Matty Groves
Fairport Convention Lyrics
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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"
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"
"Matty Groves" is a traditional English folk ballad that tells the story of an adulterous affair between Lord Donald's wife and Matty Groves that results in a violent conclusion. The lyrics are narrated in third person, with a neutral observance of events. The ballad begins with the introduction of Lord Donald's wife attending the church, where she meets Matty Groves, and invites him to spend the night with her while her husband is away. Matty Groves, however, declines her advances, summoning the reason for her refusal, that she is the wife of his master. However, Lord Donald has been hiding beneath the feathers on the bed and overhears their affair. Enraged, he commands that they fight, and the result of the fight is that Matty Groves is killed. His wife openly declares her love for Matty Groves, and Lord Donald slays her in his anger.
The themes that are comprised of pride, honor, and violence are brought to life in the ballad. It demonstrates the consequences that arise from a breach of loyalty and honor. Lord Donald, who avenged his dishonor at the cost of his life, cannot accept his wife's betrayal and murders her. Despite his devastation, he prefers that she be buried in the company of Matty Groves, revealing his understanding that she loved Matty Groves more than him.
Line by Line Meaning
A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the year
It was a special day, the first holiday of the year.
Lord Donald's wife came into the church, the gospel for to hear
Lord Donald's wife came to the church to hear the Gospel preached.
And when the meeting it was done, she cast her eyes about
After the meeting was over, she looked around.
And there she saw little Matty Groves, walking in the crowd
She saw a young man named Matty Groves walking amongst the people.
"Come home with me, little Matty Groves, come home with me tonight
"Come home with me tonight, Matty Groves."
Come home with me, little Matty Groves, and sleep with me till light"
"Spend the night with me and leave when it's light."
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonight
"I cannot come home or sleep with you tonight."
By the rings on your fingers I can tell you are my master's wife"
Because of the rings on your fingers, I know you're married to my master.
"But if I am Lord Donald's wife, Lord Donald's not at home
"Even though I am married to Lord Donald, he is not at home."
He is out in the far cornfields bringing the yearlings home"
He is busy bringing the yearlings home from the far cornfields.
And a servant who was standing by and hearing what was said
A servant who overheard their conversation was standing nearby.
He swore Lord Donald he would know before the sun would set
The servant promised to inform Lord Donald before sunset.
And in his hurry to carry the news, he bent his breast and ran
He ran as fast as he could to deliver the news.
And when he came to the broad millstream, he took off his shoes and he swam
He even swam across the broad millstream to deliver the news quickly.
Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep
Matty Groves lay down and took a nap.
When he awoke, Lord Donald was standing at his feet
When he woke up, Lord Donald was standing beside him.
Saying "How do you like my feather bed and how do you like my sheets
"Do you like my feather bed and my sheets?"
How do you like my lady who lies in your arms asleep?"
"How do you like my wife who is sleeping in your arms?"
"Oh, well I like your feather bed and well I like your sheets
"I like your feather bed and sheets very much."
But better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep"
"But I like your wife even more, who is sleeping in my arms."
"Well, get up, get up," Lord Donald cried, "get up as quick as you can
"Get up as fast as you can."
It'll never be said in fair England that I slew a naked man"
Lord Donald did not want to be accused of killing an unarmed man.
"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life
"I cannot get up or will not get up because I do not want to die."
For you have two long beaten swords and I not a pocket knife"
Matty Groves was unarmed, and Lord Donald had two swords.
"Well, it's true I have two beaten swords and they cost me deep in the purse
"It's true I have two swords that I spent a lot of money on."
But you will have the better of them and I will have the worse
You will have the better sword, and I will have the worse one.
And you will strike the very first blow and strike it like a man
Matty Groves was allowed to strike the first blow like a man.
I will strike the very next blow and I'll kill you if I can"
Lord Donald would deal the second blow and would try to kill him.
So Matty struck the very first blow and he hurt Lord Donald sore
Matty landed the first blow and injured Lord Donald.
Lord Donald struck the very next blow and Matty struck no more
Lord Donald struck back, and Matty was unable to defend himself.
And then Lord Donald took his wife and he sat her on his knee
Lord Donald took his wife, and they sat together.
Saying "Who do you like the best of us, Matty Groves or me?"
"Who do you love more, Matty Groves or me?"
And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free
Lord Donald's wife spoke her mind freely.
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips than you or your finery"
"I would rather kiss dead Matty's lips than be with you and your fancy clothes."
Lord Donald he jumped up and loudly he did bawl
Lord Donald got up and shouted loudly.
He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall
Lord Donald killed his wife and pinned her against the wall.
"A grave, a grave," Lord Donald cried, "to put these lovers in
"Bury these lovers in a grave."
But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin"
"But bury my wife on top, for she came from a noble family."
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Mute Song Limited
Written by: TRADITIONAL, ASHLEY HUTCHINGS, EMILY SLADE, ROGER WILSON, SIMON CARE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Wuei108
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 'til 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 Lord Donald'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 mill stream
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
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 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 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"
@illmindofme2062
Lyrics
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 'til 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 Lord Donald's wife"
"What 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 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
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 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 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”
@wornpick1
The loss of Sandy Denny is still felt deeply throughout the country by those who appreciate this finest of revivalist traditional bands. RIP.
@barbararenton8009
I can only imagine all of the great songs she would've written if she hadn't left us so soon...
@warriorofgod8054
shut up
@ilhanbasharan8887
One of the best British folk songs of all time. A masterpiece.
@warriorofgod8054
shut up
@carolginsberg8392
Yes
@lindsayheywood7195
It's been my favorite for the last 50+ years..
@19jimbob52
My youngest son, 4, 5 or 6 yrs. old at the time (1990), sang this version to his 81 year old great-grandmother. I didn't know he had been listening so closely to me singing it. She asked him if he knew any songs and he said," I know Matty Groves", and she asked him to sing it. He remembered every word and note, singing a cappella, without any help from me. I was totally shocked. And proud.
@JB-rl4ik
😍
@warriorofgod8054
shut up