Young children love singing songs about farm animals. “The Farmer in the Dell” is a fun song about a farmer who gets married, has a family, and fills his farm with friendly animals. Keep reading to download the lyrics and sing along with a delightful illustrated video.
“The Farmer in the Dell” Lyrics
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 the child.
The wife takes the child.
Hi-ho, the derry-o!
The wife takes the child.
The child takes the nurse.
The child takes the nurse.
Hi-ho, the derry-o!
The child takes the nurse.
The nurse takes the cow.
The nurse takes the cow.
Hi-ho, the derry-o!
The nurse takes the cow.
The cow takes the dog.
The cow takes the dog.
Hi-ho, the derry-o!
The cow takes the dog.
The dog takes the cat.
The dog takes the cat.
Hi-ho, the derry-o!
The dog takes the cat.
The cat takes the mouse.
The cat takes the mouse.
Hi-ho, the derry-o!
The cat takes the mouse.
The mouse takes the cheese.
The mouse takes the cheese.
Hi-ho, the derry-o!
The mouse takes the cheese.
The cheese stands alone.
The cheese stands alone.
Hi-ho, the derry-o!
The cheese stands alone.
Click the image to download a printable PDF of “The Farmer in the Dell” lyrics, puppets, and ordinal numbers activity!
Sing along with this charming illustrated video from The Good and the Beautiful!
Story of the Song
Originally written in the 1820s with the German title “Ein Bauer ging ins Holz,” which translates to “A Farmer Drove into the Woods,” the song has traveled and transformed across many cultures. As the song spread from country to country, the farmer also moved from place to place. When the song made its way across the Atlantic to North America, it was called “The Farmer in the Dell.” In the United Kingdom, children sang “The Farmer’s in His Den,” and in Romania, they sang “The Farmer is on the Field.”
What is a Dell?
A dell is a small valley lined with trees—just perfect for a farmer, his family, and animals.
Play the Game
Gather a group of friends into a circle and play “The Farmer in the Dell.” One child is chosen to be the farmer and stands in the middle while all the children sing the first verse. When “the farmer takes a wife,” the farmer chooses another child to join him or her in the middle. The game continues verse by verse, with each new child choosing the next child to join in the middle, until the last verse, when “the cheese stands alone.” At this point, all the children in the middle run back out to the circle, leaving the child, who is the cheese, left standing alone in the middle. This child then becomes the new farmer, and the game starts a new round.
Practice Ordinal Numbers
“The Farmer in the Dell” is also a good song to help children practice ordinal numbers. Ordinal numbers are used to show the order or position. For example, the song begins with the farmer. He is first. Then he takes a wife. The wife is second. Help your child practice retelling the song by asking questions like, “Who was third?” or “What position was the cheese?” Print the lyrics and free ordinal numbers practice activity below.
Click the image to download a printable PDF of “The Farmer in the Dell” lyrics, puppets, and ordinal numbers activity!
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Comments
How can I get the sheet music for these songs?
Hello Thais! Thank you for your interest! At this time, sheet music is not available for our nursery rhyme songs but we are happy to share the suggestion with our team!