Matt Hyland
DESCRIPTION: A lord's daughter loves Matt. "But when her parents came to know, They swore they'd drive him from this island." The girl bids Matt flee before he is transported. Eventually her father relents, and she bids him come home to marry herAUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1825 (broadside, Bodleian 2806 c.18(344))
KEYWORDS: nobility love separation exile transportation servant
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South)) Ireland US(NE) Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Morton-Ulster 1, "Matt Hyland" (1 text, 1 tune)
Beck-Maine, pp.95-97, "Mathireland" (1 text, 1 tune, a composite with the first two verses and the tune from Maine, the rest from Newfoundland)
DT, MATTHYL
Roud #2880
RECORDINGS:
Din Dobbin, "Matt Ireland" (on MUNFLA/Leach)
John James, "Matt Ireland" (on MUNFLA/Leach)
Liz Jefferies, "Matt Highland" (on Voice06)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, 2806 c.18(344), "Young Mat Hyland," W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824; also 2806 b.9(235), 2806 c.15(139), "Mat Hyland"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Young M'Tyre" (plot)
cf. "Erin's Lovely Home" [Laws M6] (plot)
cf. "Henry Connors" [Laws M5] (plot)
cf. "Richie Story" [Child 232] (plot)
cf. "The Kitchie-Boy" [Child 252] (plot)
NOTES [186 words]: This song has been claimed by Irish and Scottish sources, and I've also heard it sung by English singers. Interestingly, all the versions are very close, suggesting there is some single, recent source. This theory is supported by the ornate language, so atypical of traditional song. But no one seems to know what the source is.
There are several broadsides, at least one dated c. 1825 (though such datings are notoriously unreliable), entitled "Mat Hyland" or "Young Mat Hyland." None match the traditional text commonly sung; they are without exception wordier and poorer poetry. Still, they provide a strong indication that the song originated as a broadside -- though these prints (e.g. in the Bodleian collection) are probably not the original source, as no tune seems to be indicated!
In addition, a manuscript volume called "Songs and Ballads in use in the Province of Ulster...1845" is said by Hugh Shields to contain a version of the song, but I do not know if the dating of the volume is considered reliable. Still, there seems no doubt that the song was in existence by the early nineteenth century. - RBW
Last updated in version 4.2
File: DTmatthy
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There are two versions in the Digital Tradition.
MATT HYLAND (DT Version 1)
There lived a lord within this land
Who had a fair and lovely daughter
She was courted by a nice young man
Who was a servant to her father
But when her parents came to know
They swore they'd drive him from the island
But this maid she knew that her heart would break
If she should part from young Matt Hyland
Straightway into his room she goes
Into his room him to awaken
Saying, "Arise and go, my own true love
This very night you will be taken
For I have heard my father say
In spite of me he will transport you
So arise and go, my own true love
I wish to God I'd gone before you"
"Ah, must I go," the young man said
"Ah, must I go without my wages
With ne'er a penny in my purse
Just like some poor forlorn stranger?"
"Here's fifty guineas in bright gold
And that's far more than father owes you
So arise and go, my own true love
I wish to God I'd gone before you"
They both sat down upon the bed
Just side by side for one half hour
And ne'er a word did either say
Yet down their cheeks the tears did shower
She's laid her head all on his breast
Round his waist her arms entwined
"No lord or duke or earl I'll wed
I'll wait for you my Young Matt Hyland"
The lord discussed with his daughter dear
One night alone in her bedchamber
Saying, "I'll give you leave to bring him back
Since there are none you style above him"
She wrote a letter then in haste
Still for him her heart entwined
She's brought him back, to the church they went
She's made a lord of young Matt Hyland
@courtship
sung by Jean Redpath, Frank Harte
filename[ MATTHYL
TUNE FILE: MATTHYL
CLICK TO PLAY
SOF
This first version is an near-exact transription of the Jean Redpath recording on her Folk-Legacy album, Frae My Ain Countrie.
Here's a recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-CJDP1q-Hs (may not play outside US.)
MATT HYLAND 2 (DT)
There was a lord lived in the North
who had a very lovely daughter
She was courted by a handsome man
who was a servant to her father
But when her parents came to know
they swore they'd ban him from the island
The maid she knew her heart would break
had she to part with youg Mat Hyland
So straightaway to her love she went
and then into her room to wake him
Saying rise my love and go away
this very night you will be taken
I overheard my parents say
in spite of me they would transport you
So rise my love and go away
I wish to God I'd gone before you
They both sat down upon the bed
all for the sight of one another
And not one word did either speak
till down her cheeks the tears did shower
She lay her head upon his breast
around his neck her arms entwined then
Not a duke nor lord nor earl I'll wed.
I'll wait for you my own Mat Hyland
How can I go away my love?
How can I leave without my wages?
Without one penny of my own
just like some low and lonesome vagrant
Here's 20 guineas in bright gold.
That's far much more than father owes you.
So take it love and go away.
You know right well I do adore you
'Tis then these lovers severed were,
That he might elude transportation;
Since he was gone, perhaps fore'er,
Her sad heart knew no consolation;
As days passed by, she then began
To roam the groves alone and slighted;
And, in her grief, she cried aloud,
"Send back, send back my own Matt Hyland."
The lord conversed with his daughter fair
one night above in her bed chamber
I'll give you leave to bring him back
since there's no one can win your favour
She wrote a letter then in haste
for him her heart was still repining
They brought him back, to the church they went
and made a lord of young Mat Hyland
from a lovely singer from Loughrae, Co. Galway, Ireland named Tony Callanan. Fi
fth verse from Frank Harte.
filename[ MATTHYL2
TUNE FILE: MATTHYL
CLICK TO PLAY
PG