Matty Groves (Child No. 81) Songtext
von Joan Baez

Hi-ho, hi-ho holiday, the best day of the year
Little Matty Groves to church did go, some holy words to hear
Some holy words to hear

He spied three ladies dressed in black as they came into view
Lord Arlin′s wife was gaily clad, a flower among the few
A flower among the few

She tirpped up to Matty Groves, her eyes so low cast down
Sayin', "Pray, oh, pray, come with me stay, as you pass through the town"
"As you pass through the town"

"I cannot go, I dare not go, I fear ′twould cost my life
For I see by the little ring you wear, you are Lord Arlin's wife"
"You're the great Lord Arlin′s wife"

"This may be false, this may be true, I can′t deny it all
But Arlin's gone to consecrate King Henry at Whitehall"
"King Henry at Whitehall"

"Oh, pray, oh, pray, come with me stay, I′ll hide thee out of sight
I'll serve you there beyond compare and sleep with you the night"
"And sleep with you the night"


Her little page did listened well to all that they did say
And ere the sun could rise again, he quickly sped away
He quickly sped away

And he did run the King′s highway, he swam across the tide
He ne'er did stop until he came to the great Lord Arlin′s side
To the great Lord Arlin's side

"What news, what news, my bully boy, what news brings you to me?
My castle burned, my tenants robbed, my lady with baby?"
"My lady with baby?"

"No harm has come your house and land", the little page did say
"But Matty Groves is bedded up with your fair lady gay"
"With your fair lady gay"

Lord Arlin called his merry men, he bade them with him go
He bade them nere a word to speak and nere a horn to blow
And nere a horn to blow

But among Lord Arlin's merry men was one who wished no ill
And the bravest lad in all the crew blew his horn so loud and shrill
Blew his horn so loud and shrill

"What′s this, what′s this?", cried Matty Groves
"What's this that I do hear?
It must be Lord Arlin′s merry men, the ones that I do fear"
"The ones that I do fear"


"Lie down, lie down, little Matty Groves, and keep my back from cold
It's only Lord Arlin′s merry men a-calling the sheep to fold"
"A-calling the sheep to fold"

Little Matty Groves, he did lie down, he took a nap of sleep
And when he woke, Lord Arlin was a-standin' at his feet
A-standin′ at his feet

"How now, how now, my bully boy, oh, how do you like my sheets?
And how do you like my fair, young bride, who lies in your arms asleep?"
"Who lies in your arms asleep?"

"Ah, it's very well I like your bed and it's fine I like your sheets
But it′s best I like your fair, young bride, who lies in my arms asleep"
"Who lies in my arms asleep"

"Rise up, rise up, little Matty Groves, as fast as ere you can
In England it shall nere be said, I slew a sleepin′ man"
"I slew a sleepin' man"

And the firstest stroke little Matty struck, he hurt Lord Arlin sore
But the nextest stroke Lord Arlin struck, little Matty struck no more
Little Matty struck no more

"Rise up, rise up, my gay, young bride, draw on your pretty clothes
Now, tell me, do you like me best or like your Matty Groves"
"Or the dying Matty Groves"

She picked up Matty′s dyin' head, she kissed from cheek to chin
Said, "It′s Matty Groves I'd rather have, than Arlin and all his kin"
"Than Arlin and all his kin"

"Oh, woe is me and woe is thee, why stayed you not your hand?
For you have killed the fairest lad in all of England"
"In all of England"