In the Song, "The Farmer in the Dell" what does "the cheese stands alone" mean?

Answer 1

"The Farmer in the Dell" is not just a song, it is a game. Ten or more children are needed, although only 9 are chosen. Modern PC thought tries to limit the group to 9 so that everyone gets chosen.

One, the Farmer, stands in the center of the circle of the remaining children. During the first verse, the Farmer takes a Wife, who joins him in the center of the circle. This continues through Child, Nurse, Cow, Dog, Cat and Rat.

Originally the "takes" was a literal grasp and tug of the taken by the taker. Pointing with no contact is usually taught today.

Finally the Rat takes the Cheese. As the Cheese goes to the center of the circle, all of the children in the center leave and form a new circle, this time around the Cheese. They then sing the final verse: "The cheese stands alone."

The Cheese now becomes the new Farmer for the Next round.

Different localities followed different rules about the group in the center and the circle of children around then. Sometimes these are static, but often they are in motion. The outside circle often moves around the central group. The current taker often circles the central group in the opposite direction.

When this game song was invented "The Cheese" was slang for "Anything good, first-rate in quality, genuine, pleasant or advantageous" (see the reference). This shows a much different meaning to "The cheese stands alone" than current American slang which uses "cheese" to mean "anything second-rate, artificial or even smelly".

Answer 2

http://www.parentcenter.com/
Games & Activities
The Farmer in the Dell
Ages 2 to 5

Number of participants: Nine kids
What players will need: To know the song
Length of time: Five to ten minutes

Rules of the game:
One person takes on the role of the farmer. The rest of the children form a circle around him and sing "The Farmer in the Dell." When they come to the second verse, "The farmer takes a wife," the farmer points to someone who then joins him in the center of the circle. The rest of the kids continue singing. In each verse of the song someone new is added to the dell, and the last child picked chooses a new person to join those who were picked before. 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 final verse,"the cheese stands alone." If the kids decide to play again, the cheese gets to be the farmer in the next game.

Song lyrics:
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,
Hi-ho, the derry-o, the rat takes the cheese.
The cheese stands alone, the cheese stands alone,
Hi-ho, the derry-o, the cheese stands alone.


Also read that it might refer to "the big cheese" as in someone important who stands alone at the top, etc.

Answer 3

In Gouda we trust! If not, I will at least take in the milk of human kindness. Is it udderly possible that I can connect to Cheeses through a cow? If so, I'm moving to India!

Answer 4

I figure the cheese smells. Nobody likes someone who smells.

Maybe it is telling little kids to take baths?

Lol.

Answer 5

It smells bad. So nobody wants to stand by it.

Answer 6

it means it stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!