My Bonnie Has Tuberculosis
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There are numerous parodies of My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean. It is a common campfire song and traditional song and has long been popular among children. Many sources treat this song, like most songs in its genre as good childhood fun. It has, in fact, been included on official lists of Boy Scout campfire songs.[1] However, sociologist Nancy McCabe includes this song in her list of tunes that "perpetuated gender stereotypes handed down from our culture."[2]
Walt Kelly's characters in his Pogo comic strip sang a variant called "Ma Bonny Lice Soda Devotion".
[edit] Various versions and verses
Like many songs of its genre, this song has several varying versions and verses. The best known include:
[edit] My Bonnie has tuberculosis...
- My Bonnie has tuberculosis,
- my Bonnie has only one lung,
- My Bonnie can cough up raw oysters,
- and roll them around on her tongue.
Variant
- My Bonnie has Tuberculosis
- My Bonnie has only one lung,
- My Bonnie spits blood in a bucket,
- And dries it and chews it for gum.
- Dentine, Dentine,
- Dentine gum, yum yum, yum yum.
- Dentine, Dentine,
- Dentine gum, yum yum.
[edit] My Bonnie's complexion was makeup...
- My Bonnie's complexion was makeup,
- her face, it was beauteous to see;
- Until she got caught in a rainstorm,
- Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me.
[edit] Last night as I lay on my pillow...
- Last night as I lay on my pillow,
- last night as I lay on my bed,
- I stuck my feet out of the window,
- next morning my neighbors were dead.
[edit] My Bonnie leaned over the gas tank...
- My Bonnie leaned over the gas tank,
- the height of its contents to see;
- I lighted a match to assist her,
- Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me.
[edit] My breakfast lies over the ocean...
- My breakfast lies over the ocean
- My dinner lies over the sea,
- My stomach is in a commotion,
- Don't mention my supper to me.
- CHORUS
- Bring back, bring back,
- Oh bring back my bucket to me, to me . . .
- I really felt rotten this morning,
- They tell me I really looked pale,
- My stomach gave adequate warning,
- To lean far out over the rail.
- The sound of a stomach in motion,
- A murmuring noise inside me,
- I looked down and there on the water,
- Was breakfast and dinner and tea.
[edit] Ma Bonny Lice Soda Devotion
- "Ma bonny lice soda devotion!
- Ma booney life saver D.C.!
- McBoniface rover commotion
- Oh, brickbat Mahoney Toomey!
[edit] My Granny went down to the cellar
- My Granny went down to the cellar
- To see where the gas leak could be
- She lit up a match to see clearer
- Oh bring back my Granny to me
- My Granddad went down to the cellar
- To see where my Granny could be
- He lit up a match to see clearer
- Oh bring back my Granddad to me
repeat with other members of the family until
- I went down to the cellar
- To see where the others could be
- I switched on a torch to see clearer
- And oh what a mess I could see
[edit] My Grandpa sells condoms to sailors
Neil Gaiman features a slightly ruder version of this song in the novella, The Monarch of the Glen, in his anthology, Fragile Things.
- My Grandpa sells condoms to sailors
- He punctures the tips with a pin
- My grandma does back-street abortions
- My God how the money rolls in.
- CHORUS
- Rolls in, rolls in,
- My God how the money rolls in.
- My Brother's a missionary worker,
- He saves fallen women from sin
- For five bucks he'll save you a redhead,
- My God how the money rolls in.
