The other children form a circle around the
farmer and sing "The Farmer in the Dell".
In the next verse, the farmer choses a wife to
join him in the center of the circle.
As the game continues, the last child chosen to
come into the dell chooses the next child.
When the "rat takes the cheese", the last child
enters the circle. The rest of the children then form a circle around
the cheese and sing the last verse.
The cheese gets to be the farmer in the next
game.
Song
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,