Matty Groves

29 Jul 97 - 12:37 PM (#9779)
Subject: Matty Groves
From: [e-mail]

Does anyone have the chords/lyrics to Matty Groves as per Fairport Convention? I sure would appreciate them.

Thank you

Kevin Kelly

[e-mail]

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29 Jul 97 - 06:18 PM (#9792)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Susan of DT

We have Mattie Groves and a parody, Fatty Groves, both of which mention the Fairport convention. It plays the tune as well.

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29 Jul 97 - 06:44 PM (#9799)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: LaMarca

The Fairport Convention version is to a tune very similar to the American Old-time standard, "Shady Grove"; the DT has their tune in the file "Mattie Groves" (not Matty), but a different tune under "Fatty Groves". You can probably get a set of usable chords by looking up Shady Grove in a tune book.

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30 Jul 97 - 09:00 AM (#9845)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Kevin Kelly

"Mattie". Of course. I feel so dumb. Thank you for all your assistance.

Kevin

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30 Jul 97 - 09:28 AM (#9847)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Andy Geliher

DT - FYI: "Fatty Groves"
Just for the record, this song, from the the Kipper Family, is in fact entitled Big Musgrave and the tune, is a significant variant of Fairport's.
The Kipper Family songs usually "parody" both the words and music of their "targets", and cannot always be sung to the original tunes, though in this case the original metre remains unchanged.

AndyG

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31 Jul 97 - 12:59 AM (#9908)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Alan of Australia

Set the filter to 90 days and search for "Irish Mattie Groves"

Cheers,

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31 Jul 97 - 01:39 AM (#9910)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Alan of Oz

I should have said try this: Irish Mattie Groves

Cheers,
Alan

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31 Jul 97 - 04:17 AM (#9920)
Subject: Lyr Add: MUSGRAVE (from Planxty)
From: steve ([e-mail])

MUSGRAVE as sung by Planxty

It came upon a holy day as many's in the year
Musgrave to the church did go to see fine ladies there
And some were dressed in velvet red and some in velvet pale
And then in came Lord Bernard's wife, the fairest among them all

She cast her eye on the little Musgrave as bright as the summer sun
Said Musgrave unto himself, this lady's heart I've won

I have loved you fair lady, full on and many's the day
And I have loved you little Musgrave, and never a word did say

I've a bower in Bucklesfordbury, it's my heart's delight
I'll take you there, my little Musgrave, if you lie in me arms tonight

But standing by was the little footpage, from the lady's coach he ran
Though I am a lady's page, I am Lord Bernard's Man

And me Lord Bernard will hear of this, oh weather he sink or swim
Everywhere the bridge was broke, he'd enter the water and swim

Me Lord Bernard, me Lord Bernard, you are a man of life
But Musgrave, he's in Bucklesfordbury, a-sleepin' with your wedded wife

If this be true, me little footpage, this thing that you tell me
All the gold in Bucklesfordbury, I gladly will give to thee
But if this be a lie, me little footpage, this thing that you tell me
From the highest tree in Bucklesfordbury, hanged you will be!

Go saddle me the black! he says, go saddle me the gray!
And sound you not your horns he says, lest our coming you betray
But there was a man in Lord Bernard's train who loved the little Musgrave
He blew his horn both loud and shrill, away Musgrave, away!

(Instrumental--Irish pipes, vaguely horn-like)

I think I hear the hawk, he says, I think I hear the jay
I think I hear Lord Bernard's men, I wish I was away
Lie still, lie still, me little Musgrave, hug me from the cold
It's nothing, but a shepherd lad, a-bringin' his flock to fold

Is not your hawk upon his perch? your steed his oats and hay?
And you, a lady in your arms and yet you would away
He's turned her around and he's kissed her twice and then he's fast asleep
When he awoke Lord Bernard's men were standin' at his feet

How do like me bed he says, and how do you like me sheets?
How do you like me fair lady, that lies in your arms asleep?

It's well I like your bed he says and great it gives me pain
I'd gladly give a hundred pounds to be on yonder plain

Rise up, rise up, me little Musgrave, rise up and then put on
It'll not be said in this country, I slayed a naked man
So slowly, slowly, he got up, slowly he put on
Slowly down the stairs, thinkin' to be slain

There are two swords down by my side and dear they cost me purse!
You make take the best of them and I will take the worst!
And the first stroke, little Musgrave struck it hurt Lord Bernard sore
And the next stroke, Lord Bernard struck, little Musgrave ne'er struck more

(Short instrumental -- flute or ?)

Then up and spoke Lord Bernard's wife from the bed whereon she lay
Though you're dead, my little Musgrave, still for you I'll pray

How do you like his cheeks, he cried, and how do you like his chin?
How do you like his dead body, now there's no life within?

It's more I like his cheeks she cried, and more I want his chin
More I love his dead body than all your kith and kin!

He's takin' out his long, long sword to strike the mortal blow
Through and through the lady's heart, the cold steel it did go

A grave! a grave! Lord Bernard cried, to put these lovers in
With me lady in the upper hand, she came from better kin
For I've just killed the finest knight that ever rode a steed
And I've just killed the finest lady that ever did a woman's deed

(Some sort of instrumental)

It came upon a holy day as many's in the year
Musgrave to the church did go, to see fine ladies there.

(Then Planxty tops themselves with an INCREDIBLE little three-minute flute? in a sad/happy mode similar to...

Faure's Pavanne pour un enfant defa...??)

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31 Jul 97 - 05:21 AM (#9925)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Andy Geliher

Alan,
I think we might be at cross-purposes here. I was writing about the parody and it's title (fao DT) as there might be a copyright issue to consider.

AndyG

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04 Aug 97 - 08:58 AM (#10028)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Sam Hudson

Slightly off-topic, but Fairport will undoubtedly be playing Matty Groves at Cropredy this weekend - anyone else going? See you in the Brasenose Thurs pm/Fri am! Regards

Sam

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05 Aug 97 - 04:19 PM (#10121)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Abi Kirk

The lyrics and chords to the Fairport Convention version of "Mattie Groves" appear in the Fairport Convention Songbook, published by Woodworm Music, P.O.Box 37, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 8YN, England. Also includes many other Fairport favourites. Yes, I and my family will be at Cropredy this weekend - can't wait! Abi

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13 Aug 97 - 09:20 AM (#10323)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Andy May

In fact we got Matty Groves twice - once done in the 'original version' by Vicki Clayton on Friday night (well - original with the exception of missing the Donald-Matty fight scene verse - :)

Then the more usual 'heavy rock' version on Saturday.

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13 Aug 97 - 09:26 AM (#10326)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Sam Hudson

And, of course, the enthusiastic if inept rendition during the session in the Brasenose on Thursday afternoon... ...I am ashamed to admit to being among the culprits...

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13 Aug 97 - 09:31 AM (#10327)
Subject: RE: Matty Groves
From: Andy May

Hmm - wish I'd looked here before last weekend. I spent much of Thursday afternoon sitting around _outside_ the Brasenose :(

I must admit however, Thursday evening I spent down at the clubhouse next to the cricket pitch. Slightly tinny music, but much nicer beer.

A.

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