Matty Groves Songtext
von Doc Watson

T′was on the high, high holy day
The very best day in the year
Little Matty Groves had gone to church
Holy words for to hear
Holy words for to hear

The first to come down, was dressed in red
And the second one dressed in green
The third to come down was Lord Daniel's Wife
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


Well the little foot page was a-standin′ there
And he heared every word 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 till 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 till he come to where the grass was green
Then he took to his feet and he run
He run till he come to Lord Daniel′s gate
He rattled at the bells and they rung
Rattled at the bells and they rung

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


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

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

I′d better get up, said a little Matty Groves
I'd better get up and go
I know you husband is a-comin′ home
For I heared his bugle blow
I heared his bugle blow

Lay down, Lay down, my precious one
Lay down and go to sleep
It's only my father's shepard′s horn
And he′s a-callin' for his sheep
He′s a-callin' for his sheep

So they lay down together again
And soon were fast asleep
But 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 slew
A naked man I slew

Oh give me a chance, said a little Matty Groves
A chance to fight for my knife
For there you have to very fine swords
And me not as much as a knife
Me not as much as a knife

Oh yes I have two very fine swords
And they cost me deep in the purse
You may have the finest one
And I will take the worst
Yes I will take the worst

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

And then he'd taken his lady by the hand
And he set her on his knee
And said which do you love the most
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

So dig my grave,
And dig it wide and deep
And bury little Matty Groves in my arms
Lord Daniel at my feel
Lord Daniel at my feet