Songbook/My Bonny

Guitar Jump Em-D & Am-G

My Bonny Is Over The Ocean

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

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.