Now the midnight watch is set; Jack O’Lantern leaping.
Now the night mares all are met; shades through the shadows creeping.
Now the witch moon haunts the heavens
Wounded welkins’s weeping
Bedlam Tom comes a-muttering on
While the Christian world lies sleeping.

Withered as an empty sack; cap and bells to crown him.
The daemons whining at his back bind the darkness round him
Steps in, steps out with a measured madness,
Ghost and goblin hound him
Spins a bedlam dream on the echoing green
Spits a curse at the meek around him.

Round about the blackthorn go singing bedlam boys are bonny.
Tip-tap-toe through frost and snow,
Dance for meat and money.

Here’s fine pennyworths good gifts and guiles,
Bright toys for drink and clothing
Come dame or maid don’t be afraid
Poor Tom will injure nothing!

Let the wives of the world be widows all, their husbands I will plunder.
My bag is bold with faeries gold, the best of which I’ll squander.
From out beyond the wild worlds end
The bells of bedlam thunder.
With a burning spear on a horse of air, to the wilderness I’ll wander.

Round about the blackthorn go singing bedlam boys are bonny.
Tip-tap-toe through frost and snow,
Dance for meat and money.

Tom would trade the wealth of Midas,
drag a star from the shining heaven
For a place in a fire lit haven.

Out of the witch wind’s raving
To light the lamp
And sit
And dream
And linger with a tender friend.

Here’s a welcome to you fame and honour, harp songs and joyous tunes attend you
Bedlam prepares; prepares my coming with the horns of Avalon a-blowing.

I never was an honest man, no honest wife to tend me.
There’s nothing here to understand
and no-one to befriend me
From the hag and hungry fiend
that into rags would rend me
May the spirits that stand by the naked man
In the book of Moons defend me.

Round about the blackthorn go,
I’ll dip my bread in the river.
Tip-tap-toe through frost and snow.
Round about for ever

© Secret Green