What does the phrase “The cheese stands alone” mean? Who first said it? Why cheese?
The cheese stands alone at the end of the childrens game Farmer in the Dell.
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.
And the child takes a nurse, the nurse takes a dog, the dog takes a cat, the cat takes a rat until at last the rat takes the cheese, and the cheese has no one to take.So the cheese stands alone.
You don’t want to be the cheese at the end.If you’re chosen as the cheese, you’ve essentially lost the game.
I don’t know whats so bad about cheese, though.Perhaps the cheese in question is limberger…
I recall a kindergarten nursery rhyme/song/game called The Farmer in the Dell, the last line of which was “the cheese stands alone.” The point of the game as I dimly recall was not to be the cheese. I can’t remember much more about it - kindergarten was a long long time ago.
“The analyst went barking up the wrong tree, of course. I never should have mentioned unicorns to a Freudian.” – Dottie (“Jumpers” by Tom Stoppard)
Well you beat me to it Three Bunny Mama! Thanks! Guess I have type faster from now on!
“The analyst went barking up the wrong tree, of course. I never should have mentioned unicorns to a Freudian.” – Dottie (“Jumpers” by Tom Stoppard)
If you had a copy of Games and Songs of American Children you could probably get most of the information you want.
"In 1883, William Wells Newell gathered the melodies, rules, and movements of 190 games and songs. These were collected in part from the children themselves and also from adults remembering games of their youth. Lyrics or play instructions for190 games and songs are included along with the history and origin of each game or song. Lyrics and music staff melody line are included for 36 songs including “As We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”, “The Farmer in the Dell”, and “London Bridge is Falling Down”. "