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Bedlam Boys

by Jim Hancock & Friends

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    original front and back art by Jim Nelson
    two bonus tracks not available for Download: Shining Clear and John O'Dreams
    My third and final album with the fabulous Gypsy Guerrilla Band

    Includes unlimited streaming of Bedlam Boys via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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2.
Near to Banbridge Town, in the County Down, On a mornin' in last July, Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen, And she smiled as she passed me by. She looked so sweet from her two bare feet, To the sheen of her nut-brown hair, Such a handsome elf, I'd to pinch meself, To be sure I was really there. chorus From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay; From Galway to Dublin Town, No maid I've seen like the nut-brown colleen, That I met in the County Down. As she onward sped, sure I scratched me head, And I looked with a feelin' rare, And I says, says I, to a passer-by, "Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?" Well, he smiles at me and he says, says he, "That's the jewel in Ireland's crown, Young Rosie Mac Anne, from the banks o' the Bann; She's the Star of the County Down.” chorus At the harvest fair, she'll surely be there, So I'll dress in me Sunday clothes, With me shoes shone bright and me hat cocked right For a smile from the nut-brown Rose. No pipe I'll smoke, nor horse I'll yoke, 'Til me plow turns a rust-colored brown, "Til a smilin' bride by me own fireside, Sits the Star of the County Down. chorus
3.
chorus Step we gaily, on we go; heel for heel and toe for toe, Arm in arm and row on row: all for Mairi's wedding. Over hillways up and down, myrtle green and bracken brown, Pass the sheilling through the town, all for Mairi's wedding. chorus Plenty herring, plenty meal; plenty peat to fill her creel, Plenty bonny bairns as well, that's our toast for Mairi. chorus Cheeks a'bright as rowans are, brighter far than any star, Fairest of them all, by far, that's our darlin' Mairi. chorus
4.
Farewell and adieu, to you, Spanish ladies, Farewell and adieu, to you daughters of Spain, For we've received orders for to sail for old England, But we hope in a short time to see you again. chorus We'll rant and we'll roar, like true English sailors, We'll rant and we'll roar, all along the salt sea, Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England, From Ushant to Scilly be thirty-five leagues. We hove our ships to, with the wind from southport, We hove our ships to, deep soundings to take, We've forty-five fathoms with a white sandy bottom, So we squared our main yard and up channel did make. chorus Now the signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor, All on the Downs, that night for to lie, Haul up your shankpainter, stand to your clewgarnets! Cut loose your catstoppers; let tack and sheets fly! chorus Now let ev'ry man drink off his full bumper, Let ev'ry man drink off his full glass, We'll drink and be jolly, and drown melancholy, And here's to the health of each true-hearted lass! chorus
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chorus We be soldiers three, Pardonnez mois je vous en prie. Lately come forth from the low country, With never a penny of money. Here good fellows I drink to thee, Pardonnez mois je vous en prie. To all good fellows wherever they be, With never a penny of money. chorus And he that will not pledge me this, Pardonnez mois je vous en prie. Pays for the shot whatever it is, With never a penny of money. chorus Charge it again, boys, charge it again! Pardonnez mois je vous en prie. As longa s you've got any ink in your pen. With never a penny of money. chorus
7.
