Farmer in the Dell
Version 1
The farmer in the dell,
The farmer in the dell,
Heigh ho, the derry oh,
The farmer in the dell.
The farmer takes a wife.
The farmer takes a wife.
Heigh ho, the derry oh,
The farmer takes a wife.
The wife takes a dog.
The wife takes a dog.
Heigh ho, the derry oh,
The wife takes a dog.
The dog takes a cat.
The dog takes a cat.
Heigh ho, the derry oh,
The dog takes a cat.
The cat takes a rat.
The cat takes a rat.
Heigh ho, the derry oh,
The cat takes a rat.
The rat takes the cheese.
The rat takes the cheese.
Heigh ho, the derry oh,
The rat takes the cheese.
The cheese stands alone.
The cheese stands alone.
Heigh ho, the derry oh,
The cheese stands alone.
Source: Wier, Songs the Children Love to Sing (1916)
Version 2
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
The wife takes a child
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The wife takes a child
The child takes a nurse
The child takes a nurse
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The child takes a nurse
The nurse takes a cow
The nurse takes a cow
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The nurse takes a cow
The cow takes a dog
The cow takes a dog
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The cow takes a dog
The dog takes a cat
The dog takes a cat
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The dog takes a cat
The cat takes a rat
The cat takes a rat
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The cat takes a rat
The rat takes the cheese
The rat takes the cheese
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The rat takes the cheese
The cheese stands alone
The cheese stands alone
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The cheese stands alone
Source: Wikipedia
Version 3
The farmer's in his den;
The farmer's in his den;
O, hail victory! for the farmer’s in his den.
The farmer takes a wife;
The farmer takes a wife;
O, hail victory! for the farmer takes a wife.
The wife takes a child;
The wife takes a child;
O, hail victory! for the wife takes a child.
The child takes a servant;
The child takes a servant;
O, hail victory! for the child takes a servant.
The servant takes a dog;
The servant takes a dog;
O, hail victory! for the servant takes a dog.
The bone stands alone;
The bone stands alone;
O, hail victory! for the bone stands alone.
Source: Brewster, Children’s Games and Rhymes (1976)
Historical Background
“The Farmer in the Dell” is reputed to have originated in Germany in 1826, with the title “Es fuhr ein Bau’r ins Holz.” It is suggested that the rhyme was brought to America by German immigrants and emerged in New York in 1883 in its modern form. In the United Kingdom, the rhyme is known as “The Farmer’s In His Den,” with “hi-ho the derryo” varyingly substituted with “ee-i, tiddly-i,” “eei-i andio,” and “ee-i, ee-i.” “The Farmer in the Dell” can also be sang as a game, in which the players form a circle holding hands around “the farmer,” singing the first verse while walking around in a circle. When the verse is over, everyone stops and the farmer chooses his wife. The wife joins him in the center for her verse. This continues for each character in the rhyme. The last person picked usually becomes the farmer for the next round.
Download the sheet music of this rhyme