Matty Groves

Album: Liege & Lief (1613)
Play Video
  • A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the year
    Lord Donald's wife came into the 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 my master's wife"
    "But if I am Lord Donald's wife, Lord Donald's not at home
    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 Donald 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 millstream, he took off his shoes and he swam

    Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep
    When he awoke, Lord Donald 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 Donald 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 Donald sore
    Lord Donald struck the very next blow and Matty struck no more
    And then Lord Donald 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 or your finery"

    Lord Donald 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 Donald cried, "to put these lovers in
    But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin" Writer/s: ASHLEY HUTCHINGS, EMILY SLADE, ROGER WILSON, SIMON CARE, TRADITIONAL
    Publisher: Downtown Music Publishing, Mute Song Limited, Round Hill, Royalty Network
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Anonymous from Trumbull CtOne of the most gritty songs.
  • Tony from San DiegoAbsolutely amazing song and WHAT a blazing solo by Richard Thompson !
see more comments

Editor's Picks

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")Songwriter Interviews

Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."