My Bonnie Lies Over the ocean

Scout Boy   Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:34 pm GMT
There is an old song:

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
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me
Bring back, bring back
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

Bring back, bring back
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me
Bring back, bring back
Bring back my Bonnie to me

Oh blow ye the winds o'er the ocean
And blow ye the winds o'er the sea
Oh blow ye the winds o'er the ocean
And bring back my bonnie to me

Bring back, bring back
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me
Bring back, bring back
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

Bring back, bring back
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me
Bring back, bring back
Bring back my Bonnie to me


My question:
What does "Bonnie" mean or refer to??
Guest   Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:25 pm GMT
It refers to Prince Charles Edward Stuart, otherwise known as Bonnie Prince Charlie.
O'Bruadair   Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:58 pm GMT
"It refers to Prince Charles Edward Stuart"

In this particular song yeah. But it can mean just fine or beautiful can't it? (as in bonnie lass)

What about it you "Jocks"?
AI   Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:07 pm GMT
I always thought the "bonnie" to be some girl.
j   Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:24 pm GMT
>My bonnie lies over the ocean ...>

Why "lies"? Is it an old archaic meaning? Why not "is" or "lives"?
Mr. Mxyzptlk   Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:33 am GMT
>> Why "lies"? Is it an old archaic meaning? Why not "is" or "lives"? <<

lie - Archaic: to lodge; stay the night; sojourn.
j   Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:31 am GMT
Thank you, Mr. Mxyzptlk.I hate spam
j   Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:33 am GMT
Oops. Sorry, Mr. Mxyzptlk.
Skippy   Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:51 am GMT
"Bonnie" is a Scots term for attractive. It's a girl's name in English, but in Scots it can refer to either an attractive boy or girl (ie bonnie lad, or bonnie lass). It probably comes from "baine" which is Gaelic for "milk." It'd refer to fair skin
13RS   Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:50 am GMT
O dae ye see yon high hills
A' covered wi snaw
They hae pairted monys the true love
An' they'll soon pairt us twa.

Refrain:
Busk busk bonnie lassie
An' come awa wi' me
An' I'll tak ye tae Glen Isla
Near Bonnie Glenshee.

O dae ye see yon shepherd
As he walks along
Wi his plaidie buckled roon' him
As his sheep he chases on.

O dae ye see yon sodgers
As they march along
Wi their muskets on their shoulders
An' their broadswords hangin' doon.

O dae ye see yon high hills
A' covered wi snaw
They hae pairted monys the true love
An' they'll soon pairt us twa.
O'Bruadair   Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:09 pm GMT
Skippy,

“It probably comes from "baine" which is Gaelic for "milk."”

And thus the term “bonnie clabber”? (we call it buttermilk)

13RS,

Love the lyrics (Burns?)
14OI   Wed Mar 14, 2007 2:02 pm GMT
Not Burns lyrics I think but a song I first heard on a CD by a group called "The Picts." I bought the CD in Mallaig.

Here's some info from another site:

"This lovely song, usually known under the title Busk, busk bonnie lassie or Bonnie Glenshee is from the singing of the Stewart Family of Blairgowrie. They recorded the song on one of their first albums issued on Topic Records in the 1960s.

The town of Blairgowrie stands at the gateway to the two glens referred to in the song - Glenisla and Glenshee and both are now favourite places for winter skiing."

Hope that's useful!