How to Play The Farmer in the Dell
The group forms a ring holding hands except one, who stands in the center. This one is
the “Farmer”. You skip or dance around to the left as you sing the first verse of the
song. When you sing the second verse, the “Farmer” picks out someone for a “Wife”.
In the third, the “Wife” chooses a “Child”, and so on until you come to the
“Cheese” verse. The “Cheese” starts all over again as the “Farmer”.
1. The farmer in the dell,
The farmer in the dell,
High-o, the derry, Oh,
The farmer in the dell.
2. The farmer takes a wife,
The farmer takes a wife,
High-o, the derry, Oh,
The farmer takes a wife.
3. The wife takes the child,
The wife takes the child,
High-o, the derry, Oh,
The wife takes the child.
4. The child chooses the nurse,
The child chooses the nurse,
High-o, the derry, Oh,
The child chooses the nurse.
5. The nurse chooses the dog,
The nurse chooses the dog,
High-o, the derry, Oh,
The nurse chooses the dog.
6. The dog chooses the cat,
The dog chooses the cat,
High-o, the derry, Oh,
The dog chooses the cat.
7. The cat chooses the rat,
The cat chooses the rat,
High-o, the derry, Oh,
The cat chooses the rat.
8. The rat chooses the cheese,
The rat chooses the cheese,
High-o, the derry, Oh,
The rat chooses the cheese.
9. The cheese stands still,
The cheese stands still,
High-o, the derry, Oh,
The cheese stands still.
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