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 doneShe cast her eyes aboutAnd there she saw little Matty GrovesWalking in the crowd
"Come home with me, little Matty GrovesCome home with me tonightCome home with me, little Matty GrovesAnd sleep with me 'til light"
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come homeAnd sleep with you tonightBy the rings on your fingersI can tell you are Lord Donald's wife"
"But if I am Lord Donald's wifeLord Donald's not at homeHe is out in the far cornfieldsBringing the yearlings home"
And a servant who was standing byAnd hearing what was saidHe swore Lord Donald he would knowBefore the sun would set
And in his hurry to carry the newsHe bent his breast and ranAnd when he came to the broad mill streamHe took off his shoes and he swam
Little Matty Groves, he lay downAnd took a little sleepWhen he awoke, Lord DonaldWas standing at his feet
Saying, "How do you like my feather bedAnd how do you like my sheetsHow do you like my ladyWho lies in your arms asleep?"
"Oh, well, I like your feather bedAnd well, I like your sheetsBut better I like your lady gayWho lies in my arms asleep"
"Well, get up, get up", Lord Donald cried"Get up as quick as you canIt'll never be said in fair EnglandI slew a naked man"
"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get upI can't get up for my lifeFor you have two long beaten swordsAnd I not a pocket knife"
"Well, it's true I have two beaten swordsAnd they cost me deep in the purseBut you will have the better of themAnd I will have the worse"
"And you will strike the very first blowAnd strike it like a manI will strike the very next blowAnd I'll kill you if I can"
So Matty struck the very first blowAnd he hurt Lord Donald soreLord Donald struck the very next blowAnd Matty struck no more
And then Lord Donald he took his wifeAnd he sat her on his kneeSaying, "Who do you like the best of usMatty Groves or me?"
And then up spoke his own dear wifeNever heard to speak so free"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lipsThan you or your finery"
Lord Donald, he jumped upAnd loudly he did bawl He struck his wife right through the heartAnd pinned her against the wall
"A grave, a grave", Lord Donald cried"To put these lovers inBut bury my lady at the topFor she was of noble kin"
Read more: FAIRPORT CONVENTION - MATTY GROVES LYRICS
And when the meeting it was doneShe cast her eyes aboutAnd there she saw little Matty GrovesWalking in the crowd
"Come home with me, little Matty GrovesCome home with me tonightCome home with me, little Matty GrovesAnd sleep with me 'til light"
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come homeAnd sleep with you tonightBy the rings on your fingersI can tell you are Lord Donald's wife"
"But if I am Lord Donald's wifeLord Donald's not at homeHe is out in the far cornfieldsBringing the yearlings home"
And a servant who was standing byAnd hearing what was saidHe swore Lord Donald he would knowBefore the sun would set
And in his hurry to carry the newsHe bent his breast and ranAnd when he came to the broad mill streamHe took off his shoes and he swam
Little Matty Groves, he lay downAnd took a little sleepWhen he awoke, Lord DonaldWas standing at his feet
Saying, "How do you like my feather bedAnd how do you like my sheetsHow do you like my ladyWho lies in your arms asleep?"
"Oh, well, I like your feather bedAnd well, I like your sheetsBut better I like your lady gayWho lies in my arms asleep"
"Well, get up, get up", Lord Donald cried"Get up as quick as you canIt'll never be said in fair EnglandI slew a naked man"
"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get upI can't get up for my lifeFor you have two long beaten swordsAnd I not a pocket knife"
"Well, it's true I have two beaten swordsAnd they cost me deep in the purseBut you will have the better of themAnd I will have the worse"
"And you will strike the very first blowAnd strike it like a manI will strike the very next blowAnd I'll kill you if I can"
So Matty struck the very first blowAnd he hurt Lord Donald soreLord Donald struck the very next blowAnd Matty struck no more
And then Lord Donald he took his wifeAnd he sat her on his kneeSaying, "Who do you like the best of usMatty Groves or me?"
And then up spoke his own dear wifeNever heard to speak so free"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lipsThan you or your finery"
Lord Donald, he jumped upAnd loudly he did bawl He struck his wife right through the heartAnd pinned her against the wall
"A grave, a grave", Lord Donald cried"To put these lovers inBut bury my lady at the topFor she was of noble kin"
Read more: FAIRPORT CONVENTION - MATTY GROVES LYRICS