The Farmer in the Dell
| "The Farmer in the Dell" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Language | English |
| Written | Germany |
| Published | 1820 |
| Songwriter(s) | Traditional |
"The Farmer in the Dell" is a singing game, nursery rhyme and children's song. It probably originated in Germany, and was brought to North America by immigrants.[1] From there it spread to many other nations and is popular in a number of languages. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 6306.
Lyrics
Lyrics vary even within the same country. The following is a common version in the United States:
- 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 wife takes a child (2x)
- Hi-ho, the derry-o
- The wife takes a child
- The child takes a nurse (2x) . . .
- The nurse takes a cow (2x) . . .
- The cow takes a dog (2x) . . .
- The dog takes a cat (2x) . . .
- The cat takes a rat (2x) . . .
- The rat takes the cheese (2x) . . .
- The cheese stands alone
- The cheese stands alone
- Hi-ho, the derry-o
- The cheese stands alone
Origins and dissemination
The rhyme is first recorded in Germany in 1826, as "Es fuhr ein Bau'r ins Holz," and was more clearly a courtship game with a farmer choosing a wife, then in turn the selecting of a child, maid, and serving man, who leaves the maid after kissing.[1] This was probably taken to North America by German immigrants, where it next surfaced in New York in 1883 much in its modern form and using a melody similar to "A Hunting We Will Go".[1] From here it seems to have been adopted in through the United States, Canada (noted from 1893), the Netherlands (1894) and Great Britain; it is first found in Scotland in 1898 and England from 1909. In the early twentieth century it was evident as wide as France ("Le fermier dans son pré"), Sweden ("En bonde i vår by"), Australia, and South Africa.[1]
Variations
Like most children's songs, there are geographic variations.
In the United Kingdom it is known as "The Farmer's In His Den'", and progresses through the farmer, wife, child, nurse, dog, ending with a bone, which is then vigorously patted.[1] The 'Hi-Ho, the derry-o' is variously replaced with "Ee-i, tiddly-i" in London, 'Ee-i, andio' (for instance in Northern England), and 'Ee-i, ee-i' (for instance in the West Country).[1]
The Romanian version is "Țăranul e pe câmp" (The farmer is on the field) but the hey-o is replaced with "Ura, drăguţa mea" (Hooray, my sweet heart) and the last verses are – the child has a nurse, the nurse has a cat, the cat catches a mouse, the mouse eats a cheese, the cheese was in a cask, the cask is in the garbage, the farmer to choose.
There is also a Thai version to the same tune but with a slightly different story. The three verses roughly translate to "Why does the frog have a stomach ache? Why does the frog have a stomach ache? Because he has been eating wet rice. Why is the rice wet? Why is the rice wet? Because it has been raining. Why has it been raining? Why has it been raining?, Because the frog has been croaking."
In New England, the verses are- the farmer in the dell, the farmer takes a wife, the wife takes a child, the child takes a nurse, the nurse takes a dog, the dog takes a cat, the cat takes a mouse, the mouse takes a cheese, and the cheese stands alone.
Game
The players form a circle holding hands around one who is designated as the farmer, singing the first verse while moving around. When the verse is over they stop and the farmer makes her or his choice of a wife (sometimes without looking). The wife joins her or him in the center for her verse and so through the verses until either the cheese or dog is selected or only one person is left to become the last character. They usually become the farmer for the next round.[1]
See also
- A-Hunting We Will Go - a very similar song in lyrics, content and music
- Omar Little - a character from HBO's The Wire, known for whistling A-Hunting We Will Go or The Farmer in the Dell as he approached victims he was stalking, adding to his mystique.