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10 Aug 00 - 01:32 PM (#275137) Subject: Laura Smith From: GUEST,honestfrankie 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 |
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10 Aug 00 - 10:08 PM (#275502) Subject: RE: Laura Smith From: flattop 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. |
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11 Aug 00 - 10:23 AM (#275779) Subject: RE: Laura Smith From: GUEST 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 |
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11 Aug 00 - 01:51 PM (#275916) Subject: RE: Laura Smith From: flattop You are welcome honestfrankie. You know that honest and frank are not the same thing? I won't tell anyone. |
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05 Mar 07 - 01:24 AM (#1986552) Subject: RE: Laura Smith From: GUEST,B Lo 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. |
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05 Mar 07 - 01:55 AM (#1986561) Subject: RE: Laura Smith From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca The lighthouse keeper, if I remember rightly, was Paul Cranford, of Cranford Publications. He's now in New Brunswick. |
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08 Jan 08 - 08:06 PM (#2231604) Subject: RE: Laura Smith From: GUEST 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). |
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09 Jan 08 - 03:31 AM (#2231801) Subject: RE: Laura Smith From: Jim Lad 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. |
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23 Jan 08 - 12:06 AM (#2242570) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: Jim Dixon Laura' Smith's web site says she calls her song MY BONNY. It's on her album "B'tween the Earth and My Soul." |
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23 Jan 08 - 10:08 AM (#2242805) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: MarkS 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! |
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12 Feb 08 - 10:43 PM (#2261050) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: GUEST What ever the story its the best rendition I've heard |
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13 Feb 08 - 11:37 AM (#2261438) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: Bee 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. |
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29 Oct 08 - 04:45 PM (#2479288) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: GUEST,Jack Braddock 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. |
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29 Oct 08 - 07:24 PM (#2479423) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego 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." |
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10 Apr 09 - 07:56 AM (#2608597) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: GUEST,JO'D 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. |
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10 Apr 09 - 10:00 AM (#2608644) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: Dave Hanson 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 |
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10 Apr 09 - 10:46 AM (#2608665) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: Peter T. gorgeous song, beautifully done. yours, Peter T. |
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16 Aug 09 - 06:17 PM (#2701855) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: GUEST,fiona 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. |
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17 Aug 09 - 01:37 PM (#2702332) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: Steve Gardham I know it was said nearly a year ago, but can anyone explain what Jack meant by 'the original Scottish folk song'? |
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15 Nov 09 - 07:57 PM (#2766695) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: GUEST,Blazer 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 |
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16 Nov 09 - 06:17 PM (#2767378) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: Michael Harrison 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. |
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08 Jun 13 - 01:33 PM (#3524223) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: GUEST,Gerry Sheridan......Dublin....lreland. Many songs, many tunes and many Ballads are with us for so long, we almost dont notice them, or take them for granted in some ways..... The traditional Scottish air and lament......My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean, has been a love song, ballad and even nursery air for many, many years........... To hear this version and interpretation by Laura Smith, reawakens or rediscovers an old song, into a new classic. Laura Smith has a gravel like depth, which defines a personal meaning to the song, not just for the singer, but more so for the listener. Songs come and many go, but this version will stay, as a tribute and recognition, of a great melody........ and a great singer........Laura Smith. |
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08 Jun 13 - 05:31 PM (#3524288) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: Steve Gardham Where have we got this 'traditional Scottish air' business from? The original song 'Send Back My Barney' was written in the 1860s by an Englishman, Harry Clifton, and the student version known as 'My Bonnie' was rewritten in the 1880s as an American college song. The original air was somewhat different, rather akin to 'Colleen Dhas Crutha Namh Bo' in a minor key. Is there some evidence that the 'My Bonnie' tune was Scottish and if so what is it called? |
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08 Jun 13 - 07:26 PM (#3524314) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: Q (Frank Staplin) Right, Steve. There is none. Malcolm Douglas, 19 Feb 09, thread 21476, posted much of the background. My Bonny Lies O t O |
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09 Jun 13 - 09:44 AM (#3524443) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: Steve Gardham Thanks, Q! |
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27 Nov 15 - 11:45 AM (#3753973) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonny' (lies over the ocean) From: GUEST,Laura Smith A lovely fan just alerted me to this thread and yes, the story of the dog named Tramp is the truth behind the lyric... My roommate at the time I was making "My Bonny" came in just as I got to "Someone's got a kite on the wind mating calling" and he was quite moved by what I'd written so far. A tad weepy, he asked if I'd ever seen "Tramp's whisker". I could honestly say I hadn't... He went to his room to fetch a very ornate, wee box from India - it is where he placed "Tramp's whisker". He found the whisker on his pillow after his childhood companion, Tramp, had died. Writing the next line was easy after being gifted with such an image and as to the meaning, for me it signifies something fleeting or even impossible to imagine... LS |
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27 Nov 15 - 02:31 PM (#3754022) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: Steve Gardham Having looked carefully back over the thread it is possible the bits of the song Laura wrote herself are to a different tune and therefore may well be related to a Scottish song. |
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27 Nov 15 - 08:51 PM (#3754088) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean From: McGrath of Harlow any man with a heavy beard who doesn't shave for a couple of days i can't see how if you shave every couple of days you could have a heavy beard. Maybe a prettified goatee. |
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30 Apr 16 - 02:42 AM (#3787879) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: GUEST,Dave. North Vancouver I believe that a tramps whisker refers to a crystal set that can receive faint amplitude modulation radio signals. The 'kite' might therefore refer to an antenna that broadcasts these types of signals. |
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30 Apr 16 - 10:49 AM (#3787947) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: GUEST,DTM I saw Laura sing her superb song "My Bonnie" in NS many years ago. I also recall reading an article about that time that she said she was mainly influenced by Paul Simon, Dylan & Dick Gaughan. BTW, many thanks Laura for posting and confirming the true meaning & source of "tramps whisker". (Refer to 4th posts up). |
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08 Aug 19 - 02:45 PM (#4003833) Subject: RE: Laura Smith's 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' From: GUEST,Bryan Perry For those looking to play this on guitar, here is an overview of the chords as I perform them. My Bonnie - Laura Smith Verse x2 Bm G D, Bm G A, Bm G D, G A D, Chorus: D Bm G Em A D, D Bm G Em A D, Last Chorus / Ending: D Bm G Em A D, D Bm G Em A Bm G A, Bm G D, Bm G A, Bm G D, G A - Bm … |