While goin' the road to sweet Athy, ha-roo, ha-roo, While goin' the road to sweet Athy, ha-roo, ha-roo, While goin' the road to sweet Athy, A stick in me hand and a tear in me eye, A doleful damsel I heard cry, "Johnny, I hardly knew ye." chorus With your guns and drums and drums and guns, ha-roo, ha-roo, With your guns and drums and drums and guns, ha-roo, ha-roo, With your guns and drums and drums and guns, The enemy nearly slew ye, My darlin' dear, you look so queer, Johnny, I hardly knew ye. Where are the eyes that looked so mild, ha-roo, ha-roo, Where are the eyes that looked so mild, ha-roo, ha-roo, Where are the eyes that looked so mild, When my poor heart you first beguiled, Why did you skedaddle from me and the child, Johnny, I hardly knew ye. Where are the legs with which you run, ha-roo, ha-roo, Where are the legs with which you run, ha-roo, ha-roo, Where are the legs with which you run, when first you went to carry a gun, Indeed, your dancin' days are done, Johnny, I hardly knew ye. For you haven't an arm and you haven't a leg, ha-roo, ha-roo, For you haven't an arm and you haven't a leg, ha-roo, ha-roo, For you haven't an arm and you haven't a leg, You're an eyeless, noseless, chickenless egg, You'd have to be put in a bowl to beg, Johnny, I hardly knew ye. But I'm happy for to see you home, ha-roo, ha-roo, But I'm happy for to see you home, ha-roo, ha-roo But I'm happy for to see you home, all from the island of Ceylon, So low in the flesh, so high in the bone, Johnny, I hardly knew ye. chorus
8.
Bedlam Boys 03:03
For to see Mad Tom of Bedlam Ten thousand miles I've traveled, Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes, For to save her shoes from gravel, chorus 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. I now regret that ever, Poor Tom was so disdained, My wits I lost when him I crossed, Which makes me thus go chained. chorus My staff has murdered giants, My pack a long knife carries, For to cut mince pies from children's thighs, And to feed them to the fairies. chorus And when I go a murdering, The man in the moon to the powder, His staff I'll break and his dog I'll shake, And there'll howl no demon louder. chorus So drink to Tom of Bedlam, Come fill the season'd barrel, We'll drink it all well brewed with gall, And maudlin drunk we'll quarrel. chorus
9.
chorus Her eyes, they shone like diamonds; You'd think she was queen of the land, With her hair hung over her shoulders, Tied up with a black velvet band. In a little old town they call Belfast, Not intending to stay very long, I met with a frolicsome damsel, As she came a-trippin' along. A watch she pulled out of her pocket, And she slipped it right into my hand, On the very first day that I met her . . . Bad luck to the black velvet band! chorus Before judge and the jury next morning, The both of us did appear, A gentleman claimed his jewelry; The case against us was clear. chorus It was seven long years transportation, Right down to Van Dieman's land, Far away from me friends and companions, Betrayed by that black velvet band. chorus
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It's a damn tough life, full of toil and strife, we whalermen undergo. And we don't give a damn when the gale is done, How hard the winds did blow, 'Cause we're homeward bound from the arctic ground, With a good ship, taut and free, And we won't give a damn, when we drink our rum, With the girls of old Maui. chorus Rolling Down to old Maui, me boys; rolling down to old Maui, We're homeward bound from the arctic ground; rolling down to old Maui. Once more we sail with the northerly gale, through the ice and wind and rain, Them coconut fronds, them tropical lands, we soon shall see again, Six hellish months we've passed away, on the cold Kamchatka Sea, But now we're bound from the arctic ground; Rolling down to old Maui. chorus Once more we sail with the northerly gale, towards our island home, Our mainmast sprung, our whaling done, and we ain't got far to roam, Our stuns'l bones is carried away, what care we for that sound? A living gale is after us, thank God we're homeward bound. chorus How soft the breeze through the island trees, now the ice is far astern, Them native maids, them tropical glades, is awaitin' our return, Even now their big brown eyes look out, hopin' some fine day to see, Our baggy sails, running 'fore the gales; rolling down to old Maui. chorus
12.
Down yonder green valley, where streamlets meander, When twilight is fading, I pensively rove, Or at the bright noon-tide, in solitude wander, Down by the cool shades of the lonely ash grove. 'Twas there while the blackbird was cheerfully singing, I first met my dear one, the joy of my heart, Around us, for gladness, the bluebells were ringing, Ah, then, little thought I how soon we should part. Still glows the bright sunshine o'er valley and mountain, Still warbles the blackbird, its note from the tree, Still trembles the moonbeam o'er streamlet and fountain, But what are the beauties of nature to me? With sorrow, deep sorrow, my bosom is laden, All day I go mourning in search of my love. Ye echoes, oh tell me, where is the sweet maiden? "She sleeps 'neath the green turf sown by the ash grove."
