Jolie Holland - Mad Tom of Bedlam lyrics

rate me

For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam,

Ten thousand miles I've travelled

Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes

For to save her shoes from gravel

It's well that we sing bonney boys

Bonney mad boys

Bedlam boys are bonney

For they all go bare, and they live in the air

And they want no drink nor money

I went down to Satan's Kitchen

For to break my fast one morning

And there I got souls piping hot

All on the spit a-turning

It's well that we sing bonney boys

Bonney mad boys

Bedlam boys are bonney

For they all go bare, and they live in the air

And they want no drink nor money

A spirit howled as lightning

Did on that journey guide me

The sun did shake and the pale moon quake

Whenever they did spy me

And it's well that we sing bonney boys

Bonney mad boys

Bedlam boys are bonney

For they all go bare, and they live in the air

And they want no drink nor money

My staff has murdered giants

And my pack a long knife carries

For to slice mince pies from children's thighs,

From which to feed the faeries

It's well that we sing bonney boys

Bonney mad boys

Bedlam boys are bonney

For they all go bare, and they live in the air

And they want no drink nor money

Tonight I'll go a-murdering

The man in the moon to a powder

His dog I'll shake and his staff I'll break

And I'll howl a wee bit louder

It's well that we sing bonney boys

Bonney mad boys

Bedlam boys are bonney

For they all go bare, and they live in the air

And they want no drink nor money

To see Mad Tom of Bedlam,

Ten thousand miles I've travelled

Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes,

To save her shoes from gravel

It's well that we sing bonney boys

Bonney mad boys

Bedlam boys are bonney

For they all go bare, and they live in the air

And they want no drink nor money