Ewan MacColl - Matty Groves Lyrics

Lyrics Matty Groves - Ewan MacColl



It was on the high holiday
Very first day of year
Matty Groves to the church did go, God's holy word to hear
God's holy word to hear.
First come rond was a lady in red
Then, the lady in pearl
Last come down Lord Berner's wife
The fairest among them all,
The fairest among them all.
She set her eyes on Matty Groves
"Matty Groves" ask she
"How much will you take, Little Matty Groves,
To spend this night with me?"
To spend this night with me.
"To spend this night with you" said he
"Would cause no end up war"
"For I know you be Lord Berner's wife
By the gold ring that you wear."
By the gold ring that you wear.
"So, what if I be Lord Berner's wife?
Lord Berner is not at home
He gone down to London town
To fetch young Henry Throne."
To fetch young Henry Throne.
A little footpage was standing by
He took to his heal and run
He run till he come to the waterside
Then bend his breast and swam
Then bend his breast and swam.
"What news do you bring, my little footpage?"
"Is my castle burning down?"
"Or if my lady brought to bed of a daughter or a son?"
Of a daughter or a son.
"You castle is not burning down"
"You have no daughter nor son"
"Little Matty Groves is in bed with your wife"
"They lie as they was one"
They lie as they was one.
They went in bed bout an hour or more
Nor yet fell fast asleep
When up the steps, Lord Berner himself
Stood at their bedfeet
And stood at their bedfeet.
"How do you like my blanket, sire?"
"How do you like my sheet?"
"How do you like my gay young wife?
That lie in your arms asleep"
That lie in your arms asleep.
"Right, well do I like your blanket, sire"
"Right, well do I like your sheet"
"Better do I like your gay yong wife,
That lie in my arms asleep"
That lie in my arms asleep.
"Arise and dress, Little Matty Groves
As fast as ever you can
It'll never be said in the morning sun
That I killed a naked man"
That I killed a naked man.
"By my side ant two broadswords
They cost so deep in purse"
"And you shall have the better one
And I shall have the worse"
And I shall have the worse.
Little Matty had the very first blow
He struck and hit the floor
Lord Berner had the second blow
And Matty struck no more
And Matty struck no more
He took his lady by the hand
And sat her on his knee
"Come tell to me, which you love best
Little Matty Groves or me?"
Little Matty Groves or me?
"Right, well do I like your cheek" said she
"Right, well do I like your chin"
"Better, do I like Little Matty Groves
Then you and all your kin"
Then you and all your kin.
He took his lady by the hand
And led her through the hall
He took her to the upper-most room
And slew her before them all
And slew her before them all
"Go bury these lovers in one grave
Bury them soft-within"
"But lay my lady on the top
For she of the the noble kin"
For she of the the noble kin.




Ewan MacColl - The Folk Collection, Vol. 2
Album The Folk Collection, Vol. 2
date of release
23-12-2013

1 Derek Bentley
2 The Black velvet Band
3 Jamie Raeburn's Farewell
4 Minorie
5 Hughie the Graeme
6 Johnny O'Breadiesley
7 The Treadmill Song
8 Turpin Hero
9 The Crafty Farmer
10 McKaffery
11 Jimmie Wilson
12 The Lag's Song
13 Van Diemen's Land
14 Go Down Ye Murderers
15 The Barnyards of Delgaty
16 The Highland Muster Roll
17 The Wee, Wee German Lairdee
18 Friendless Mary
19 Bonnie Lass of Fyvie
20 Roy's Wife
21 Charlie O Charlie
22 Tail Toddle
23 Lassie Wi' the Yellow Coatie
24 Kissin' No Sin
25 Bonnie Annie
26 Johnnie Cope
27 The Wars of Germany
28 Maggie Lauder
29 Nicky Tams
30 Johnny Lad
31 Eppie Morrie
32 Reel of Stumpie
33 Ye Jacobite by Name
34 Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation
35 Will Ye Go to Sheriffmuir
36 Wae's Me for Prince Charlie
37 Charlie He's My Darling
38 The Haughs of Cromdale
39 Bonnie Moorhen
40 Johnnie Cope (Version 2)
41 Came Ye o'er Frae France
42 There's Three Brave, Loyal Fellows
43 This Is No' My Ain House
44 Piper o'dundee
45 Donald MacGillavry
46 Will Ye No Come Back Again
47 The Wee, Wee German Lairdee (Version 2)
48 Waly, Waly
49 Richie Story
50 The Crafty Farmer (Version 2)
51 Barring Of The Door
52 Jenny Nettles
53 Old Lady All Skin and Bones
54 Tullochgorum
55 The Two Brothers
56 Just as Time Was Flowing
57 Jackaro
58 Carrion Crow
59 Matty Groves
60 Bartley Explosion
61 The Devil's Nine Questions
62 Room for Company
63 Pity's Lamentation
64 There's Nothing To Be Had Without Money
65 Midwife's Ghost
66 A Merry Progress To London
67 London's Lottery
68 London Mourning in Ashes
69 King Lear and His Three Daughters
70 The Female Frolic
71 Give Me My Yellow Hose
72 A King and No King
73 Constance of Cleveland




Attention! Feel free to leave feedback.