so, back when i was idealistic and thought, oh hey, i can really be anything i want to be (as opposed to my much more sensible goal now of becoming a published author), i planned on being an archaeologist who specialized in roman and medieval britain.

no, i’m not joking.

alas, the job field for that particular speciality is minute at best, so my fancy-schmancy undergrad degree languishes in bits of useless trivia in my head, but i still have an affinity for medieval things (and, by extension, tudor). this is what drew me initially to charlene kaye and the brilliant eyes’ cover of mad tom of bedlam.

here’s what charlene has to say about mad tom of bedlam:[it’s a] “Traditional folk song written circa 1600 and also interpreted by Jolie Holland on her 2008 album “Escondida.” I loved the song so much I wanted to make my own version of it – so it’s a cover of a cover, essentially.”

okay, seriously. how can anyone resist that? THEY CAN’T, THAT’S WHAT. kaye seriously brings the groove with her version, making the phrase bonney boys seem way, way sultrier than it ought to. plus! handclaps! that’s like an instant 10 point bonus in my book.

get ready to want to dance, peeps:

to see mad tom of bedlam,
ten thousand miles i’ve traveled
mad maudlin goes on dirty toes
to save her shoes from gravel

it’s well that we sing bonney boys
bonney mad boys
bedlam boys are bonney
for they all go bare, and they live in the air
and they want no drink nor money

(mp3) mad tom of bedlam by charlene kaye and the brilliant eyes

check out the awesome video:

head over to charlene’s bandcamp site to buy the EP mad tom of bedlam is off of.