A MAID IN BEDLAM
"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".
More specifics. George Ogle's song "As down on Banna's banks I strayed"
(Grammachree Molly) was in the London Magazine, Sept., 1774. "Maid in Bedlam"
with tune direction "Gramachree" is in 'The Scots Nightingale' 2nd ed. 1779
(and probably in the 1778 edition); and same in 'Wilson's Musical Miscellany' =
'St. Cecilia', 1779; same, 'The Scots Vocal Miscellany', 1780. With the tune the
song is in 'The Scots Musical Museum', #46, 1787, where it is followed by
"Grammachree Molly"
2 slightly different versions of A Maid in Bedlam (neither are the Pentangle version).
The second one seems more complete.
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 replied 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"
She said, "My love, don't frighten me, are you my love or no?"
"Oh yes, my dearest Nancy, I am your love also
I am returned to make amends for all your injury
I love my love because I know my love loves me
I love my love because I know my love loves me"
*****
A MAID IN BEDLAM
(Traditional: English late 1700's)
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 with her hands
And thus replied she
Chorus: I love my love
Because I know
My love loves me
Oh my cruel parents
Are being too unkind
They drove and punish me
And trouble my mind
For though I'm ruined for his love
Contented will I be
Chorus
Would I become a swallow
Ascend into the air
And if I lost my lover
And could not find him there
I quickly would become a fish
And search the flowing sea
Chorus
With straw I'll make a garland
And dress it very fine
I'll mix the wame with roses
Lily pink and tyne
I will preserve it for my love
When he returns from sea
Chorus
Just as she was sadly weeping
Her love came on the land
Hearing she was in Bedlam
He ran straight out of hand
And as he entered into the gates
He heard her sigh and say
Chorus
He stood and gazed on her
Hearing his love complain
He could not stand any longer
He bled in every vein
He flew in to her snowy white arms
And thus replied he
Chorus
(Contributed by Andy & Mogg - January 2004)
