Lesley Nelson/Contemplator.com: Traditional American Tunes

Lesley Nelson/Contemplator.com: Traditional American Tunes

Lesley Nelson helmed Contemplator.com, which focused on traditional folk music of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and America. As she explained on her website, her interest in history and folk music led to her creating pages focused on a variety of regions, eras, and themes. This page ranks the 46 songs listed on Nelson’s page on “Traditional American Tunes” based on how many lists the songs are featured on according to Dave’s Music Database. Songs are identified by title, year of publication, and writers. Click here to see other lists from critics and individuals and here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations. 1. “Amazing Grace” (1772) by John Newton 2. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic (aka ‘Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!’)” (1861) by Julia Ward Howe & William Steffe 3. “Home on the Range” (1873) by Dr. Brewster M. Higley & Daniel E. Kelly 4. “Yankee Doodle (aka ‘Yankee Doodle Went to Town’)” (1754) by Dr. Richard Schukburgh 5. “Oh! Susanna” (1847) by Stephen Foster 6. “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (1863) by Louis Lambert as Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore 7. “Dixie” (1859) by Daniel Decatur Emmett 8. “The Yellow Rose of Texas” (1853) by Edwin Christy, John Kelly, & Don George 9. “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” (1881) by Charles E. Pratt 10. “The Battle Cry of Freedom” (1862) by Geoge Frederick Root 11. “Polly Wolly Doodle (All the Day)” (1843) by Daniel Decatur Emmett 12. “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” (1863) traditional 13. “Red River Valley” (1895) traditional 14. “Shenandoah” (1837) unknown 15. “My Wild Irish Rose” (1899) by Chauncey Olcott 16. “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)” (1913) by James R. Shannon 17. “I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair” (1854) by Stephen Foster 18. “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” (1875) by Thomas Paine Westendorf 19. “Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Navy Hymn)” by William Whiting & John Bacchus Dykes 20. “Lorena” (1857) by Rev. Henry David Webster & Joseph Philbrick Webster 21. “Dem Golden Slippers” (1879) by James A. Bland 22. “Taps” (1860) arranged by Daniel Butterfield 23. “Go Tell It on the Mountain” (1865) writer unknown 24. “Down in the Valley” (1835) by Frank Luther/traditional 25. “When You and I Were Young, Maggie” (1866) by George W. Johnson & J.A. Butterfield 26. “The Bonnie Blue Flag” (1961) by Annie Chabers-Ketchum & Henry “Harry” Macarthy 27. “Dill, Ye Terriers, Drill” (1888) anonymous 28. “I Gave My Love a Cherry” (1785) unknown 29. “Follow the Drinking Gourd” (1860) by Epe Sargent & Henry Russell 30. “Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie” (1910) unknown 31. “Goober Peas” (1866) by A. Pindar & P. Nutt 32. “Lily of the West” (1857) unknown 33. “The Lakes of Pontchartrain” (1900) unknown 34. “Sweet Rosie O’Grady” (1895) by Maud Nugent 35. “Chester” (1778) by William Billings 36. “A Life on the Ocean Wave” (1838) by Epe Sargent & Henry Russell 37. “The Greenland Whale Fishery” (1725) unknown 38. “Green Grow the Lilacs” (1800) unknown 39. “Aura Lea” (1861) adapted by Ken Darby 40. “All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight” (1864) by Lamar Fontaine & John Hill Hewitt 41. “Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies” (1904) unknown 42. “The Rose of Alabama” (1846) by S.S. Steele/anonymous 43. “Skibberdeen” (1869) unknown 44. “I’m a Good Old Rebel” (1857) by Major James M. Dacy 45. “Lady Mary” (1930) collected by Carl Sandburg 46. “Molly and Tenbrooks” (late 19th century) unknown Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: lists from critics and individuals Dave’s Music Database: lists from publications and/or organizations Contemplator.com “Traditional American Tunes” First posted 12/21/2025.

