Fairport Convention - Matty Groves

      
 
 A holiday, A holiday
                          F   
 And the first one of the year
                         C               
 Lord Darnell's wife came into the church
     Dm     C      Dm  
 The gospel for to hear
 
 Dm                              
 And when the meeting it was done
                     F  
 She cast her eyes about
                          C           
 And there she saw little Matty Groves
 Dm      C      Dm   
 Walking in the crowd
 
 Dm                                     
 "Come home with me, little Matty Groves
                      F   
 Come home with me tonight
                           C           
 Come home with me, little Matty Groves
     Dm         C       Dm    
 And sleep with me 'til light"
 
 Dm                                       
 "Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home
                      F    
 And sleep with you tonight
                              C         
 By the rings on your fingers I can tell
     Dm       C        Dm    
 You are Lord Darnell's wife"
 
 Dm                              
 "But if I am Lord Darnell's wife
                      F    
 Lord Darnell's not at home
                  C             
 He is out in the far cornfields
 Dm           C         Dm   
 Bringing the yearlings home"
 
 Dm                               
 And a servant who was standing by
                      F   
 And hearing what was said
                      C             
 He swore Lord Darnell he would know
   Dm       C         Dm 
 Before the sun would set
 
 Dm                                
 And in his hurry to carry the news
                        F  
 He bent his breast and ran
                         C                
 And when he came to the broad mill stream
     Dm          C         Dm  
 He took off his shoes and swam
 
 Dm                              
 Little Matty Groves, he lay down
                   F    
 And took a little sleep
                    C      
 When he awoke Lord Darnell
     Dm       C      Dm  
 Was standing at his feet
 
 Dm                                    
 Saying "How do you like my feather bed
                        F     
 And how do you like my sheets
                    C   
 How do you like my lady
     Dm           C    Dm      
 Who lies in your arms asleep?"
 
 Dm                               
 "Oh well, I like your feather bed
                       F     
 And well, I like your sheets
                        C       
 But better I like your lady gay
     Dm         C     Dm    
 Who lies in my arms asleep"
 
 Dm                                        
 "Well, get up, get up", Lord Darnell cried
                          F 
 "Get up as quick as you can
                        C           
 It'll never be said in fair England
     Dm   C     Dm  
 I slew a naked man"
 
 Dm                                
 "Oh I can't get up, I won't get up
                       F   
 I can't get up for my life
                       C            
 For you have two long beaten swords
     Dm      C      Dm    
 And I not a pocket knife"
 
 Dm                                      
 "Well it's true I have two beaten swords
                          F    
 They cost me deep in the purse
                       C             
 But you will have the better of them
     Dm     C        Dm    
 And I will have the worse"
 
 Dm                                      
 "And you will strike the very first blow
                      F  
 And strike it like a man
                     C           
 I will strike the very next blow
          Dm        C   Dm  
 And I'll kill you if I can"
 
 Dm                                 
 So Matty struck the very first blow
                          F   
 And he hurt Lord Darnell sore
                          C            
 Lord Darnell struck the very next blow
     Dm     C        Dm  
 And Matty struck no more
 
 Dm                                    
 And then Lord Darnell he took his wife
                          F 
 And he sat her on his knee
                          C         
 Saying, "Who do like the best of us
 Dm     C        Dm  
 Matty Groves or me?"
 
 Dm                                 
 And then up spoke his own dear wife
                          F  
 Never heard to speak so free
                              C           
 "I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips
     Dm            C    Dm 
 Than you and your finery"
 
 Dm                       
 Lord Darnell he jumped up
                   F   
 And loudly he did bawl
                         C                
 He stuck his wife right through the heart
     Dm            C        Dm  
 And pinned her against the wall
 
 Dm                                    
 "A grave, a grave", Lord Darnell cried
                      F 
 "To put these lovers in
                  C         
 But bury my lady at the top
     Dm         C     Dm  
 For she was of noble kin"