Moriarty is a Franco-american music group founded in 1995. It is made up o… Read Full Bio ↴Moriarty is a Franco-american music group founded in 1995. It is made up of 5 artists of French, American, Swiss, and Vietnamese origins. The members of the group were mainly raised in France. The group named itself Moriarty in honor of Dean Moriarty, the hero of On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Previously, the groupe had three other members: the singer Charlène Dupuy, the drummer Médéric de Vanssay, and the saxophonist Davide Woods. Rosemary Standley, Arthur B. Gillette, Thomas Puéchavy, Charles Carmignac, and Stephan Zimmerli are the current group members. The group covers standards, sings the blues, and creates rock compositions.

After a concert in 2005, the group was spotted by Jérôme Deschamps and Macha Makeïeff, who would later co-produced their first album with Naïve Records. At the same time, they won the Prix Paris Jeunes Talents.

The group was noticed during a concert at the Printemps de Bourges in 2006 and 2007. Jimmy, the first single from their first album Gee Whiz But This is A Lonesome Town (2007), was a success which allowed Moriarty to play at La Cigale. The album sold more than 50,000 copies in a few months and was certified gold a year after its release. The group went on a long tour that took them to Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, and England.
In 2008, Moriarty performed at the Soliday festival, Eurockéennes de Belfort, Francofolies de La Rochelle, and Fête de l'Humanité.

The group takes its inspiration from traditional Celtic music, country, and blues.
The group plays around one microphone during their concerts.
En 2008, Moriarty was one of 10 artists nominated for the Constantin prize.

https://moriartyland.net/

Matty Groves
Moriarty Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Was on the high high holy day
The best day of the year
Little Matty Groves went to church
A gospel for to hear
A gospel for to hear

And first to come down was dressed in green
And the second one dressed in red

The third to come down was Lord Daniel's wife
Just as fair as any queen
Just as fair as any queen

Then Matty Groves says to one of his men
See the fair one dressed in white
Although she is Lord Daniel's wife
I'll be with her tonight
I'll be with her tonight

And little foot page he was standing by
And heard all that was said
He says Lord Daniel shall know tonight
Before I go to bed
Before I go to bed

He had fifteen miles for to go that night
And ten of them he run
He run 'til he come to the broke down bridge
Then he bent to his breast and he swum
He bent to his breast and he swum

He swum 'til he come to where the grass was green
Then took to his feet and he run
He run 'til he come to Lord Daniel's Gate
Then he rattled at the bells and he rung

He rattled at the bells and he rung

What news, what news, what news
What news have you brung
Little Matty Groves is in your bed with your wife
And their hearts both beat as one
Their hearts both beat as one

Now if the truth you've told me
A rich man you shall be
But if a lie you've told to me
I'll hang you to a tree
I'll hang you to a tree

Then he gathered him up about fifty good men
And he done it with a free good will
Then he popped his bugle to his mouth
And he blowed it loud and shrill
He blowed it loud and shrill

I'd better get up said little Matty Groves
I'd better get up and go
I know your husband is coming home
I hear his bugle blow
I hear his bugle blow

Lay down, lay down my precious one
Lay down and go to sleep
It's only my father's shepherd's horn
And he's a calling for his sheep
He's a calling for his sheep

So they laid down together again
And soon were fast asleep
When they awoke it was broad daylight
Lord Daniel at their feet
Lord Daniel at their feet

Get up from there you naked man
And put you on some clothes
I never intend for to have it said
That a naked man I slaught
That a naked man I slaught

Then Matty Groves struck the very first lick
And he wounded Lord Daniel sore
Lord Daniel struck the very next lick
And he drove Matty Groves to the floor
He drove Matty Groves to the floor

Then he taken his lady by the hand
And he sat her on his knee
And he says now which do you love the best
Little Matty Groves or me
Little Matty Groves or me

Very well I like your rosy cheeks
Very well I like your chin
But better I love little Matty Groves
Than you and all of your kin
Than you and all of your kin

You can dig my grave on a pretty green hill
And dig it wide and deep
And put little Matty Groves in my arms
Lord Daniel at my feet
Lord Daniel at my feet

You can dig my grave on a pretty green hill
And dig it wide and deep
And put little Matty Groves in my arms
Lord Daniel at my feet
Lord Daniel at my feet

Overall Meaning

"Matty Groves" is a traditional British ballad that tells the story of a tragic love triangle that results in a violent confrontation. The song opens with Matty Groves attending church on a high holy day to listen to a gospel. While there, he notices Lord Daniel's wife, an incredibly beautiful woman dressed in white, and declares his intention to be with her that night. Unfortunately, a little foot page overhears this and informs Lord Daniel, who then gathers fifty men to confront the lovers.

