Sometimes called Tom O' Bedlam, or Boys of Bedlam -- etcetera...
This song about madness dates circa the early 1600s (I read once 1618 but I'm
no longer sure about that).
In my online travels I did learn about a St. Bartholomew's hospital which became
an insane asylum and was nicknamed "Bedlam" I don't know if that nickname
has anything to do with this ballad. As my travels progressed I later learned
of a St. Mary's hospital of Bethelhem London, which I believe was also called
"Bedlam" -- Confused yet? (I know I am)...
As my online travels progressed it began to appear as if "Tom O' Bedlam" wasn't a single character, but a colloquialism for anyone whose illness was deemed incurable and because of this they were discharged from Bethlehem hospital. Since this hospital just so happened to be an insane asylum they no doubt were left wandering the streets (and there are many images of these people portrayed in literature in movies whose story lines are set in London during the Medieval times) Alas, Tom O' Bedlam was another way of saying madman and these unfortunate souls were also refered to as "bedlamites."
I also recently learned from an onlline quote From Websters Online: http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/english/be/bedlam.html which quoted a definition of Bedlam from the Brewster's dictionary which mentioned that St. Mary's St. Mary of Bethlehem, London, which "was founded as a priory in 1247, and in 1547 it was given to the mayor and corporation of London, and incorporated as a royal foundation for lunatics." And soon learned that the etymology of the word Bedlam was supposed to be a contraction of the word Bethlehem in the hospital's name and the word went on to become a synonym for an insane asylum (and other variants on that word, like nut house, cuckoo's nest etc), and later such words as: chaos, termoil, hubbub, riot, rumpus, babe, melee l etc (see Roget's Thesaurus or above link for complete list).
Now,based on the odds and sods of information I have at present I'm not really sure which country this tune originated in, however, I do know it's quite popular in both Scotland and Ireland (and have heard several Celtic bands perform it with varied melodies and performance styles) anyway, based on what I know now I'm guessing it's origins may be from England though. One of the online articles on this tune I've encountered (but sadly forgot to bookmark the link) was by one band who plays this tune and then tells how it was inspired by a Victorian era the hospital called St.. Bartholomewswhich would charge a penny's admission for people to come inside to watch the patients bizarre behavior. I really don't know if there is any connection between this tune or that hospital as it may not have been around when this tune was first penned. I think that hospital is in London though.
Now I did learn that there was a men's infirmary and a woman's infirmary and that the Maudlin comes from a variant on the name Magdeline. Perhaps St. Mary's was for women and the other hospital (St. Bartholomew's) may have been the men's infirmaary? (As I did read a mention of two separate hospitals). Alas, I'm still learning about this...
A tidbit of info I found in a recent websearch on the website http://www.sover.net/~barrand/rgh/darkships.html is: "Tom Of Bedlam More properly titled "Mad Maudlin's Search for Her Tom of Bedlam," this fantasy quest of a woman gone mad from the loss of her lover, also mad, does not seem to have had much currency in the tradition, It has been "dug up" from print and popularized in the last few years, particularly by Tom Gilfellon of the High Level Ranters. Bedlamite songs were extremely popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, and this text, with a different tune, was published by Thomas D'Urfey in his Pills to Purge Melancholy in 1720. Related songs are to be found in Jack Lindsay's Loving Mad Tom (1927)." The text went on to say "Bedlam was the popular name for the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem, in London, for male mental patients, at a time when going out to watch the antics of these unfortunate souls was a popular diversion, The corresponding institution for women was named after Mary Magdalene, hence "Maudlin," as the corresponding vernacular."
Anywhoo, If anyone knows anything more about the history of this tune please e-mail the site at info@standrewsri.org (if you don't use this link, put Bedlam Boys in the subject field please).
Again, there are many variations of this tune and many bands including Old
Blind Dogs (the version between 1990-1999) and Steeleye Span have recorded it.
The basic structure of this tune I learned from an Old Blind Dogs' recording
New Tricks as well as their Live album (both on
Lochshore label).
