Songbook/My Bonny

=My Bonny Is Over The Ocean=

These Scottish folk song was first published in 1882 by Charles E. Pratt. It probably goes back to even earlier versions. The song became an evergreen and was even sung by the Beatles.

A woman dreams of the death of her husband, whom she misses dearly. She wishes that the sea winds would bring him back, which they do.







My Bonnie is over the ocean
My Bonnie is over the ocean, my Bonnie is over the sea, my Bonnie is over the ocean, O bring back my Bonnie to me.
 * 1st (simple major cadence)


 * Chorus
 * Bring back, bring back,
 * O bring back, my Bonnie to me, to me,
 * Bring back, bring back,


 * O bring back my Bonnie to me.

O blow ye winds over the ocean, O blow ye winds over the sea, O blow ye winds over the ocean, and bring back my Bonnie to me.
 * 2nd (with relative minor)


 * chorus
 * Bring back, bring back,

O bring back, my Bonnie to me, to me,
 * Bring back, bring back, O bring back my Bonnie to me.

Last night as I lay on my pillow, last night as I lay on my bed, last night as I lay on my pillow, I dreamed that my Bonnie was dead.
 * 3th (with secondary dominant)


 * Chorus
 * Bring back, bring back,
 * O bring back, my Bonnie to me, to me,
 * Bring back, bring back,
 * O bring back my Bonnie to me.

The winds have blown over the ocean, the winds have blown over the sea, the winds have blown over the ocean, and brought back my  Bonnie to me.
 * 4th (with alternating bass and bass line)


 * Chorus
 * brought back, brought back
 * O brought back, my Bonnie to me, to me,
 * brought back, brought back,
 * O brought back, my Bonnie to me.

Do you know the lyrics a little differently? Don't wonder! With old folk songs the lyrics and the melody vary just as much as the rhythm.