Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

A Mad World My Masters

Alexander Brome

“A Mad World My Masters” as printed in Rump Songs (1662).

Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics Text 5 1662 · historical text
Public domainPolitical songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Rump Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

We have a King and yet no King,

For he hath lost his Power,

For ’gainst his Will his Subjects are

Imprison’d in the Tower.

Verse 2

We had some Laws (but now no Laws)

By which he held his Crown,

And we had Estates and Liberties

But now they’re voted down.

Verse 3

We had Religion; but of late

That’s beaten down with Clubs,

Whilst that Prophanesse Authoriz’d

Is belched forth in Tubs.

Verse 4

We were free Subjects born, but now

We are by force made Slaves,

By some whom we did count our Friends,

But in the end prov’d Knaves.

Verse 5

And now to such a grievous height

Are our Misfortunes grown,

That our Estates are took away

By tricks before ne’re known.

Verse 6

For there are Agents sent abroad

Most humbly for to crave

Our Almes: but if they are deny’d,

And of us nothing have.

Verse 7

Then by a Vote ex tempore

We are to Prison sent,

Mark’d with the Name of Enemy

Of King and Parliament.

Verse 8

And during our Imprisonment,

Their lawless Bulls do thunder

A Licence to their Souldiers

Our Houses for to plunder.

Verse 9

And if their Hounds do chance to smell

A man whose Fortunes are

Of some Account, whose Purse is full,

Which now is somewhat rare.

Verse 10

A Monster now Delinquent term’d,

He is declar’d to be,

And that his Lands as well as Goods

Sequestred ought to be.

Verse 11

And as if our Prisons were too good,

He is to Yarmouth sent

By vertue ot a Warrant from

The King and Parliament.

Verse 12

Thus is our Royal Soveraigns name

And eke his Power infus’d,

And by the vertue of the same

He and all His abus’d.

Verse 13

For by this Means his Castles now

Are in the power of those

Who treacherously with Might and Maine

Do strive him to depose.

Verse 14

Arise therefore brave British men,

Fight for your King and State,

Against those Trayterous men that strive

This Realm to Ruinate.

Verse 15

’Tis Pym, ’tis Pym, and his Colleagues,

That did our woe engender,

Nought but their Lives can end our Woes,

And us in safety render.

Credits

Written by Alexander Brome

Words by Alexander Brome. Historical text published in Rump Songs (1662); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Rump Songs (1662), “A Mad World My Masters”

This 1662 collection (Rump: or an Exact Collection of the Choycest Poems and Songs Relating to the Late Times, 1639-1661) is credited to Alexander Brome (died 1666); every contributor died more than 330 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide, and the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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