My Bonnie ✧
A sweeping three-beat song with a soaring verse, long held notes, and the familiar “bring back” refrain.
Sheet music & tabs
Tap a staff note or finger tab to hear it.
Over the ocean
Over the sea
Over the ocean again
Bring back my Bonnie to me
Bring back · first refrain
Bring back my Bonnie
Bring back · second refrain
Back to me
D whistle · D major · 3/4 · 120 BPM · + upper octave
Over the ocean
Over the sea
Over the ocean again
Bring back my Bonnie to me
Bring back · first refrain
Bring back my Bonnie
Bring back · second refrain
Back to me
Lyrics
Traditional words · verse and refrain
My Bonnie lies over the ocean, My Bonnie lies over the sea, My Bonnie lies over the ocean, Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me.
Bring back, bring back, Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me. Bring back, bring back, Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me.
About this tune
My Bonnie is a song of separation and longing. Its singer imagines Bonnie across the ocean and the sea, then asks for a return in the repeated “bring back” refrain.
The verse opens with a wide upward leap, while the refrain stretches its words over long notes. The three-beat rhythm gives both sections a gentle swaying motion.