The Farmer in the Dell | Lyrics & Free Easy Piano Sheet Music

from the MMF Songbook


History for 'The Farmer in the Dell'

In the United Kingdom, The Farmer in the Dell is known as The Farmer's In His Den and the rat is replaced with a dog in the final verse.


Lyrics for '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 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.


Circle Game for 'The Farmer in the Dell'

Children (10 or more) join hands and dance in a circle around the FARMER who stands in the center of the circle. When the FARMER chooses his WIFE, following the first verse, she joins him inside the circle. At the end of the second verse, the WIFE takes a CHILD. This continues until the last verse when everyone is in the circle except the CHEESE. The CHEESE gets to be the FARMER the next time.


Browse Related Resources for ‘The Farmer in the Dell’

Piano Sheet Music

The Farmer in the Dell for Easy/Level 1 Piano Solo
Farmer in the Dell Boogie for Easy/Level 1 Piano Duet



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