Songs of The Ohio State University
BINGO
Here's to O. S. U.,
Drink it down, drink it down;
Here's to O. S. U.,
Drink it down, drink it down;
Here's to O. S. U.,
She's so hearty and so true,
Drink it Down, drink it down, drink it down, down, down.
Balm of Gilead, Gilead,
Balm of Gilead, Gilead,
Balm of Gilead, 'Way down on the Bingo farm;
We won't go there anymore,
We won't go there anymore,
We won't go there anymore,
'Way down on the Bingo Farm.
Bingo, Bingo, Bingo, Bingo, Bingo, Bingo.
'Way down on the Bingo Farm.
Here's to O. S. U.,
Drink it down, drink it down;
Here's to O. S. U.,
Drink it down, drink it down;
Here's to O. S. U.,
She's so hearty and so true,
Drink it Down, drink it down, drink it down, down, down.
(spoken) BINGO
This was a drinking song that was popular at least through 1916, at Ohio State. While there is not much
information about the song, one would suspect that people had very much fun singing and drinking
to this little ditty. One has to suspect that Prohibition put an end to this song, as there is no evidence
that this song was revived after Prohibition ended.
The lyrics were changed to this song sometime between the 1890s and 1916. The words above are from (1904). The 1916 lyrics change "O. S. U." to "old State", and the line "She's so hearty
and so true," to "She's so noble, true and great,".
The University of Chicago, Brown University and Rennselear Polytechnic Institute each had/have a variant of BINGO.
It is possible that this song came west from Brown, then to RPI, to Ohio State and then on to Chicago. It is possible that
BINGO made it across the country to other schools, as well. Also, the Brown University version, has an introductory
verse, while RPI has added a small verse at the end. This song is a perfect example of a song that was changed, so
it could be adapted for use at Ohio State or another college, a common practice of the time.
Songs of The Ohio State University The Ohio State University Buckeyes
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Nick Metrowsky, nmetro@scarletandgray.info
Last Updated: 31 January, 2004