# Bingo
1780 
England
# Lyrics
There was a farmer had a dog,
and Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
and Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
and Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
and Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
and Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
and Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
And Bingo was his name-o.
# History and Meaning
The nursery rhyme "Bingo" is also known as, "B-I-N-G-O", "Bingo Was His Name-O" or "The Farmer's Dog".
Since the song was first published in 1780(!) there have been many variations of the song. Now it's widely used in schools, daycares, and summer camps. The song is a playful way of teaching children the alphabet and counting. As the song progresses, certain letters of the word "B-I-N-G-O" are replaced by hand claps or barking.
The earliest known reference to the song comes from a piece of sheet music published in London in 1780. This attributed the song to William Swords, a London based actor.