Matty Groves

A holiday, a holiday

And the first one of the year

Lord Donald's wife came into the church

The Gospel for to hear

And when the meeting it was done

She cast her eyes about

And there she saw little Matty Groves

Walking in the crowd

"Come home with me, little Matty Groves

Come home with me tonight

Come home with me, little Matty Groves

And sleep with me 'til light"

"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home

And sleep with you tonight

By the rings on your fingers

I can tell you are Lord Donald's wife"

"But if I am Lord Donald's wife

Lord Donald's not at home

He is out in the far cornfields

Bringing the yearlings home"

And a servant who was standing by

And hearing what was said

He swore Lord Donald he would know

Before the sun would set

And in his hurry to carry the news

He bent his breast and ran

And when he came to the broad mill stream

He took off his shoes and he swam

Little Matty Groves, he lay down

And took a little sleep

When he awoke, Lord Donald

Was standing at his feet

Saying, "How do you like my feather bed

And how do you like my sheets

How do you like my lady

Who lies in your arms asleep?"

"Oh, well, I like your feather bed

And well, I like your sheets

But 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 can

It'll never be said in fair England

I slew a naked man"

"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up

I can't get up for my life

For 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 purse

But you will have the better of them

And I will have the worse"

"And you will strike the very first blow

And strike it like a man

I 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 sore

Lord Donald struck the very next blow

And Matty struck no more

And then Lord Donald he took his wife

And he sat her on his knee

Saying, "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 bawl

He struck his wife right through the heart

And pinned her against the wall

"A grave, a grave", Lord Donald cried

"To put these lovers in

But bury my lady at the top

For she was of noble kin"