Matty groves lyrics

Artist  : Sandy denny 
Song : Matty groves
 
A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the
year.
Lord darnell’s wife came into 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 till 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 darnell’s wife.’’

``what if I am lord darnell’s wife? lord
darnell’s not at home.
For 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 darnell 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 swam.

Little matty groves, he lay down and took a
little sleep.
When he awoke, lord darnell he 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 darnell cried,
``get up as quick as you can!
It’ll never be said in fair england that 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 darnell sore.
Lord darnell struck the very next blow, and matty
struck no more.

And then lord darnell 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 and your finery.’’

Lord darnell 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 darnell cried, ``to
put these lovers in.
But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble
kin.’’