Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'

Subject: Laura Smith
From: GUEST,honestfrankie
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 01:32 PM

Howdy Folks,

I'm just learning My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean a la Laura Smith and the best I can make one line out to be is "I have a tramps whisker that shows you still care." Does that make sense to anyone? Tramp's Whisker-a flower maybe? Thanks

Subject: RE: Laura Smith
From: flattop
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 10:08 PM

The lyric sheet says, 'I've got a tramp's whisker that tells me you still care.' Tramp's whisker is not capitalized, but, Gulf Stream is, which makes me think that she may be refering to a real whisker. When Laura Smith talked about the song on the Peter Gwozski (sp?) show, she also talked about living on an island off Nova Scotia with a lighthouse keeper. Perhaps she is refering to one of his whiskers. The song seemed to be tied into the period that she spent on the island in the Atlantic.

Subject: RE: Laura Smith
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 10:23 AM

Hello Flattop,

Thanks for the info. It makes enough sense to me. I have to admit not having the lyric sheet as my tape of the song is a copy!!! Don't tell anyone, eh! Frankie

Subject: RE: Laura Smith
From: flattop
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 01:51 PM

You are welcome honestfrankie. You know that honest and frank are not the same thing? I won't tell anyone.

Subject: RE: Laura Smith
From: GUEST,B Lo
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 01:24 AM

I heard Laura Smith play this song on national public radio. When interviewed, she explained that she played My Bonny for a friend, who was so moved, that he brought out a box. The box contained whiskers from his dead childhood dog Tramp. If memory serves, Tramp was in India.

This became part of how Laura Smith would play the song.

Subject: RE: Laura Smith
From:
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 01:55 AM

The lighthouse keeper, if I remember rightly, was Paul Cranford, of Cranford Publications. He's now in New Brunswick.

Subject: RE: Laura Smith
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 08:06 PM

I've been wondering for several years about this after hearing it on WUMB-Boston and getting the CD. I had thought it was "tramp's whisper". I prefer the dog version (except the part about the fellow having the remains of his childhood dog right at hand).

Subject: RE: Laura Smith
From: Jim Lad
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 03:31 AM

My bonnie came over the ocean
His body is covered in fleas
I'll put a tramps hair in his potion
And bury him under the trees.

Hope this clears it up for you.
I heard her in Victoria about 10 years ago.
It was a delightful concert.

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 12:06 AM

Laura' Smith's web site says she calls her song MY BONNY. It's on her album "B'tween the Earth and My Soul."

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: MarkS
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 10:08 AM

I kind of remember hearing Laura play this on radio here several years ago, and kind of recall that Tramp was the name of her cat.
Could be wrong what with memory being what it is these days!

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 10:43 PM

What ever the story its the best rendition I've heard

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: Bee
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 11:37 AM

I think the dog-whisker story is likely correct. I've met both Laura Smith and Paul Cranford (name-drops madly), and doesn't seem likely to me that Paul's whiskers would figure in the song.

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: GUEST,Jack Braddock
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 04:45 PM

A "tramps whisker" is a traditional Downeast and Maritime expression meaning "a very slight thing that, nevertheless, scratches and keeps one worrying about it." The source of this is obvious to any man with a heavy beard who doesn't shave for a couple of days... it itches, can sometimes be ignored, but always comes back to be noticed.

I believe that the stories told about the dog or cat or any of the other things were jokes... some of them told by Laura herself. No poet likes to explain her words, and her audience, originally, would have no trouble understanding the meaning of that verse... which is that she can't forget, for long, and probably, that her bonnie still cares though he's "over the ocean" which was originally a catch phrase that meant taken away to fight in a foreign war. The original Scottish folk song was NOT a children's song, but about loss and separation during war, and thus Laura's new lyrics and stirring performance brings the tinkling little children's ditty back to it's original meaning.

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 07:24 PM

And then, there are other take-offs on Bonnie. I.e.,
"My Bonnie peered into the gas tank,
The height of its contents to see.
She lighted a match to assist her....
Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me."

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: GUEST,JO'D
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 07:56 AM

How about that other line: "Someone's got a kite in the wind, made in (where? Collingwood?)". Being Australian, that's the only town in Canada I could find in the atlas that sounded like what Laura sings. Help.

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 10:00 AM

My Bonny lies over the ocean,
My Bonny lies over the sea,
My father lies over my mother,
And thats how they got little me. [ trad ]

Dave H

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: Peter T.
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 10:46 AM

gorgeous song, beautifully done.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: GUEST,fiona
Date: 16 Aug 09 - 06:17 PM

I also heard Laura Smith interviewed many years ago, either on NPR or on my first trip to Nova Scotia, and the dog story is one she definitely discussed. I was so moved by the idea that, when I had to have my beloved 18-year-old dog put down, I stayed with him until the end and then asked my vet to snip several of his whiskers for me. I have them in an envelope, and for some reason, having those few whiskers comforts me, thanks to Laura Smith. I still listen to the song. Between Laura Smith and Natalie MacMaster, Canada has produced much happiness for me in Virginia.

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 01:37 PM

I know it was said nearly a year ago, but can anyone explain what Jack meant by 'the original Scottish folk song'?

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: GUEST,Blazer
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 07:57 PM

Outstanding piece of Music!

The Lyrics....


My bonny lies over the ocean
My bonny lies over the sea
My bonny lies over the ocean
Bring back my bonny to me


The leaves haven't even started falling
Already there's such a chill in the air
Someone's got a kite on the wind mating calling
Well, I've got a tramp's whisker that tells me you still care


So bring back, bring back
Ah, bring back my bonny to me
Yeah, bring back, bring back
Ah, bring back my bonny to me



Soon there'll be no difference between the land and the water
I can walk on the ice to places I've never been
When I get as far as I can go
Oh, I'm gonna turn and throw my cares over my shoulder
Along with your memory
I'll just let it all float down the Gulf Stream


And I'll walk home singing
My bonny lies over the ocean
My bonny lies over the sea
My bonny lies over the ocean
C'mon bring back, bring back my bonny to me


Yeah, bring back, bring back
Ah, bring back my bonny to me
Yeah, bring back, bring back
Ah, bring back my bonny to me
Bring back my bonny, yeah
Bring back my bonny to me

Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean'
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 16 Nov 09 - 06:17 PM

O.K, this is a fine thread, but who wrote the "original" "My Bonnie."
I've always thought it was from WWII, but I don't really know. Is the song Scottish, or English,...or? Someone please come forth and carry this ignorant man through the darkness to the light! Thanks.