Sumber paling awal untuk bentuk lagu apa pun ialah dari tajuk sekeping muzik lembaran yang diterbitkan pada tahun 1780, yang mengaitkan lagu itu kepada William Swords, seorang pelakon di Haymarket Theatre, London.[2][3] Versi awal lagu ini berjudul "The Farmer's Dog Leapt o'er the Stile", "A Franklyn's Dogge", atau "Little Bingo". Transkripsi awal lagu (tanpa tajuk) berasal dari buku lagu terbitan tahun 1785, "The Humming Bird", dan berbunyi: "Ini adalah bagaimana kebanyakan orang mengetahui lagu kanak-kanak tradisional".[4]

The farmer's dog leapt over the stile,
his name was little Bingo,
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:
B—I—N—G—O!
His name was little Bingo.

The farmer loved a cup of good ale,
he called it rare good stingo,
the farmer loved a cup of good ale,
he called it rare good stingo.
S—T with an I — I with an N,
N with a G — G with an O;
He called it rare good stingo:
S—T—I—N—G—O!
He called it rare good stingo

And is this not a sweet little song?
I think it is —— by jingo.
And is this not a sweet little song?
I think it is —— by jingo.
J with an I — I with an N,
N with a G — G with an O;
I think it is —— by jingo:
J—I—N—G—O!
I think it is —— by jingo.