My bonnet of blue, my bonnet of blue, br Its gossamer fineness I'll sing to you; br For a delicate fabric in sooth it was, br All trimmed and finified off with gauze. br My bonnet of blue, my bonnet of blue, br How well I remember thy azure hue! br br To church I wore it, one pleasant day, br Bedecked in ribbons of fanciful ray; br And all the while I sat on my seat br I thought of naught save my bonnet so neat. br My bonnet of blue, my bonnet of blue, br Broke not my heart when I bade thee adieu? br br When service was over, my steps I bent br Towards home, a-nodding my head as I went br But, alas for my bonnet! there came a wind br And blew it away, for the strings were not pinned. br My bonnet of blue, my bonnet of blue, br What shifting scenes have been thine to pass through! br br I raised my eyes to the calm, blue sky, br There sailed my bonnet serene and high! br O, what a feeling of hopeless woe br Stole over me then, no heart may know! br My bonnet of blue, my bonnet of blue, br As clear as the sky was thy azure hue! br br 'Twas vain to mourn for my bonnet, and yet br It taught me a lesson I shall not forget; br 'Twas, never to make you an idol of clay, br For when you best love them they'll fly away.