Matty Groves - Fairport Convention.mp3

[00:18.96]A holiday, a holiday
[00:21.18]And the first one of the year
[00:24.18]Lord Donald's wife came into the church
[00:27.06]The Gospel for to hear
[00:29.43]And when the meeting it was done
[00:31.98]She cast her eyes about
[00:34.64]And there she saw little Matty Groves
[00:37.63]Walking in the crowd
[00:40.20]"Come home with me, little Matty Groves
[00:42.77]Come home with me tonight
[00:45.39]Come home with me, little Matty Groves
[00:48.13]And sleep with me 'til light"
[00:50.62]"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home
[00:53.45]And sleep with you tonight
[00:56.00]By the rings on your fingers
[00:58.54]I can tell you are Lord Donald's wife"
[01:01.40]"But if I am Lord Donald's wife
[01:03.99]Lord Donald's not at home
[01:06.52]He is out in the far cornfields
[01:09.66]Bringing the yearlings home"
[01:22.70]And a servant who was standing by
[01:25.57]And hearing what was said
[01:28.10]He swore Lord Donald he would know
[01:30.90]Before the sun would set
[01:33.47]And in his hurry to carry the news
[01:36.13]He bent his breast and ran
[01:38.87]And when he came to the broad mill stream
[01:41.68]He took off his shoes and he swam
[01:55.56]Little Matty Groves, he lay down
[01:57.59]And took a little sleep
[02:00.10]When he awoke, Lord Donald
[02:02.77]Was standing at his feet
[02:05.20]Saying, "How do you like my feather bed
[02:07.86]And how do you like my sheets
[02:10.48]How do you like my lady
[02:13.15]Who lies in your arms asleep?"
[02:15.77]"Oh, well, I like your feather bed
[02:18.30]And well, I like your sheets
[02:21.00]But better I like your lady gay
[02:23.67]Who lies in my arms asleep"
[02:26.06]"Well, get up, get up", Lord Donald cried “
[02:29.17]"Get up as quick as you can
[02:31.35]It'll never be said in fair England
[02:34.23]I slew a naked man"
[02:36.78]"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up
[02:39.65]I can't get up for my life
[02:42.19]For you have two long beaten swords
[02:44.91]And I not a pocket knife"
[02:47.23]"Well, it's true I have two beaten swords
[02:50.07]And they cost me deep in the purse
[02:52.88]But you will have the better of them
[02:55.50]And I will have the worse"
[02:57.86]"And you will strike the very first blow
[03:00.78]And strike it like a man
[03:03.57]I will strike the very next blow
[03:05.97]And I'll kill you if I can"
[03:19.35]So Matty struck the very first blow
[03:21.97]And he hurt Lord Donald sore
[03:24.48]Lord Donald struck the very next blow
[03:27.22]And Matty struck no more
[03:29.70]And then Lord Donald he took his wife
[03:32.40]And he sat her on his knee
[03:34.57]Saying, "Who do you like the best of us
[03:37.71]Matty Groves or me?"
[03:40.36]And then up spoke his own dear wife
[03:42.92]Never heard to speak so free
[03:45.17]"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips
[03:48.13]Than you or your finery"
[04:01.97]Lord Donald, he jumped up
[04:03.63]And loudly he did bawl
[04:06.46]He struck his wife right through the heart
[04:08.95]And pinned her against the wall
[04:11.54]"A grave, a grave", Lord Donald cried “
[04:14.30]"To put these lovers in
[04:16.84]But bury my lady at the top
[04:19.44]For she was of noble kin"
[04:24.05]