Sidenote: A website visitor, Ruth,
mentioned that the melody commonly used was written by Nic Jones and
Dave Moran. She wasn't sure if there is an actual traditional melody
to this tune and at the time of this update she is still in search of one...
For a rough sketch of the melody
click here (this is a work in progress so at the time of posting there's
still errors in the melody and rhythm transcription but it'll get you in the
ballpark)
The harmony is based on a common I IV V I progression.
The chords are the same on the verses as they are in the chorus.
Common time 4/4
Chords played in an eighth note pulse.
4/4|| Emin /// | // Amaj Bmin | Emin /// | Emin Bmin (Emin Bmin) Emin |
| Emin /// | //Amaj Bmin | Emin Bmin (Emin Bmin) Emin ||
| Emin /// | Dmaj /// | Cmaj /// | Bmin /// |
| Emin /// | Dmaj /// | Cmaj /// | Bmin /// ||
(Emin) To see Mad Tom of Bedlam
Ten (Amaj) thousand (Bmin) miles I (Emin) traveled (optional Bmin Emin)
(Emin) Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes
For tae (Amaj) save her (Bmin) shoes from (Emin) gravel.
Chorus: (Emin) An' still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad (Dmaj) boys (Amaj)
Bedlam (Bmin) boys are (Emin) bonny
For they (E min) all go (Dmaj) bare and they (Cmaj) live in the (Bmin) air
And they (Amaj) want no (Bmin) drink nor (Emin) money.
Full lyrics...
To see Mad Tom of Bedlam
Ten thousand miles I traveled
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes
For tae save her shoes from gravel.
Chorus: An still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys
Bedlam boys are bonny
For they all go bare and they live in the air
And they want no drink nor money.
I went to Blutos the kitchen
Tae break me fast one morning
And there I got souls piping hot
That on the spit were turning
Chorus
My staff has murdered giants
My pack a long knife carries
To cut mince pies from children's thighs
With which tae feeds tae fairies
Chorus
Just then the spirits white as lightening
And on the journey guide me
The sun did shake and the pale moon quake
When e're they they did espy me
Chorus
No gypsy, slut, nor doxy
Shall take me mad Tom from me
I'll dance all night, tae where stars fight
But the fray it shall become me
Chorus
To see Mad Tom of Bedlam
Ten thousand miles I traveled
(Mad) Maudlin goes on dirty toes
For tae save her shoes from gravel.
Chorus
Some versions of this Maudlin is Morgan.
I believe this tune may be one of the Childs' Ballads but am not 100% sure,
of course based on the Grimm's Fairy Tales seem tame in comparison!
Author is unknown and this is in the public domain.
Variation 1:
For to see my Tom of Bedlam,
10,000 miles I'd travel
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes,
to save her shoes from gravel.
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 Satin's kitchen,
for to beg me food one morning
There I got souls piping hot,
all on the spit a turning.
There I picked up a cauldron,
Where boiled 10,000 harlots
Though full of flame I drank the same,
to the health of all such varlets.
My staff has murdered giants,
my bag a long knife carries
For to cut mince pies from children's thighs,
with which to feed the fairies.
Spirits white as lightning,
shall on my travels guide me
The moon would quake and the stars would shake,
when' ere they espied me.
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.
It's when next I have murdered,
the Man-In-The-Moon to powder
His staff I'll break, his dog I'll bake,
they'll howl no demon louder.
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.
Or
I now regret that ever
Poor Tom I so disdain-ded
My wits are lost since him I crossed
and now I must go chain-ed
New: Alas, and here is yet another verse that was sent to us via e-mail by Miriam C.in 2006.
There I took a cauldron
Where boiled ten thousand harlots
Though full of flame I drank the same
To the health of all such varlets.
Boston based band named after this tune:
Bedlam Boys
http://www.bedlamboys.net/lyrics.htm
Their website contains a wealth of Scottish and Irish lyrics.