Bingo
Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
had a dog
and Bingo was his name-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
and Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer
had a dog
and Bingo was his name-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
and Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer
had a dog
and Bingo was his name-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
(5 claps)
and Bingo was his name-o.
The song "Bingo" is a traditional children's song that has been popular for generations. The song tells the story of a farmer who has a dog named Bingo, and how the dog's name is spelled out in a call-and-response manner. The first verse establishes the pattern of the song, with the farmer and his dog Bingo being introduced. Following each verse, a letter of the dog's name is replaced with a clap, until eventually the entire name is spelled out with claps.
While the lyrics may seem simple on the surface, there are some interesting aspects to the song. Firstly, the origins of the song are unclear, but it is believed to have been adapted from an older folk song in the United States. Secondly, the song has been translated into multiple languages and is popular worldwide. Additionally, the song has been used in various films, television shows, and commercials, making it one of the most widely recognized children's songs.
Furthermore, there are some variations to the song depending on the region. For example, some versions of the song replace the name "Bingo" with other names such as "Bruno" or "Benjamin". Lastly, the song has been popularized even further through board and card games that feature the song and its clapping pattern.
Chords (according to Ultimate Guitar):
G
There was a farmer had a dog,
G
And Bingo was his name-o.
G C G
B-I-N-G-O. B-I-N-G-O.
G
B-I-N-G-O. And Bingo was his name-o.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a farmer
Once upon a time, there was a landowner who tilled his land and grew crops.
had a dog
This said farmer owned a dog, a loyal and faithful companion.
and Bingo was his name-o
The dog is called Bingo, which serves as identification and signals its importance.
B-I-N-G-O
Breaking the name down into its phonetic parts, the first initial of each syllable spells out B-I-N-G-O, with each letter serving as a code or prompt to be followed.
and Bingo was his name-o.
The rhyme is repeated in conclusion, emphasizing the importance of the farmer's dog, Bingo.
clap-I-N-G-O
It is time for action - clapping out the first letter of the dog's name. Successive verses would continue with different letters of Bingo's name until the whole word is spelled out.
clap-clap-N-G-O
Adding on to the previous verse with another clapping sound to cope with the next letter in the dog's name.
clap-clap-clap-G-O
The clapping progresses further as the rhyme continues, revealing additional letters from the dog's name until the complete name is eventually spelt.
clap-clap-clap-clap-O
The final verse has four additional clapping sounds to signify the last letter of the dog's name as it completes the song.
and Bingo was his name-o.
The final affirmation of the song is echoed, with claps being replaced by words, reinforcing Bingo's name as well as his significance as the farmer's faithful companion.
(5 claps)
This verse represents the last phase of the song, with the clapping representations replaced by normal singing of Bingo's name, showing how Bingo's name was a tool or prompt for this activity rather than an end in itself.
and Bingo was his name-o.
The final declaration of the song is made once more, demonstrating the significance of the dog to the farmer and maybe also the listeners of the song.
Contributed by Jackson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.