Banbury Cross Morris & Sword Wiki

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Tom of Bedlam ======

For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam
Ten thousand miles I traveled 
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes
For to save her shoes from gravel. 

**Chorus:**
//Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys
Bedlam boys are bonny 
For they all go bare and they live by the air
And they want no drink or money.//

I now repent that ever
Poor Tom was so disdain-ed 
My wits are lost since him I crossed
Which makes me thus go chained
 
[//chorus//] 

I went down to Satan's kitchen
For to get me food one morning 
And there I got souls piping hot
All on the spit a-turning 

[//chorus//] 

There I took up a caldron
Where boiled ten thousand harlots 
Though full of flame I drank the same
To the health of all such varlets 

[//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 lightening
Would on me travels guide me 
The stars would shake and the moon would quake
Whenever they espied me 

[//chorus//] 

No gypsy, slut or doxy
Shall win my mad Tom from me 
I'll weep all night, with stars I'll fight
The fray shall well become me 

[//chorus//] 

And when that I'll be murdering
The Man in the Moon to the powder 
His staff I'll break, his dog I'll shake
And there'll howl no demon louder 

[//chorus//] 

So drink to Tom of Bedlam
Go fill the seas in barrels 
I'll drink it all, well brewed with gall
And maudlin drunk I'll quarrel 

[//chorus//] 

For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam
Ten thousand years I have traveled 
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes
For to save her shoes from gravel.

[//chorus//]