into the current familiar form.

Time Period:

The rhyme appeared in Germany in the 1820s and was recorded in English in the late 19th century.

Why It Became Popular:

Designed as a circle game ideal for classrooms and community gatherings
Interactive, making it memorable and enjoyable for children
Themes of family and community resonated with rural and urban audiences

First Known Publication:

The English version first appeared in 1883 in The Little Mother Goose (New York).

Structure and Style:

Meter: Trochaic dimeter
Rhyme Scheme: AAAA (repetition)
Line Count: 4 lines per verse (multiple verses in sequence)
Style Notes: Uses cumulative verses with substitution and repetition, ideal for group singing and movement.

Themes:

Rural life
Family and community
Cycles and continuity
Play and inclusion

Language Notes:

“Dell” is an old English word meaning a small valley or hollow.
“Hi-ho, the derry-o” is nonsensical filler common in folk songs, designed for rhythm and rhyme.

Moral or Lesson:

Lesson implied: Community roles are interconnected, but the rhyme is primarily playful. The final line, “the cheese stands alone,” can be interpreted as a reminder of isolation when the chain breaks.

Historical or Cultural Notes:

The game has many international variants, with some versions involving farm chores or different animals. The ending “the cheese stands alone” may have been added as a humorous or slightly melancholic conclusion to the chain of selections.

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