He goes bare, he lives by the air, and he wants no drink nor money…or does he? In this episode, we explore the songs and stories surrounding Tom of Bedlam. Where did the modern tune come from? And why is the title misleading? Hold on to your hat and your sanity for this musical journey to Pluto’s kitchen and beyond.
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to: Aaron J. Morton
Check out Basic Folk: https://basicfolk.com/
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Heritage
WORK: Mad Tom of Bedlam
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gAxNVcyKm4
ARTIST: The Halliard
WORK: Boys of Bedlam
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0EUadGMU3Y
ARTIST: Catherine Bott
WORK: Mad Maudlin
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSNoYGtdDiU
ARTIST: Country Dance & Song Society
WORK: Tom O’Bedlam’s Song
SOURCE: https://cdss.org/publications/listen/song-of-the-month/january-2022-song-of-the-month/
ARTIST: David Pryor (Recorded by Alan Lomax and Mary Elizabeth Barnicle
WORK: When the Whale Get Strike
SOURCE: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-alan-lomax-collection-deep-river-of-song-bahamas-1935/2675148
ARTIST: Kate Price
WORK: Mad Tom of Bedlam
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubPeBpchVxM
ARTIST: Old Blind Dogs
WORK: Bedlam Boys/Rights of Man
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMkmbfW_XKE
ARTIST: Steeleye Span
WORK: Boys of Bedlam
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz9tggUNlIU
ARTIST: Music the Gathering
WORK: Tom of Bedlam
SOURCE: LVL 3 - https://www.musicthegathering.com/store/lvl-3-digital-album