"Bedlam Boys" is a song about the St. Mary Bethlehem hospital in London (now called Bethlem Royal Hospital) which housed the insane. During the 18th century it was a popular diversion to visit the hospital to watch the antics of the poor inmates. Admission was one penny and it is said the hospital realized an income of four hundred pounds a year from visitors.
Lyrics
For to see my Tom of Bedlam
10,0000 miles I'd travel
Mad Maudlin goes with dirty toes
For to save her shoes from gravel
~ Chorus ~
Still I sing Bonnie Boys
Bonnie mad boys, Bedlam Boys are bonnie
They all go bare, they live in the air
And they want no drink nor money
Went down to Satin's kitchen
For to beg my food one morning
There I saw souls piping hot
All on the spit a turning
There I picked up a cauldron
Where boiled 10,000 harlets
Though full of flame, I drank the same
To the health of all such varlets
My staff has murdered giants
My bag a long knife carries
To cut mince pies from children's thighs
For which to feed the fairies - for which to feed the fairies
Spirits white as lightning
Shall on my travels guide me
The moon will quake the stars will shake
When 'ere they espied me
No Gypsy slut nor doxy shall win my mad Tom from me
I'll weep all night, the stars I'll fight
The fray will well become me
It's when next I have murdered
The Man-In-The_moon to powder
His staff I'll break
His dog I'll bake
There'll howl no demon louder
So drink to Tom of Bedlam
He'll fill the sea with barrels
I'll drink it all, all filled with gall
With Maudlin I will travel