Get Flash to see this player.
Description
"Bedlam Boys", or 'Mad Tom of Bedlam' is one of the earliest songs about madness that was first introduced in 1618. Bedlam was a common name for St. Bartholomew's hospital which housed the insane. During the 18th century it was a popular diversion to visit the hospital to watch the antics of the poor inmates. Admission was one penny and it is said the hospital realized an income of four hundred pounds a year from visitors.
There are many different versions of this song, and many different lyrics and extra verses, verses cut out etc, but I chose this version as the closest (as far as my research dictates) to the original lyrics.
Two of the lesser-known verses I have left out from this version are:
No gypsy slut nor doxy,
shall win my Mad Tom from me
I'll weep all night, the stars I'll fight,
the fray will well become me.
So drink to Tom of Bedlam,
he'll fill the seas in barrels
I'll drink it all, all brewed with gall,
with Mad Maudlin I will travel.
This last verse is in contestation, which is why I left it out. Another version of this final verse has it as:
I now regret that ever
Poor Tom I so disdain-ed
My wits are lost since him I crossed
and now I must go chain-ed
There are many different versions of this song, and many different lyrics and extra verses, verses cut out etc, but I chose this version as the closest (as far as my research dictates) to the original lyrics.
Two of the lesser-known verses I have left out from this version are:
No gypsy slut nor doxy,
shall win my Mad Tom from me
I'll weep all night, the stars I'll fight,
the fray will well become me.
So drink to Tom of Bedlam,
he'll fill the seas in barrels
I'll drink it all, all brewed with gall,
with Mad Maudlin I will travel.
This last verse is in contestation, which is why I left it out. Another version of this final verse has it as:
I now regret that ever
Poor Tom I so disdain-ed
My wits are lost since him I crossed
and now I must go chain-ed
Leave a Comment
You must be registered and logged-in to comment.
Lyrics
For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam, 10,000 miles I'd travel.
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes for to save her shoes from gravel.
Chorus: Still I sing bonnie boys, bonnie mad boys,
Bedlam boys are bonnie
For they all go bare and they live by the air,
And they want no drink nor money.
I went down to Satan's kitchen, for to get me food one morning,
And there I found souls piping hot, all on the spit a-turnin'
Chorus
My staff has murdered giants, my bag a long knife carries,
For to cut mince pies from children's thighs, and feed them to the fairies.
Chorus
The spirits white as lightning do on me travels guide me,
The earth does shake the moon doth quake whenever they espie me
Chorus
And when that I'll be a-murderin' the man in the moon to a powder,
His staff I'll brake, his dog I'll shake, and there'll howl no demon louder.
Chorus
repeat first verse
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes for to save her shoes from gravel.
Chorus: Still I sing bonnie boys, bonnie mad boys,
Bedlam boys are bonnie
For they all go bare and they live by the air,
And they want no drink nor money.
I went down to Satan's kitchen, for to get me food one morning,
And there I found souls piping hot, all on the spit a-turnin'
Chorus
My staff has murdered giants, my bag a long knife carries,
For to cut mince pies from children's thighs, and feed them to the fairies.
Chorus
The spirits white as lightning do on me travels guide me,
The earth does shake the moon doth quake whenever they espie me
Chorus
And when that I'll be a-murderin' the man in the moon to a powder,
His staff I'll brake, his dog I'll shake, and there'll howl no demon louder.
Chorus
repeat first verse
I like the feelings in this one... Good voices/vocals.... I like the lyrics... And the way the drums play... Thanks for sharing this....