Ririro

The Farmer in the Dell (Nursery Rhyme)

Summary

This nursery rhyme describes a cumulative and whimsical sequence where a farmer begins a chain of selections that lead from a farmer to a piece of cheese. In this song, the farmer first takes a wife, then the wife takes a child, followed by the child taking a nurse, and so on. Each character in this sequence chooses the next in line, making it fun and engaging for children to follow the progression. Eventually, the series ends humorously with the cheese, which stands alone, symbolizing the completion of the playful circle of choices that progressively narrows down from people to animals and finally to an inanimate object. This rhyme encourages singing, simplicity in patterns, and an element of surprise in its ending, making it appealing for young children.

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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 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.

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