Minneapolis-based folk rockers Boiled in Lead may have started as a Celtic … Read Full Bio ↴Minneapolis-based folk rockers Boiled in Lead may have started as a Celtic punk band back in the 80s, but as the years went by, they incorporated aspects of folk music from just about every part of the world, including the Balkans and the Middle East, all done up in their hard-rocking style (both acoustic and electric).

The band has always sought to play a variety of music, both songs and instrumentals and with a large variety of guest musicians and sometimes some unusual instruments.

The current lineup features percussionist Marc Anderson, Todd Menton on vocals, guitar, mandolin and whistle, Dean Magraw on guitar, Drew Miller bassist and dulcimer player and David Stenshoel on fiddle and saxophone.

Boiled in Lead has been referenced by Mercedes Lackey in her Diane Tregarde novel, Children of the Night published in 1990 and by Emma Bull in her 1989 novel, War for the Oaks.

Madman Mora Blues
Boiled in Lead Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Steven went to Mora
When he had the madman blues
They put him in St. Peter's
And they took away his shoes
They took away his shoes
And they took away his belt
They thought they knew
All about how a madman felt

They said he'd done the bottle
But he must have done the keg
'Cause he tore down a door
And he broke a policeman's leg
They put him into chains
And they marched him in the yard
They had three men pulling
And three men pushing hard
They put him in the cell
And he tore the place apart

But the madman blues went and
Broke that poor boy's heart

Overall Meaning

At its core, "Madman Mora Blues" by Boiled in Lead is a narrative about a man named Steven who has succumbed to madness and is institutionalized in St. Peter's. The lyrics paint a picture of the harsh realities of being mentally unwell in a time when understanding and compassion were in short supply. Steven's torment is accentuated by the dehumanizing treatment he receives at the hands of the very institution meant to help him.

The song opens with Steven in Mora with the "madman blues." The title suggests that this is a common affliction, and it sets the stage for the listener to understand that Steven's plight is not unique. The lyrics then describe how Steven is stripped of his shoes and belt, which can be seen as metaphorical for the way the institution is stripping him of his agency and identity. The authorities believe they understand his condition, and as such, they feel justified in taking drastic measures like locking him up and chaining him.

The song's climax comes when Steven is thrown into his cell, and he destroys the place in a fit of rage. This scene is powerful because it demonstrates that his madness is not entirely without reason. Despite his inability to control his behavior, there is a logical progression to his actions, and there is pain and anger driving him.

Overall, "Madman Mora Blues" is a powerful and haunting song about a person struggling with their mental health and the dehumanizing treatment they receive at the hands of society.

Line by Line Meaning

Steven went to Mora
Steven traveled to Mora

When he had the madman blues
When he was afflicted with mental illness

They put him in St. Peter's
They admitted him to St. Peter's Hospital

And they took away his shoes
They removed his footwear as a precaution

They took away his shoes
They removed his footwear as a precaution

And they took away his belt
They removed his belt to prevent self-harm

They thought they knew
They believed they understood

All about how a madman felt
What it felt like to be mentally ill

They said he'd done the bottle
They believed he drank excessively

But he must have done the keg
He must have consumed a large amount of alcohol

'Cause he tore down a door
He was destructive and violent