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My Bonny Is Over The Ocean

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Shanty – Alternative title: "Bring Back My Bonnie To Me","My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean", Text and melody: trad., arranged by Mjchael  

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

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1st (simple major cadence)

My [D]Bonnie is [G]over the [D]ocean,
my Bonnie is [G]over the [A]sea,
my [D]Bonnie is [G]over the [D]ocean,
O [G]bring back my [A]Bonnie to [D]me.

Chorus

[D]Bring back, [G]bring back,
O [A]bring back, my [A7]Bonnie to [D]me, to me,
Bring back, [G]bring back,

O [A7]bring back my Bonnie to [D]me.


2nd (with relative minor)

[D]O blow ye [G]winds over the [D]ocean,
O blow ye [Em]winds over the [A]sea, [A7]
[D]O blow ye[G] winds over the[D] ocean,
and [Em]bring back my [A]Bonnie to [D]me.

chorus

[D]Bring back, [Em]bring back,
O [A]bring back, my [A7]Bonnie to [D]me, to me,
Bring back, [Em]bring back, O [A7]bring back my Bonnie to [D]me.

3th (with secondary dominant)

Last [D]night as I [G]lay on my [D]pillow,
last night as I [E7]lay on my [A]bed, [A7]
last [D]night as I [G]lay on my [D]pillow,
I[E7] dreamed that [A7]my Bonnie was [D]dead.

Chorus

[D]Bring back, [E7]bring back,
O [A]bring back, my [A7]Bonnie to [D]me, to me,
Bring back, [E7]bring back,
O [A7]bring back my Bonnie to [D]me.

4th (with alternating bass and bass line)

The [D]winds have blown [G] over the [D]ocean, [/A]
the winds have [E7] blown over the[A] sea, [/A /B /C#]
the [D]winds have [G]blown over the [D]ocean, [/A]
and [Em] brought back my [/A /B /C#] Bonnie to [D]me.

Chorus

[D/A]brought [D]back, [Em/B]brought [Em]back
O [A]brought back, my [/A /B /C#]Bonnie to [D]me, to[D/F#] me,
[D/A]brought [D]back, [Em/B] brought [Em]back,
O [A]brought back, my [/A /B /C#]Bonnie to [D]me.

Tip:

Try to ignore the accompaniment suggestions for more advanced guitarists. They will come later. Try to simplify seemingly difficult accompaniments or pimp them up later with more experience.


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.

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My Bonnie

Insert from: Songbook/My Bonny

Song Examples:

In this lesson, the leap Em-D and Am-G are practiced and repeated, as well as songs with irregular and long chord sequences and songs that were skipped in previous lessons.

  1. Hey Ho, Nobody Home
  2. Spancil Hill
  3. Star Of The County Down
  4. Carrickfergus
  5. Jingle Bells
  6. My Bonny 3/4-beat
  7. Ox-Driving Song
  8. Roter Mond (German scout song)
  9. Kling Glöckchen (Christmas song)
  10. The Cockoo
  11. She Moved Through The Fair
  12. The Foggy Dew
  13. YT   COUNTRY ROADS (John Denver) G- Em- D- C G (2x) G- D- Em- C- / G- D- C- G-
  14. YT   Father and Son (Cat Stevens) //G D Em C / G Em C D// oder //G D C Am / G Em Am (C) D// almost always, only at the end of "son" (C D) G C G C
  15. YT   Good Riddance/Time of your Life (Green Day) G G C D (2x) Em D C G - Em G Em G - Em D G
  16. YT   Heroes (David Bowie) D G D G C G Am Em D C G D...
  17. YT   I’M Just More (Wonderwall) Em----/ C G Em D (2x) / Ref: C Em D- (2x)/ Bridge: Em / C G Em D / C G D- Original in A (Capo 2. fret)
  18. YT   Lady in Black (Uriah Heep) Em--- D- Em- (can alternatively be played with Am--- G- Am-.)
  19. YT   Let it Be (Beatles) G D Em C / G D C G // Em D C G / D D C G
  20. YT   Living on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) Em - C D
  21. YT   Numb (Linkin Park) Em C G D (ohne Bridge)
  22. YT   Mad World(Tears for Fears / Gary Jules) //:Em G D A ://
  23. YT   Marry You (Bruno Mars) D - Em - G - D -
  24. YT   99 red balloons (Nena) D Em G A
    Possibly with capo on the 2nd fret; always the same chord sequence, one bar per chord (only between the verses 2x A)
  25. YT   Take it easy (Eagles)
  26. YT   Through Glass (Stone Sour) C D Em -
  27. YT   Über den Wolken (Reinhard Mey) G - Am - D - G - "und dann" C - G - D D7 G - (Pay particular attention to the pauses when singing!)
  28. YT   Westerland (Die Ärzte) {G 6x D -}2x C - Em -; C - D -(7); {G D Em C}3x (without bridge) end: G D Em C; Am D7 C D7; Am D7 C D7 G
  29. YT   What's Up (Four Non Blondes) //:G Am C G:// (Capo=1) (DD 1)
  30. YT   Wind Of Change (Scorpions) Original in C major! Intro: C Am C Am, Em Am Em D G Verse: //:G Am G Am Em D :// Chorus: //: G D Am D:// Em C D Bridge: Em D Em D G Am H7 (possibly Em D until you can play B7)
  31. YT   Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton) G D C D (2x) C D G-D Em C D G | C D G-D Em C D C | D G D C D
  32. YT   Zombie (Cranberries) Em C G D