Lyr Req: Bedlam City

Subject: ADD: Bedlam City
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 01:42 AM

Well, I found it in a broadside at the Bodleian Library - one of several versions there, all more-or-less the same.

Bedlam City

Down by the side of Bedlam City
There I heard a maid complain,
She was making sad lamentation,
"I have lost my joy and only swain."

CHORUS
"Billy Is the lad that I do admire,
He is the lad that I do adore,
Now for him his love lies dying,
For fear she would never see him more."

I wish I had wings I would fly unto him,
I would embrace him in my arms,
Cruel parents to refuse him,
For he had ten thousand charms.

Hark! to hear the cannons rattle,
How the drums and trumpets sound,
Now he lies in midst of battle,
Dying with his bleeding wounds.

Oh! don't you see my Billy coming,
Don't you see him in the cloud;
With guardian angels standing round him,
See how they do my Billy crown.

Down on a bed of straw she tumbled,
Making her moan and this reply,
I have lose my joy and comfort,
How could my parents him deny.


source: http://bodley24.bodley.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/acwwweng/ballads/image.pl?ref=Harding+B+28(92)&id=10920.gif&seq=1&size=0

Printer: Armstrong, W. (Liverpool)
Date: between 1820 and 1824
Imprint: Printed for W. Armstrong, Banastre-st.
Illus. Ballads on sheet: 2

Subject: RE: Song/lyric request Bedlam City????
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 05:12 PM

Fantastic! Thankyou..actually I just realised I had it in "English County Songs" all along..but cheers for the speedy response anyway.

Subject: Lyr Add: BEDLAM CITY
From: Peace
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 05:54 PM

Down by the side of Bedlam City
Once I heard a maid complain,
Making her moans and sad lamentations,
"I've lost my joy and my only swain.
Billy's the lad that I do admire
Billy's the lad that I do adore
Now for him his love's a-dying
For fear she'd never see him more."

"Don't you hear the cannons rattle?
Don't you hear the trumpets sound?
Billy is a-dying in the midst of battle,
Dyingof his bleeding wound.
Don't you see my Billy coming?
Don't you see in yonder cloud?
Billy with the angels round him,
Billy in his bloody shroud!"

Subject: RE: Song/lyric request Bedlam City????
From: Peace
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 05:52 PM

http://www.folkinfo.org/songs/png/790.png

Melody and first stanza there.

Subject: RE: Song/lyric request Bedlam City????
From: Peace
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 05:50 PM

The title IS "Bedlam City".

Subject: Song/lyric request Bedlam City????
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 05:44 PM

I'm trying to track down a song I heard a lady sing at sidmouth this year..I think it was called something like Bedlam City

Words to chorus were something like
"Billy is the man that I admire, Billy is the man that I adore..."