Matty Groves and the lady try to deny their relationship, but Lord Daniel is not convinced. He challenges Matty Groves to a fight, and the two men engage in a battle that leaves both wounded. When Lord Daniel asks his wife which man she loves more, she chooses Matty Groves, which angers him further. He orders his men to dig a grave and place Matty Groves in his arms and Lord Daniel at his feet, symbolizing the death of their relationship.

The song touches on themes of love, betrayal, and violence, and is notable for its vivid storytelling and dramatic imagery. The use of specific colors to describe each character, as well as the imagery of digging graves, creates a memorable and powerful narrative that has endured for centuries.

Line by Line Meaning

Was on the high high holy day The best day of the year Little Matty Groves went to church A gospel for to hear A gospel for to hear
It was a special day and people went to church to listen to the sermon, including Matty Groves.

And first to come down was dressed in green And the second one dressed in red The third to come down was Lord Daniel's wife Just as fair as any queen Just as fair as any queen
The first two people who entered the church were dressed in green and red, but the third one was Lord Daniel's wife, who was incredibly beautiful.

Then Matty Groves says to one of his men See the fair one dressed in white Although she is Lord Daniel's wife I'll be with her tonight I'll be with her tonight
Matty Groves tells one of his men that he wants to be with Lord Daniel's wife, even though she's married to someone else.

And little foot page he was standing by And heard all that was said He says Lord Daniel shall know tonight Before I go to bed Before I go to bed
A young page overheard Matty Groves and threatened to tell Lord Daniel about the affair before he went to bed.

He had fifteen miles for to go that night And ten of them he run He run 'til he come to the broke down bridge Then he bent to his breast and he swum He bent to his breast and he swum
Matty Groves had to travel 15 miles to get to Lord Daniel's house, so he ran for 10 miles and swam across a broken bridge to get there.

He swum 'til he come to where the grass was green Then took to his feet and he run He run 'til he come to Lord Daniel's Gate Then he rattled at the bells and he rung He rattled at the bells and he rung
After swimming, Matty Groves ran to Lord Daniel's gate, where he rang the bell to be let in.

What news, what news, what news What news have you brung Little Matty Groves is in your bed with your wife And their hearts both beat as one Their hearts both beat as one
Lord Daniel asked Matty Groves what he wanted, and he replied that he was in bed with Lord Daniel's wife and they were in love.

Now if the truth you've told me A rich man you shall be But if a lie you've told to me I'll hang you to a tree I'll hang you to a tree
Lord Daniel promised to reward Matty Groves handsomely if he was telling the truth, but to punish him severely if he was lying.

Then he gathered him up about fifty good men And he done it with a free good will Then he popped his bugle to his mouth And he blowed it loud and shrill He blowed it loud and shrill
Lord Daniel gathered a group of fifty men and blew his trumpet loud to summon them.

I'd better get up said little Matty Groves I'd better get up and go I know your husband is coming home I hear his bugle blow I hear his bugle blow
Matty Groves realized that Lord Daniel was coming home, so he wanted to leave before he was caught.

Lay down, lay down my precious one Lay down and go to sleep It's only my father's shepherd's horn And he's a calling for his sheep He's a calling for his sheep
Lord Daniel tried to reassure his wife and told her to go back to sleep, saying that the horn she heard was just his father calling his sheep.

So they laid down together again And soon were fast asleep When they awoke it was broad daylight Lord Daniel at their feet Lord Daniel at their feet
Matty Groves and Lord Daniel's wife fell asleep together, but were woken up by Lord Daniel in the morning.

Get up from there you naked man And put you on some clothes I never intend for to have it said That a naked man I slaught That a naked man I slaught
Lord Daniel told Matty Groves to get up and put on some clothes, because he didn't want to be accused of killing a naked man.

Then Matty Groves struck the very first lick And he wounded Lord Daniel sore Lord Daniel struck the very next lick And he drove Matty Groves to the floor He drove Matty Groves to the floor
Matty Groves and Lord Daniel fought, with Matty Groves injuring Lord Daniel but then being beaten to the ground.

Then he taken his lady by the hand And he sat her on his knee And he says now which do you love the best Little Matty Groves or me Little Matty Groves or me
Lord Daniel made his wife choose between him and Matty Groves, asking which one she loved more.

Very well I like your rosy cheeks Very well I like your chin But better I love little Matty Groves Than you and all of your kin Than you and all of your kin
Lord Daniel's wife chose Matty Groves over her husband, saying that she loved him more than anyone else.

You can dig my grave on a pretty green hill And dig it wide and deep And put little Matty Groves in my arms Lord Daniel at my feet Lord Daniel at my feet
Matty Groves, who was killed by Lord Daniel, asked to be buried with Lord Daniel's body so that they could be together even in death.

Lyrics © Public Domain
Written by: Public Domain

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS