Matty Groves

Traditional song of love and mayhem.
Dm
A holiday, A holiday
F
And the first one of the year
C
Lord Darnell's wife came into the church
Dm C Dm
The gospel for to hear
Dm
And when the meeting it was done
F
She cast her eyes about
C
And there she saw little Matty Groves
Dm C Dm
Walking in the crowd
Dm
"Come home with me, little Matty Groves
F
Come home with me tonight
C
Come home with me, little Matty Groves
Dm C Dm
And sleep with me 'til light"
Dm
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home
F
And sleep with you tonight
C
By the rings on your fingers I can tell
Dm C Dm
You are Lord Darnell's wife"
Dm
"But if I am Lord Darnell's wife
F
Lord Darnell's not at home
C
He is out in the far cornfields
Dm C Dm
Bringing the yearlings home"
Dm
And a servant who was standing by
F
And hearing what was said
C
He swore Lord Darnell he would know
Dm C Dm
Before the sun would set
Dm
And in his hurry to carry the news
F
He bent his breast and ran
C
And when he came to the broad mill stream
Dm C Dm
He took off his shoes and swam
Dm
Little Matty Groves, he lay down
F
And took a little sleep
C
When he awoke Lord Darnell
Dm C Dm
Was standing at his feet
Dm
Saying "How do you like my feather bed
F
And how do you like my sheets
C
How do you like my lady
Dm C Dm
Who lies in your arms asleep?"
Dm
"Oh well, I like your feather bed
F
And well, I like your sheets
C
But better I like your lady gay
Dm C Dm
Who lies in my arms asleep"
Dm
"Well, get up, get up", Lord Darnell cried
F
"Get up as quick as you can
C
It'll never be said in fair England
Dm C Dm
I slew a naked man"
Dm
"Oh I can't get up, I won't get up
F
I can't get up for my life
C
For you have two long beaten swords
Dm C Dm
And I not a pocket knife"
Dm
"Well it's true I have two beaten swords
F
They cost me deep in the purse
C
But you will have the better of them
Dm C Dm
And I will have the worse"
Dm
"And you will strike the very first blow
F
And strike it like a man
C
I will strike the very next blow
Dm C Dm
And I'll kill you if I can"
Dm
So Matty struck the very first blow
F
And he hurt Lord Darnell sore
C
Lord Darnell struck the very next blow
Dm C Dm
And Matty struck no more
Dm
And then Lord Darnell he took his wife
F
And he sat her on his knee
C
Saying, "Who do like the best of us
Dm C Dm
Matty Groves or me?"
Dm
And then up spoke his own dear wife
F
Never heard to speak so free
C
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips
Dm C Dm
Than you and your finery"
Dm
Lord Darnell he jumped up
F
And loudly he did bawl
C
He stuck his wife right through the heart
Dm C Dm
And pinned her against the wall
Dm
"A grave, a grave", Lord Darnell cried
F
"To put these lovers in
C
But bury my lady at the top
Dm C Dm
For she was of noble kin"

[@vickystanley8853]

I love this rollicking old song..especially when played with traditional instruments as y'all have done. Fantastic rendition! Thanks so much!

[@nikolaosmosxakis3395]

very well..............................................................................

[@bucktownamericana]

Thank you so much 😀

[@CelticMandolinsGinnyAitchison]

What a nice group you have there. All sound lovely.

[@dianaswan7655]

Beautiful.Thank you❤

[@peteryeates2458]

As a Englishman and a Fairport convention nut this rendition is so good n beautiful, well done kind regards across the Atlantic

[@michaelromkey5097]

Why, thanks, mate!

[@xenocrates2559]

I really enjoyed the way the four of you work together. Very enjoyable version of this ballad.

[@vickystanley8853]

Still love it!