Matty Groves - Doc Watson

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 standing by

And heard every word that was said

He says «Lord Daniel shall know tonight

Before I go to bed

Before I go to bed.»

He had 15 miles for to go that night

And 10 of them he run

He run til he come to the broke down bridge

Then he bent to his breast and swum

He bent to his breast and 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 they rung

He rattled at the bells and they rung

«What news?

What news?»

Lord Daniel says

«What news to me have you brung?»

«Little Matty Groves is in the bed with your wife

And their hearts both beat as one

And 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

I’ll hang you to a tree.»

He gathered him up about 50 good men

He done it with a free good will

Then he popped his bugle unto his lips

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 a coming home

For I heard his bugle blow

I heard 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 they 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.»

«Oh give me a chance,» said little Matty Groves

«A chance to fight for my life

For there you have two very fine swords

And me not as much as a knife

And 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 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

Dig it wide and deep

And put little Matty Groves in my arms

Lord Daniel at my feet

Lord Daniel at my feet.»