Teachers' Page
"Here comes the Farmer ... "
Nancy Grove
Formerly Delhurst Infants, Birmingham
Performance Directions
Usually the song is performed from the side of the stage, one
verse at a time, followed by the performers enacting the progress in the
field, while the music is played over, again.
Feel free to change the gender of the Farmer (between 1940 & 45 the 'Land
Army' was mainly women, anyway).
"Here comes the farmer Riding on his tractor
Ploughing the furrows Up and down"
Children file on stage and stand, loosely spaced, facing
inwards, forming the 'Hedgerow'
The Farmer enters and 'drives' up and down the field
The 'Hedgerow' swing their arms following the direction of the furrows until
Farmer leaves
"Now comes the Farmer, Riding on his tractor
Scattering the seeds In the earth so brown"
The Farmer 'rides' into the field with the 'Seeds'
holding-on behind him
"Scattering" sends them twisting and turning to crouch in the
field
"Soon Spring-time brings the gentle rain, And
makes the field turn green again,
Then sunshine changes green to gold. The wheat is ready to be
sold"
The 'Rain' (alternate children from the
'Hedgerow') dance in and out amongst the 'Seeds'
The 'Seeds' slowly grow higher
The 'Sun' enters and as the 'Seeds' stretch as high as they can, the
'Rain' return to the 'Hedgerow'
"Now comes the Farmer, Riding on his tractor,
Gathering the corn In the field of gold"
The Farmer drives up and down the field again
The 'Seeds' - now 'Grain' (they could loose green shawls
revealing gold Tee-shirts) - collect behind the Farmer
As the Farmer leaves, the 'Hedgerow' and the 'Sun' depart by
holding onto the backs of the 'Seeds'
(a la Country dance)
Submitted June
1999
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