Origins
The song “The Farmer in the Dell” has been around in different forms for almost 200 years. It was originally recorded in the year 1825 in Germany. The original version in German was much more clear about the topic of a farmer courting and then subsequently leaving his wife. It is believed that the song made its way to North America through the many German immigrants that found themselves making their way to the country, especially to New York City.
Other Countries
In 1883, it started being used widely in New York in a form that is similar to the version that is well-known today. Since then it has spread to many other countries such as Canda, Great Britain, Scotland, and the Netherlands. In just a relatively short period of time, it managed to spread to South Africa, France, Sweden, and Australia. The tune that is sung for this song is the same one that is used for “A Hunting We Will Go”, another popular children’s song.
Different Versions
Like other children’s songs, there are different versions that vary with the geographical location in which it is being used. The meaning overall remains relatively consistent throughout the many different versions throughout the world. One of the only versions that are known that is considerably different is the version that is popular in Thailand. One of the examples includes rhyming the verses with the “Farmer in the Den” in the United Kingdom. This version ends with the phrase “we all pat the bone”, the “bone” in the group is then patted by the rest of the participants at the end of the verse. In Romania, the farmer being spoken about is on a field instead of a dell.
The Game and Participation
One of the reasons that “The Farmer in the Dell” has remained so popular over the last almost 200 years is the game that goes with it. Like many other children’s rhyming game, it consists of the participants circling around the player in the center. In this case, the player in the center is known as the farmer. While the children sing each verse, they circle around the “farmer” in the middle. When the verse is over, they choose their “wife”. This is sometimes done blindly instead of choosing a particular player on purpose. This continues throughout the different verses until there is only one person left in the circle. Generally, the last person to be chosen gets to play the role of the “farmer” in the next round of the game.
Popular Culture
The song is frequently used in popular culture in movies, television, and sometimes even other songs. In fact, there is even a book known as I Am the Cheese that is based on the rhyme. It has also been featured in the TV series The Wire, How I Met Your Mother, and even The Power Rangers“.