Matty Groves

(album: Fugitives - 2013)

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
He 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 bring
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
And when they awoke it was broad daylight
Lord Daniel at their feet
Lord Daniel at their feet

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

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