Matty Groves

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”