Farmer in the dell??

Ok, so I was asked by a curious five year old who was wondering what the word `dell' means in the song: "The farmer in the dell-The farmer in the dell-Hi-ho, the derry-o-The farmer in the dell. "

 I admitted (reluctantly) I din't know. So I pulled out my phone and Googled it = "Dell= a secluded hollow or small valley usually covered with trees -Middle English delle; akin to Middle High German telle ravine -First Known Use: 13th century."

" OK, now we know." My (almost) five year old nephew answered when I read him the definition.

"Now we know," I agreed.

My nephew smiling jubilantly sang out,- "Hi-ho, the derry-o-the farmer in the dell. "

Then I clicked on the Wikipedia link. As I scanned quickly, I came upon this unusual story:"There is also a Thai version to the same tune but with a slightly different story. The three verses roughly translate to "Why does the frog have a stomach ache? Why does the frog have a stomach ache? Because he has been eating wet rice. Why is the rice wet? Why is the rice wet? Because it has been raining. Why has it been raining? Why has it been raining?, Because the frog has been croaking."

"Wow!" my nephew said, as he tried to read the text on my phone screen. "Did the frog burp?" he asked.

 I shrugged and said "probably"; which made my nephew giggle. 

Then we began singing the song in earnest- now with new feelings and insights.

There is so much potential hope in the future generations.