Currently Listening to...

Favorite song:

A Maid in Bedlam

Abroad as I was walking one evening in the spring
I heard a maid in Bedlam who mournfully did sing
Her chains she rattled on her hands, and thus replieth 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
Yet I love his parents since their his, although they've ruined me
I love my love because I know my love loves me

With straw I'll weave a garland, I'll weave it wondrous fine
With roses, lilies, daisies I'll mix the eglantine
And I'll present it to my love when he returns from sea
I love my love because I know my love loves me"

Just as she sat there weeping, her love, he came on land
Then hearing she was in Bedlam he ran straight out of hand
He flew into her snow-white arms, and thus replied he
"I love my love because I know my love loves me"



The history behind this song is fascinating:

"Maid in Bedlam" was a drastic reworking of an earlier song
in which a black, George Sighous, was in Bedlam for his mad
love for an English girl. It's on a single sheet song with
music, c 1740, called "The Black's Lamentation", but the
tune on the single sheet is nothing like "Gramachree Molly".

Found it at CDBaby which I had never heard of before. You can order it here. You won't be sorry.