To see Mad Tom of Bedlam
Ten Thousand Leagues I've travelled
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes
For to spare her shoes from gravel

I now repent that ever
Poor Tom was so disdained
Me wits I lost since him I crossed
Which makes me thus go chained

So 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 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-turnin'

There I took up a cauldron
Where boiled ten thousand harlots
So full of flame, I drank that same
To the health of all such varlets

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 nor money.

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

The spirits white as lightning
Would on me travels guide me
The stars would shake and the moon would quake
Whenever they espied me.

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.

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

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

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.

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

For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam
Ten Thousand years I've travelled
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes
For to spare her shoes from gravel.

So 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.