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