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14.
There were three gypsies all in a row, And, oh, but they were bonny-o, They sang so sweet and so complete, That they charmed the heart of the lady-o. She plucked off her high heel shoes, All made of spanish leather-O, She went into the street in her bare, bare feet, All out in the wind and weather-O. Come saddle to me my milk white steed, Go and fetch my pony-O, That I may ride and seek my bride, Who is gone with the Raggle Taggle Gypsies-O. Oh, he rode high, he rode low, He rode thorugh woods and copses-O, Until he came to a wide open field, And there he spied his Lady-O. What makes you leave your house and your lands, Your golden treasures to forego, What makes you leave your newly-wedded lord, To run with the Raggle Taggle Gypsies-O? O what care I for my house and my lands, What care I for treasure-O, What care I for my newly-wedded lord, For I'm off with the Raggle Taggle Gypsies-O. Last night you slept on a goose feather bed, With the sheets turned down so bravely-O, Tonight you'll sleep in a cold, open field, Along with the Raggle Taggle Gypsies-O. Oh what care I for a goose feather bed, With the sheets turned down so bravely-O, Tonight I'll sleep in a cold, open field, Along with the Raggle Taggle Gypsy-O. (repeat first verse)
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As I was goin' over the Kilmakenny Mountains, I net with Captain Farrell, and my money, he was countin' I pulled forth me pistol, and then produced me rapier, Sayin', "Stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver." chorus Musha ringum durum da, Whack fol the daddy-o, Whack fol the daddy-o, There's whiskey in the jar. Well, I counted up me money, and it made a pretty penny, So I took it with me home, and I gave it to me Jenny, She sighed and she swore that she never would betray me, But divil take that woman, for she never could be easy. chorus I went into me chambers, all for to take a slumber, I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure, it was no wonder. But Jenny took me pistols and she filled them up with water; Called on Captain Farrell to get ready for the slaughter. chorus Now, when I was awakened, between six and seven, Guards were all around me, in numbers odd and even. I pulled forth me pistols, 'cause she'd stolen away me rapiers, But I could not shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken. chorus You know, they threw me in that jail without judge or writin', For robbin' Captain Farrell o'er on the Kilmakenny Mountain. But they didn't take me fists, so I knocked the sentry down, And bid a fond farewell to the jail in Sligo Town. chorus Now, some takes delight in the fishin' and the bowlin', And others takes delight in their carriages a-rollin'. I takes delight in the juice of the barley, And lovin' pretty women in the mornin' so early. chorus
17.
When I've done the work of day, and I row my boat away, Down the waters of Loch Tay, where the evening shade is falling. And I look toward Ben Loughers, where the afterglories glow, And I dream on two bright eyes and a merry mouth below. She's my beauteous nighean ruidhh (red-haired girl), She's my joy and sorrow, too, Though I own she is not true, sure I cannot live without her, For my heart's a boat in tow, and I'd give the world to know, If she means to let me go, as I sing hoo-ree, hoo-roo. Nighean Ruidhh, your glorious hair is more beauteous, I declare, Than all the tresses fair from Killarn to Aberfeldy. Be they lint-white, gold or brown, be they blacker than the sloe, They mean not as much to me as a melting flake of snow. And her touch is like the gleam of the sunlight o'er the stream, And the songs the wee folk sing, are the songs she sings at milking. But my heart is full of woe, for last night she bade me go, And the tears begin to flow, as I sing, hoo-ree, hoo-roo.

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My third album, featuring the Gypsy Guerrilla Band.
Two tracks (Shining Clear and John O'Dreams) are not available for download, but can be purchased on the physical CD on this page.

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released April 1, 2020

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Jim Hancock - The Burly Minstrel Bastrop, Texas

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