Le fermier dans son pré

Le fermier dans son pré is a traditional nursery rhyme and singing game that originated in Germany during the 19th century. The rhyme is usually accompanied by a clapping game, in which the players form a circle and clap their hands to the rhythm of the song. It has been translated into many languages and is still sung by children around the world.

The story of the song

First recorded in Germany in 1826 as "Es fuhr ein Bau'r ins Holz", the rhyme "The Farmer in the Dell" was likely brought to America by German immigrants.

It emerged in its modern form in New York City in 1883, with a melody similar to "A-Hunting We Will Go".

From there, it spread quickly throughout the United States, Canada (recorded from 1893), the Netherlands (1894), Scotland (1898), England (1909), France ("Le fermier dans son pré"), Sweden, Australia, and South Africa.

In its original form, the rhyme was likely a courtship game, wherein a farmer chose a wife, then selected a child, maid, and serving man who then kissed the maid and left.

The farmer's game

The players form a circle holding hands around a single child playing the farmer and begin to sing as they turn.

As the first verse "Le fermier dans son pré" is sung, the farmer chooses his wife from the children in the circle.

His wife then joins him in the centre, and during the singing of the second verse, the wife chooses her child in the same way.

The process continues with each verse (with each last child chosen choosing the next), until the cheese is chosen, or until the round is too small to surround all the players.

At the end, "le fromage est battu": the cheese (i.e. the last child chosen) usually sits or kneels on the floor in the centre of the circle and everyone else pretends to beat it with crowbars.

Le fermier dans son pré

Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:

The lyrics in French

The original song of Le fermier dans son pré has 8 verses.

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

The farmer in his meadow
The farmer in his meadow
Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!
The farmer in his field

Verse 2

The farmer takes his wife
The farmer takes his wife
Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!
The farmer takes his wife

Verse 3

The woman takes her child
The woman takes her child
Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!
The woman takes her child

Verse 4

The child takes the nurse
The child takes the nurse
Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!
The child takes the nurse

Verse 5

The nanny takes the cat
The nanny takes the cat
Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!
The nanny takes the cat

Verse 6

The cat takes the mouse
The cat takes the mouse
Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!
The cat takes the mouse

Verse 7

The mouse takes the cheese
The mouse takes the cheese
Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!
The mouse takes the cheese

Verse 8

The cheese is beaten
The cheese is beaten
Ahoy! Ahoy! Ahoy!
The cheese is beaten