 

Today in Music (1919): “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” charted for first time

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean Orpheus Quartet

Writer(s): Charles E. Pratt (see lyrics here) Published: 1881 First Charted: March 15, 1919 (Orpheus Quartet) Peak: 9 PM (1919, Orpheus Quartet); 10 PM (Alma Gluck/Orpheus Quartet); 8 PM (1938, Ella Logan); 26 BB, 31 HR, 48 UK, 29 AU (1961, Beatles/Tony Sheridan) (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 41.79 video, 8.26 streaming (multiple versions)

Awards (overall): Click on award for more details. Awards (Orpheus Quartet): Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” also known as “My Bonnie” and “Bring Back My Bonnie to Me,” is a traditional Scottish folk song that became a children’s favorite, an oft-parodied song, and frequent campfire sing-a-long accompanied by interactive movements. It has also been recorded as “My Barney Lies Over the Ocean.” Its origins are uncertain, but it has been theorized that the song was written about Charles “Bonnie Prince Charlie” Edward Stuart, his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, and his subsequent exile. WK In the book American Song Treasury: 100 Favorites, Theodore Raph said people were requesting sheet music for the song in 1870. WK In 1881, Charles E. Pratt published sheet music for “Bring Back My Bonnie to Me” under the pseudonyms H.J. Fuller and J.T. Wood. It became a popular hit with singing groups, especially at colleges. WK The song was recorded as early as 1901 by the Haydn Quartet. The Taylor Trio recorded an instrumental version in 1916. WK The Orpheus Quartet was the first to chart with the song – twice in 1919 – once on their own and a second time with Alma Gluck. It was also recorded by the Leake County Revelers (1927), Glen Gray & the Casa Loma Orchestra (1938), Ella Fitzgerald (1952), ay Charles (1958), and Duane Eddy (as “Bonnie Come Back,” 1960). Billy Murray recorded “My Barney Lies Over the Ocean” in 1919. “My Bonnie” was of the earliest songs recorded by the Beatles, dating back to their 1961 sessions in Hamburg, West Germany, with Tony Sheridan. He sang lead while Paul McCartney provided vocal harmony and shouting with all four Beatles serving as the backing band. The song was reportedly chosen because it was familiar to German audiences. WK After a customer requested the song at Brian Epstein’s music store NEMS in Liverpool, he went to see them at the Cavern Club and became their manager. WK Resources: WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 11/30/2025.

The Beatles’ First Recording Session: June 22, 1961

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June 22, 1961: The Beatles make their first studio recordings. At that time, the Beatles consisted of – as picture above, left to right – Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Pete Best, and George Harrison. Polydor Records’ Bert Kaempfert asked them to record as the backing band for an English rock and roll singer named Tony Sheridan. Sheridan knew the band from working with them at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg, Germany.

The recording sessions took place not at a recording studio, but on a converted stage at the Friedrick Ebert Halle school in Hamburg, Germany. ^BB There is some debate as to which recordings actually featured the Beatles, but it is generally agreed that they were present on new arrangements of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” and “When the Saints Go Marching In”, known respectively as “My Bonnie” and “The Saints”. They also recorded a Sheridan original called “Why (Can’t You Love Me Again)”, a cover of Hank Snow’s “Nobody’s Child”, and Jimmy Reed’s “Take Out Some Insurance on Me, Baby” (sometimes known as “If You Love Me, Baby”). In addition, the Beatles recorded two songs by themselves – “Ain’t She Sweet”, with John Lennon on lead, and “Cry for a Shadow”, an instrumental. An eighth song, a version of “Sweet Georgia Brown”, was also recorded at a later date. Sheridan has reported that they also did “Rock and Roll Music”, “Kansas City”, and “Some Other Guy”. ^FT



The first single from the sessions was “My Bonnie”/“The Saints”. It was credited to Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers; the word “Beatles” sounded too much like “peedles”, German slang for “penis”. It was released in two versions in October 1961, hitting #5 ^BB and selling 180,000 copies in Germany. ^FT



The single was released in 1962 in the U.K. and U.S., but didn’t chart until after the Beatles had already hit #1 and the song was re-released. However, it did grab the attention of Brian Epstein, a record store manager in Liverpool. With the Mersey beat sound catching on, the Beatles were becoming increasingly popular. Epstein ordered copies of the single and later sought out the Beatles, famously becoming their manager. Once the Beatles became popular, the songs resurfaced and have been since been released on multiple singles and albums, both officially and unofficially. The most elaborate collection is Beatles Bop – Hamburg Days, but many other cheaper collections exist.




For more information, check out The Beatles’ DMDB page and their entry in the DMDB music makers’ encyclopedia.


Resources:

^BB BeatlesBible.com Recording: My Bonnie

^BD Beatles-Discogaphy.com The Beatles’ Tony Sheridan songs

^CB Columbia.edu The Beatles’ Hamburg Recordings on Record

^FT friktech.com The Beatles backing Mr. Twist, Tony Sheridan

^WK Wikipedia Tony Sheridan recordings