9 February

Pierre

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.

Mon Grand-Est

Farm in the Lorraine region © French Moments

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:

Le fermier dans son pré

The lyrics in French

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

Couplet 1

Le fermier dans son pré
Le fermier dans son pré
Ohé ! Ohé ! Ohé !
Le fermier dans son pré


Couplet 2

Le fermier prend sa femme
Le fermier prend sa femme
Ohé ! Ohé ! Ohé !
Le fermier prend sa femme


Couplet 3

La femme prend son enfant
La femme prend son enfant
Ohé ! Ohé ! Ohé !
La femme prend son enfant


Couplet 4

L'enfant prend la nourrice
L'enfant prend la nourrice
Ohé ! Ohé ! Ohé !
L'enfant prend la nourrice


Couplet 5

La nourrice prend le chat
La nourrice prend le chat
Ohé ! Ohé ! Ohé !
La nourrice prend le chat


Couplet 6

Le chat prend la souris
Le chat prend la souris
Ohé ! Ohé ! Ohé !
Le chat prend la souris


Couplet 7

La souris prend le fromage
La souris prend le fromage
Ohé ! Ohé ! Ohé !
La souris prend le fromage


Couplet 8

Le fromage est battu
Le fromage est battu
Ohé ! Ohé ! Ohé !
Le fromage est battu

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


Download the Lyrics for FREE!

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Le fermier dans son pré © French Moments

French Nursery Rhymes

My challenge for the year 2023 is to publish 80 French Nursery Rhymes lyrics and descriptions (list below). Come back as time goes by to discover the new articles:

French Nursery Rhymes Cover by French Moments
French Nursery Rhymes
A la claire fontaine © French Moments
Ah ! dis-moi donc bergère © French Moments
Ah ! Les crocodiles © French Moments
Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman © French Moments
Ainsi font, font, font © French Moments
Alouette gentille alouette © French Moments
Au clair de la lune © French Moments
Au feu les pompiers © French Moments
Au royaume de Diguedondaine © French Moments
Auprès de ma blonde © French Moments
Aux marches du palais © French Moments
Blanc Blanc Blanc belle rose © French Moments
Bon voyage Monsieur Dumollet © French Moments
Buvons un coup ma serpette est perdue © French Moments
C'est la mère Michel © French Moments
C'était Anne de Bretagne © French Moments
Cadet Rousselle © French Moments
Car c’est un bon camarade © French Moments
Chère Élise © French Moments
Chevaliers de la table ronde © French Moments
Colchiques dans les prés © French Moments
Compagnons de la Marjolaine © French Moments
Dame Tartine © French Moments
Dans les prisons de Nantes © French Moments
Dansons la capucine © French Moments
Dodo, l'enfant do © French Moments
En passant par la Lorraine © French Moments
Fais dodo © French Moments
Fleur d’épine © French Moments
Frère Jacques © French Moments
Gentil coquelicot © French Moments
Il court, il court, le furet © French Moments
Il était un petit cordonnier © French Moments
Il était un petit navire © French Moments
Il était une bergère © French Moments
Il pleut, il pleut, bergère © French Moments
J'ai du bon tabac © French Moments
J'ai un gros nez rouge © French Moments
J'fais pipi sur le gazon © French Moments
Je te tiens par la barbichette © French Moments
Joyeux anniversaire © French Moments
La bonne aventure ô gué © French Moments
La danse des canards © French Moments
La légende de saint Nicolas © French Moments
Le bon roi Dagobert © French Moments
Le carillon de Vendôme © French Moments
Le coucou © French Moments
Le facteur n'est pas passé © French Moments
Le fermier dans son pré © French Moments
Le temps des cerises © French Moments
Le temps du muguet © French Moments
Le vieux MacDonald © French Moments
Les filles de La Rochelle © French Moments
Maman les p'tits bateaux © French Moments
Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre © French Moments
Meunier, tu dors © French Moments
Mignonne allons voir si la rose © French Moments
Mon âne © French Moments
Mon père m'a donné un mari © French Moments
Ne pleure pas Jeannette © French Moments
Nous n'irons plus au bois © French Moments
Ô gai, vive la rose © French Moments
Passe passe passera © French Moments
Pirouette Cacahuète © French Moments
Plantons la vigne © French Moments
Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api © French Moments
Pomme, pêche, poire, abricot © French Moments
Promenons-nous dans les bois © French Moments
Savez-vous planter les choux ? © French Moments
Sur la route de Dijon © French Moments
Sur la route de Louviers © French Moments
Sur le pont d'Avignon © French Moments
Sur le pont du nord © French Moments
Tout va très bien madame la marquise © French Moments
Trois jeunes tambours © French Moments
Un éléphant ça trompe énormément © French Moments
Un kilomètre à pied © French Moments
Un, deux, trois, nous irons au bois © French Moments
Une chanson douce © French Moments
Une poule sur un mur © French Moments
Une souris verte © French Moments
V'la le bon vent © French Moments
Voici le mois de mai © French Moments
Y avait dix filles dans un pré © French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of the Discovery Course on the Secrets of the Eiffel Tower and the Christmas book "Voyage au Pays de Noël".

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