Fairport Convention - Matty Groves Lyrics
A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the yearLord Donald's wife came into the church, the gospel for to hearAnd when the meeting it was done, she cast her eyes aboutAnd there she saw little Matty Groves, walking in the crowd"Come home with me, little Matty Groves, come home with me tonightCome home with me, little Matty Groves, and sleep with me till light""Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonightBy the rings on your fingers I can tell you are my master's wife""But if I am Lord Donald's wife, Lord Donald's not at homeHe is out in the far cornfields bringing the yearlings home"And a servant who was standing by and hearing what was saidHe swore Lord Donald he would know before the sun would setAnd in his hurry to carry the news, he bent his breast and ranAnd when he came to the broad millstream, he took off his shoes and he swamLittle Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleepWhen he awoke, Lord Donald was standing at his feetSaying "How do you like my feather bed and how do you like my sheetsHow do you like my lady who lies in your arms asleep?""Oh, well I like your feather bed and well I like your sheetsBut better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep""Well, get up, get up," Lord Donald cried, "get up as quick as you canIt'll never be said in fair England that I slew a ***** man""Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my lifeFor you have two long beaten swords and I not a pocket knife""Well it's true I have two beaten swords and they cost me deep in the purseBut you will have the better of them and I will have the worseAnd you will strike the very first blow and strike it like a manI will strike the very next blow and I'll kill you if I can"So Matty struck the very first blow and he hurt Lord Donald soreLord Donald struck the very next blow and Matty struck no moreAnd then Lord Donald took his wife and he sat her on his kneeSaying "Who do you like the best of us, Matty Groves or me?"And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips than you or your finery"Lord Donald he jumped up and loudly he did bawlHe struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall"A grave, a grave," Lord Donald cried, "to put these lovers inBut bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin
