Paired with a movement game for a parade-style fun.
This song is paired with a movement game where scouts make a circle and sing as they walk around, staying in the circle. One scout starts in the center as the farmer. At the end of the verse, the farmer calls out the name of someone to join the center as the wife. The wife calls out next and so on until the cheese. (Farmer → Wife → Child → Nurse → Dog → Cat → Mouse → Cheese)
Option 1 Ending – At the end the cheese stays alone in the middle as the other scouts rejoin the circle. The cheese becomes the next farmer. Begin again with the new farmer in the center.
Option 2 Ending – There is no cheese called. The cat calls out the mouse, and the mouse tries to escape. Whoever tags them becomes the next farmer. If the Mouse escapes by the end of the final verse, the Mouse becomes the next farmer. Begin again with the new farmer in the center.
Printable Music
- See pg. 38 of The Brownie Book for the notes to sing.
Recordings
Lyrics
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 the child, the wife takes the child,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the wife takes the child.
The child takes the nurse, the child takes the nurse,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the child takes the nurse.
The nurse takes the cow, the nurse takes the cow,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the nurse takes the cow.
The cow takes the dog, the cow takes the dog,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the cow takes the dog.
The dog takes the cat, the dog takes the cat,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the dog takes the cat.
The cat takes the mouse, the cat takes the mouse,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the cat takes the mouse.
The mouse takes the cheese, the mouse takes the cheese,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the mouse takes the cheese.
The cheese stands alone, the cheese stands alone,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the cheese stands alone.
Variations:
For game play, each roll is chosen as in the standard game. Everyone chases after the mouse after the final verse is sung. The game of chase continues until the mouse is tagged. Whoever tags them becomes the next farmer. Begin again with the new farmer in the center.
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 keeps the house, the wife keeps the house,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the wife keeps the house.
The man milks the cow, the man milks the cow,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the man milks the cow.
The cow gives the milk, the cow gives the milk,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the cow gives the milk.
The maid skims the milk, the maid skims the milk,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the maid skims the milk.
The milk gives the cream, the milk gives the cream,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the milk gives the cream.
The cream makes the cheese, the cream makes the cheese,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the cream makes the cheese.
The child wants the cheese, the child wants the cheese,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the child wants the cheese.
The mouse eats the cheese, the mouse eats the cheese,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the mouse eats the cheese.
The dog smells the mouse, the dog smells the mouse,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, the dog smells the mouse.
We’ll all chase the mouse, we’ll all chase the mouse,
Heigh-ho, the derry-oh, we’ll all chase the mouse.
History
“The Farmer in the Dell” originated in Germany as a singing game titled “Der Bauer im Sumpf” (The Farmer in the Bog). When it arrived in the United States in the mid-19th century, the setting was localized to a “dell,” with its first known American publication appearing around 1883.
Historically, it is a sequencing game designed to teach social roles and agricultural hierarchies through circle dancing. In 1922, the song was featured in the original Brownie Book for Girl Scout leaders, to encourage group participation and decision-making.
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Click Here -> To see information References:
Disclaimer: The information published on Youth Activity Archive and The Badge Archive is built from the references listed below. These sources demonstrate that our content is grounded in facts and research, not opinion or speculation. Readers may consult them directly when looking for additional material.
- “Mother Goose Club – the Farmer in the Dell.” Genius, 2025, https://genius.com/Mother-goose-club-the-farmer-in-the-dell-lyrics. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
- The Brownie Book: A Manual for Leaders of Junior Girl Scouts. United States of America, Girl Scouts, Inc., 1922. pp. 38-41.
- “The Farmer in the Dell: Lyrics & Story | the Good and the Beautiful.” The Good and the Beautiful, 7 Aug. 2024, https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/blogs/inspiration/the-farmer-in-the-dell. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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