Season 3: Episode 10 - BINGO

Unveiling the History of 'Bingo': A Timeless Folk Song

Join host Gina on the Tisket-Tasket podcast as she delves into the origins, meanings, and cultural impact of the beloved nursery rhyme 'Bingo.' Discover the song's surprising roots in 18th-century England, its transformation from an adult drinking song to a children's classic, and listen to rare recordings from the 1950s and 1970s. Learn how 'Bingo' has evolved over centuries and continues to engage and educate young learners today. Tune in to enjoy a deep dive into this enduring folk song.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:23 Origins of Bingo
02:29 Early Versions and Variations
03:08 Bingo's Evolution and Cultural Impact
04:53 Bingo in North America
07:16 Educational Value of Bingo
08:03 Modern Interpretations and Legacy
11:02 Conclusion and Farewell

Transcript

Host: Hello, and welcome to Folklore Unraveled, the podcast where we dive into the origins, meanings, and cultural impact of folk songs and stories from around the world. I’m [Your Name], and today we’re tackling a tune that many of us grew up singing—Bingo. You know the one: “There was a farmer had a dog, and Bingo was his name-o.” It’s a staple of childhood, but have you ever stopped to wonder where it came from? Who wrote it? And why has it lasted for centuries? Stay with me as we dig deep into the fascinating history of Bingo.

Segment 1: Origins and Early History

Bingo is far older than many people realize. The earliest known reference to the song appears in a piece of sheet music published in 1780, attributed to William Swords, an actor at the Haymarket Theatre in London. The song was titled The Farmer's Dog Leapt o'er the Stile, a far cry from the version we sing today.

But even before this, the song had roots in oral tradition. According to English folklorist Alice Bertha Gomme, early versions of Bingo were recorded in multiple parts of England, sometimes with different names for the dog and even different professions for the owner. Gomme noted in The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1894) that "the song, in various forms, has been associated with children's games across different counties, often incorporating clapping and rhythmic substitutions."

One of the earliest recorded lyrics, dating from The Humming Bird songbook in 1785, goes as follows:

"The farmer's dog leapt over the stile, His name was little Bingo. B with an I—I with an N, N with a G—G with an O; His name was little Bingo."

This early version suggests that the name Bingo was integral to the song’s wordplay from the beginning. However, there’s something interesting here—the song follows a similar pattern but has a different melody and structure from what we recognize today.

Segment 2: Evolution of the Lyrics and Structure

Over the years, Bingo evolved into a participatory song for children, which is how most of us know it today. The modern version introduces the unique feature of omitting letters and replacing them with claps, which adds an interactive, memory-based element to the song.

Ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax, known for his extensive research on folk music, described songs like Bingo as "living artifacts of oral tradition, shaped by generations of singers and reinterpreted to fit their needs" (The Folk Songs of North America, 1960).

Interestingly, earlier versions of Bingo contained additional verses that were either humorous or celebratory in nature. For example, one variant from the 18th century included a verse about ale:

"The farmer loved a cup of good ale, He called it rare good stingo. S with a T—T with an I, I with an N—N with a G, He called it rare good stingo."

The use of “stingo” here refers to a strong ale, which suggests that Bingo may have originally been an adult drinking song before being adapted for children. This idea is reinforced by Robert M. Charlton, who in 1842 noted that "versions of Bingo were common in English taverns, often featuring different animals or professions in place of the dog and farmer."

Segment 3: Spread to North America and Beyond

By the 19th century, Bingo had made its way to North America, likely brought over by English immigrants. In the United States, the song quickly became associated with children’s play songs. Folk song collector John A. Lomax recorded multiple variations of the song across different states in the early 20th century.

The song's participatory nature made it ideal for children’s education. In fact, child development specialists argue that songs like Bingo help develop early literacy and memory skills. As music educator Patricia Shehan Campbell writes in Songs in Their Heads (1998), "songs with structured repetition and interactive components engage young learners and reinforce phonemic awareness."

The song’s simplicity and adaptability have also led to its incorporation into language-learning programs worldwide. Variations exist in multiple languages, with localized versions substituting different animals and words while maintaining the rhythmic clapping sequence.

Segment 4: The Meaning and Enduring Popularity

One of the long-standing mysteries of Bingo is whether the name refers to the dog or the farmer. The first line—"There was a farmer had a dog"—is grammatically ambiguous. Some have suggested that the name actually belongs to the farmer, not the dog. While there’s no definitive answer, most modern interpretations assume that Bingo is the dog.

Regardless of interpretation, Bingo remains a favorite among educators, parents, and folklorists alike. It has been recorded by artists such as Frederick Ranalow (1925), John Langstaff (1952), and folk singer Alan Mills, who included it on 14 Numbers, Letters, and Animal Songs (1972).

Today, Bingo has become a staple in preschool and kindergarten classrooms, reinforcing rhythm, phonetics, and group participation. It has also made appearances in pop culture, from television shows to internet memes, proving that a simple folk song can have remarkable staying power.

Conclusion: A Song That Stands the Test of Time

So, why has Bingo endured for over two centuries? The answer lies in its adaptability. Whether as a pub song, a children’s game, or a learning tool, Bingo has been reshaped to fit the times and needs of different generations.

Folklorist Richard Dorson once said, "A true folk song does not belong to one time or one people—it belongs to whoever sings it." (Folklore and Folklife, 1972). And indeed, Bingo is a song that belongs to all of us, from the 18th-century taverns of England to modern classrooms around the world.

Thank you for joining me on this journey into the history of Bingo. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and tune in next time as we explore another fascinating folk song. Until then, keep singing, keep clapping, and remember—B-I-N-G-O, and Bingo was his name-o!