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Description
Continuing our series of orchestrated British folk songs.
Bedlam - the name being corrupted from St Mary of Bethlehem - was England's first and most famous lunatic asylum, established in London in medieval times, and still in existence today as a psychiatric hospital. It was notorious for its cruelty and degrading treatment of inmates, and by the 18th century had became a popular freak show ... patients were kept chained up and the public would pay a penny to come and stare at them and poke them with sticks. Many illustrious writers and artists spent time in Bedlam, such as the playwright Nathaniel Lee, who complained: "They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me."
Like a lot of English folk songs, there are so many different versions of Maid In Bedlam the origins are hard to trace, but it was certainly appearing in print around 1740. This set of lyrics is probably slightly later ... 1780s maybe.
On the surface this is a straightforward tale of a sailor's fidelity to his sweetheart, but it is loaded with deeper mythological symbolism. Daniel captures all of that and more in his delicate and subtle arrangement.
Bedlam - the name being corrupted from St Mary of Bethlehem - was England's first and most famous lunatic asylum, established in London in medieval times, and still in existence today as a psychiatric hospital. It was notorious for its cruelty and degrading treatment of inmates, and by the 18th century had became a popular freak show ... patients were kept chained up and the public would pay a penny to come and stare at them and poke them with sticks. Many illustrious writers and artists spent time in Bedlam, such as the playwright Nathaniel Lee, who complained: "They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me."
Like a lot of English folk songs, there are so many different versions of Maid In Bedlam the origins are hard to trace, but it was certainly appearing in print around 1740. This set of lyrics is probably slightly later ... 1780s maybe.
On the surface this is a straightforward tale of a sailor's fidelity to his sweetheart, but it is loaded with deeper mythological symbolism. Daniel captures all of that and more in his delicate and subtle arrangement.
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Lyrics
Maid In Bedlam
words and tune traditional
arranged by Rebsie Farholm and Daniel Staniforth
Abroad as I was walking
One evening in the spring
I heard a maid in Bedlam
So sweetly for to sing
Her chain she rattled in her hands
And thus lamented she
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
Oh cruel were his parents
Who sent my love to sea
And cruel was the sailing ship
That bore my love from me
But though I'm ruined for his love
Contented will I be
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
Would I become a swallow
Ascend into the air
And if I lost my labour
And could not find him there
I quickly would become a fish
And search the rolling sea
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
With straw I'll make a garland
And weave it very fine
With lilies, daisies, roses
I'll mix the eglantyne
I will present it to my love
When he returns from sea
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
Just as she was sat weeping
Her love came on the land
Hearing she was in Bedlam
He ran straight out of hand
And as he entered in the gates
He heard her sigh and say
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
He stood and gazed on her
Hearing his love complain
He could not stand any longer
He bled in every vein
He flew into her snow white arms
And thus replied he
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
words and tune traditional
arranged by Rebsie Farholm and Daniel Staniforth
Abroad as I was walking
One evening in the spring
I heard a maid in Bedlam
So sweetly for to sing
Her chain she rattled in her hands
And thus lamented she
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
Oh cruel were his parents
Who sent my love to sea
And cruel was the sailing ship
That bore my love from me
But though I'm ruined for his love
Contented will I be
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
Would I become a swallow
Ascend into the air
And if I lost my labour
And could not find him there
I quickly would become a fish
And search the rolling sea
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
With straw I'll make a garland
And weave it very fine
With lilies, daisies, roses
I'll mix the eglantyne
I will present it to my love
When he returns from sea
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
Just as she was sat weeping
Her love came on the land
Hearing she was in Bedlam
He ran straight out of hand
And as he entered in the gates
He heard her sigh and say
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
He stood and gazed on her
Hearing his love complain
He could not stand any longer
He bled in every vein
He flew into her snow white arms
And thus replied he
I love my love because I know
My love loves me
Nausia
WOW!