Matty Groves


It's a holiday, it's a high holiday,
the first one of the year
Lord Donald's wife came into the town,
the gospel for to hear

When the gospel, it was done,
she cast her eyes about
And there she saw little Matty Groves,
standing in the crowd.

"Come home with me, little Matty Groves,
come home with me tonight
Come home with me, little Matty Groves,
sleep with me tonight"

"Oh, I can't go home,
I won't go home for me life
By the rings on your fingers
I can tell you are Lord Donald's wife"

"'Tis true, I am Lord Donald's wife,
He is not at home
He is off in the far cornfields
bringing the yearlings home"

And a servant who was standing by
overhearing what was said
He swore Lord Donald he would know
before the sun was sat

And in his haste to carry the news,
he beat on his breast and ran
And when he came to the broad millstream,
he took off his shoes and he swam

Little Matty Groves, he lay down
to take a little sleep
When he awoke, Lord Donald
was standing at his feet

And saying "How do you like my feather bed
how do you like my sheets
And how do you like my lady love
who lies in your arms asleep?"

"Well, it's fine, I like your feather bed
it's fine I like your sheets
But better I like your lady love
who lies in my arms asleep"

"Oh! Get up, get up!" Lord Donald cried,
"get up as quick as you can
For it'll never be said in this fair land
I slew a naked man"

"I won't get up, I can't get up
I won't get up for me life
For you have got two great big swords
I have but a pocket knife"

"Well it's true I have two great big swords
and they cost me deep in purse
And you shall have the better of them
and I shall have the worse

And you will strike the very first blow,
Strike it like a man,
I will strike the very next blow
and I'll kill you if I can."

He struck the very first blow
and he struck Lord Donald sore
Lord Donald, he struck the very next blow
then Matty struck no more

And the brave Lord Donald, he took his wife
and set her upon his knee
Saying "Who do you love the better of us,
Little Matty Groves or me?"

And then up spoke Lord Donald's wife,
never known to speak so free
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips
than you or your finery"

Well, up jumped Lord Donald
and loudly he did roar
He stabbed his wife right through the heart
and then he pinned her to the door

"A grave, a grave," Lord Donald cried,
"to put these lovers in
And place my lady at the top
for she was of noble kin"


Disclaimer: These lyrics are not mine. It is a folk song. This particular version was sung by the McKrells.