Matty Groves

Matty Groves (Traditional)
Hi ho, hi ho, holiday, the best day of the year
Little Matty Groves at 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 Arlen's wife was gaily clad, a flower among the few
A flower among the few
She tripped 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 it'll cost my life
For I see by the little ring you wear you are Lord Arlen's wife
You're the great Lord Arlen's wife.
This may be false, this may be true, I can't deny it all
But Arlen'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 tonight
And sleep with you tonight
Her little page did listen well to all that they did say
And e'er 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 Arlen's side
To the great Lord Arlen's side
What news, what news my bully boy? What news brings you to me?
My castle burnt, my tenants robbed, my lady with baby?
My lady with baby?
No harm has come to 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 Arlen called his merry men, he bade them with him go
he bade them nary a word to speak and nary a horn to blow
And nary a horn to blow
But among Lord Arlen'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 Arlen'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 Arlen's merry men a-callin the sheep to fold
A-callin' the sheep to fold
Little Matty Groves he did lie down, he took a nap asleep
And when he awoke Lord Arlen 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?
It's very well 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 e'er ye can
In England it shall ne'er be said I slew a sleepin' man
I slew a sleepin' man
And the first to stroke little Matty struck, he hurt Lord Arlen sore
But the next to stroke Lord Arlen 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 dying head, she kissed from cheek to chin
Said, it's Matty Groves I'd rather have than Arlen and all his kin
Than Arlen and all his kin
Oh woe is me and woe is thee, why staid ye not your hand
For you have killed the fairest lad in all of England
In all of England