Name: Boys of Bedlam
Duration: P00H04M07S
Description: Recorded by Steeleye Span, the lyrics are traditional and the tune came courtesy of Nic Jones and Dave Moran. Bedlam was the nickname given to the priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem at Bishopsgate, founded in 1247, which became the male lunatic asylum known as Bethlehem Hospital in 1547. The lyrics seem almost nonsensical but somehow maintain a disturbing and monstrous quality.

Boys of Bedlam

from Notes of Being by Spiral Dance

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about

Recorded by Steeleye Span, the lyrics are traditional and the tune came courtesy of Nic Jones and Dave Moran. Bedlam was the nickname given to the priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem at Bishopsgate, founded in 1247, which became the male lunatic asylum known as Bethlehem Hospital in 1547. The lyrics seem almost nonsensical but somehow maintain a disturbing and monstrous quality.

lyrics

To see mad Tom of Bedlam ten thousand miles I'd travel
mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes to keep her shoes from gravel

Chorus
Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys, Bedlam boys are bonny
for they all go bare and the 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 spied souls piping hot all on the spit a turning

Chorus

My staff has murdered giants, my bag a big knife carries
to cut mince pies from children's thighs with which to feed the faeries

Chorus

And spirits white as lightening will on my travels guide me
the moon would quake and the stars would shake whenever they espied me

Chorus

And when that I have murdered the man in the moon to powder
his rod I'll break and his staff I'll shake and they'll howl the demon louder

Chorus

credits

from Notes of Being, released June 17, 2020
Traditional
(Tune by Dave Moran & Nic Jones)

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Spiral Dance Adelaide, Australia

With a combination of haunting vocals, intoxicating guitar riffs and groovy accordion lines, underpinned with potent bass and dynamic percussion, Spiral Dance presents an eclectic blend of traditional folk-rock with powerful self-penned songs and tunes. Rousing melodies intertwine with tales of Magick, myth and legend - music that will rock your ancestors! ... more

spiraldance.com.au

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