Matty Groves

T'was on the high, high holy day The very best day in the year Little Matty Groves had gone to church Holy words for to hear Holy words for to hear The first to come down, was dressed in red And the second one dressed in green The third to come down was Lord Daniel's Wife As fair as any queen Just as fair as any queen Then Matty Groves says to one of his men See the fair one dressed in white Although she is Lord Daniel's wife I'll be with her tonight I'll be with her tonight Well the little foot page was a-standin' there And he heared every word that was said He says Lord Daniel shall know tonight Before I go to bed Before I go to bed He had fifteen miles for to go that night And ten of them he run He run till he come to the broke down bridge Then he bent to his breast and he swum He bent to his breast and he swum He swum till he come to where the grass was green Then he took to his feet and he run He run till he come to Lord Daniel's gate He rattled at the bells and they rung Rattled at the bells and they rung What news, what news, What news to me have you brung? Little Matty Groves is in the bed with your wife And their hearts both beat as one Their hearts both beat as one Now if the truth you've told to me A rich man you shall be But if a lie you've told to me I'll hang you to a tree Hang you to a tree He gathered him up about fifty good men He done it with a free good will Then he popped his bugle to his lips Then he blowed it loud and shrill He blowed it loud and shrill I'd better get up, said a little Matty Groves I'd better get up and go I know you husband is a-comin' home For I heared his bugle blow I heared his bugle blow Lay down, Lay down, my precious one Lay down and go to sleep It's only my father's shepard's horn And he's a-callin' for his sheep He's a-callin' for his sheep So they lay down together again And soon were fast asleep But when they awoke it was broad daylight Lord Daniel at their feet Lord Daniel at their feet Get up from there, you naked man And put you on some clothes I never intend for to have it said That a naked man I slew A naked man I slew Oh give me a chance, said a little Matty Groves A chance to fight for my knife For there you have to very fine swords And me not as much as a knife Me not as much as a knife Oh yes I have two very fine swords And they cost me deep in the purse You may have the finest one And I will take the worst Yes I will take the worst Then Matty Groves struck the very first lick And he wounded Lord Daniel's sword Lord Daniel struck the very next lick And he drove Matty Groves to the floor He drove Matty Groves to the floor And then he'd taken his lady by the hand And he set her on his knee And said which do you love the most Little Matty Groves or me Little Matty Groves or me Very well I like your rosy cheeks Very well I like your chin But better I love Little Matty Groves Than you and all of your kin Than you and all of your kin So dig my grave, And dig it wide and deep And bury little Matty Groves in my arms Lord Daniel at my feel Lord Daniel at my feet