DESCRIPTION:
Band: Fairport Convention
Song: Matty Groves
Album: Liege & Lief [1969]
From: England

Wicked folk tune from Fairport Convention. Their very best imo.
You want a band or song uploaded just ask eh.

A holiday, a holiday
And the first one of the year.
Lord Darnell'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 litte Matty Groves
and sleep with me 'til light."

"Oh I can't come home, I won't come,
And sleep with you tonight.
By the rings on your fingers I can tell
You are lord Darnell's wife."

"What if I am lord Darnell's wife?
Lord Darnell's not at home.
For he is out in the far corn fields
Bringing the yearlings home."

And the servant, who was standing by
And hearing what was said
He swore lord Darnell 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 broadmill stream
Took off his shoes and swam.

Little Matty Groves he lay down
And took a little sleep.
When he awoke Lord Darnell
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
That 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 Darnell cried
"Get up as quick as you can.
It'll never be said in fair England
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've 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 Darnell sore.
Lord Darnell struck the very next blow
And Matty struck no more.

And then Lord Darnell, he 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 Darnell 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 Darnell cried.
"To put these lovers in.
But bury my lady at the top,
For she was of noble kin."