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Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves (Fairport/DT)

19 Oct 00 - 02:23 PM (#322657)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAST LAY OF MATTY GROVES
From: Catrin

I have found a version of Matty Groves that I have never come across before - on this website

The website gives no source or references. Does anyone know whether or not it is an authentic version, in the sense that this is not just a version that the website owner wrote himelf?

All help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Catrin.

Here are the lyrics...

THE LAST LAY OF MATTY GROVES

A holiday, a holiday and the first one of the year,
Lord Darnell's wife had gone to church, the gospel for to hear.
When the service it was done and all walked out of doors,
Her wicked eyes did rove about and on a hostler's lad did pause!

"Come home with me young Matty Groves, she whispered in his ear,
Come home with me and sleep with me till morning's light is here -
I'll pay you well, little Matty Groves, to keep my back from the cold,
And to give me something warm inside, if I may make so bold."

Matty Groves was an honest man and he wanted to refuse
If he did as the lady bid, his master's trust he would abuse;
"Oh, I can't come home, I daren't come home and sleep with you tonight
By the rings on your fingers I can tell you are Lord Darnell's wife"

"So what that I'm your master's wife, you master's not at home,
My husband's out in the farthest fields and this night I'm alone."

Lady Darnell's maid she heard this talk for she was standing near,
Kitty Hopkins swore on her mother's grave the master himself would hear,
She gathered her skirts up to her knees and across the glebe she ran,
When she reached the broad millstream, she tore off her skirt and she swam.

Lord Darnell was in the far country, but yearlings were far from his mind,
He'd found himself a peasant lass and was taking her from behind;
So when his Lady's maid appeared Lord Darnell was not well pleased,
He'd only just got settled in and got his polestaff greased.

Kitty said as she reached Lord Darnell's side "Come home and look to your wife,
For she has taken some common hostler's lad into her bed tonight!"
Her master swore that he'd reward Kitty Hopkins handsomely,
He unlaced her bodice and stroked her thigh as he sat her on his knee.

Lord Darnell took to his fastest horse and galloped hard for home,
When into his chamber at last he strode, his wife was not alone!
The pair had coupled and kissed all night and then they fell to sleep,
And when they woke at break of day, Lord Darnell stood at thier feet.

"Tell me how do you like my fine feather-bed and how do you like my sheets?
And how do you like my lady-wife who lies in your arms asleep?"

"Very well do I like your feather bed, very well do I like your sheets,
Best of all I do like your fair lady who lies in my arms asleep"

"Get up, get up," Lord Darnell cried, "Get up and fight for your life,
For I'll not slay an unarmed man, though he lies in the arms of my wife;
So get you up little Matty Groves and all of your clothes put on,
For it shall never be said in Old England that I slew a naked man."

"I can't get up" said Matty Groves "I've been getting it up all night,
A full eight hours I've been getting it up at the bidding of your wife!
Nay I can't get up and I'll not get up, for I hear the tone of your words,
And I have only a pocket knife against your two fine swords"

"Truly I have two fine swords and they cost me deep in my purse,
You shall take the better of them and I shall take the worse
And you shall have the very first blow and strike it like a man,
Then I will strike the very next blow and I'll kill you if I can!"

Matty he struck the very first blow and pierced Lord Darnell's side
Lord Darnell struck the very next blow, and young Matty Groves, he died.
Lord Darnell lifted up his wife and he sat her on his knee,
"Now tell me who you liked the best, that hostler's lad or me"

Sat on his knee, his lady spoke, her manners not so mild,
"Do you think your own withered stick would ever get me with child?"
Lord Darnell was shocked right to his heart when he heard her speak so free:
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips than you or your finery."

In anguish her husband pushed her aside and took of his swords the best,
Before his wife could speak again, he sheathed it in her chest.
Lord Darnell he went red in the face and loudly he did bawl,
He'd struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall.

"As you shared my own feather bed, so you'll share a pauper's grave,
But you'll be buried at the top, for you were a noble lady."
Then he called for his lady's maid, he called her to his side
"Your mistress sought the single thing her husband couldn't provide,

Had I not known about Matty Groves, she have might have borne a son
And knowing not his parentage, I'd have raised him as my own,
But Kitty Hopkins you were keen upon my cock to ride,
And called me home to end the tryst, thus childless I shall die."

"A grave, a grave," Lord Darnell sighed, "to put these lovers in
But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin."

19 Oct 00 - 05:00 PM (#322816)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Noreen

Catrin, it strikes me as a recent construction, based on Fairport's version. Several reasons, including the following- I have read that Lord Darnell appeared first in that version, 'Lord Arnold' having been misheard, and phrases such as 'I've been getting it up all night' sound contemporary, and added for a laugh.

You could e-mail the person responsible for the site, and ask for more details?

I meant to ask you, do you know about 'Little Musgrave'? See this thread for more info.

Noreen

19 Oct 00 - 05:09 PM (#322828)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Bernard

See also the ballad of Lady Barnard and Little Musgrave (Child 81) which was probably the original...

19 Oct 00 - 05:24 PM (#322839)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Catrin

Thanks Noreen, I've printed off that thread. It never occurred to me to contact the person responsible for the site but I think you're right, it does smack of 'modern'. It made me laugh though.

Bernard, thanks - I must look that up in the child ballad website.

Cheers,

Catrin

19 Oct 00 - 06:57 PM (#322896)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Clinton Hammond2

Anybody got a tune for this thing? I sorta asumed that it would go to Fairport Conventions tune, but in a lot of places the scan is really chunky and sloppy...

I do like the tale though... pretty neat...

{~`

19 Oct 00 - 08:49 PM (#322976)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Malcolm Douglas

It's obviously a recent invention, but it's an intelligent one, and well worth posting here.  It is important, though, that people are specific about where they get these things from; otherwise, in a month or two, we'll be fielding questions from innocents who are convinced that this is the original medieval Irish Celtic Pre-Christian Pagan etc. source of heaven-knows-what...

Malcolm

20 Oct 00 - 12:07 AM (#323148)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: celticblues5

Catrin -
The Little Musgrave version in the link given above is very close to the Christy Moore version. If you can, find a recording of him doing it - exquisite! It is in his songbook.

20 Oct 00 - 01:12 PM (#323377)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Fiolar

You will find the Christy Moore recording of "Little Musgrave" on the Planxty album "The Woman I Loved So Well." Several artists have recorded versions of Little Musgrave/Matty Groves including Joan Baez and Old Blind Dogs as well as Fairport. Good luck. M

20 Oct 00 - 02:13 PM (#323447)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Catrin

I have just e-mailed the website chappie asking where he got it from. When (if) he responds, I'll post his response here.

Cheers,

Catrin

20 Oct 00 - 02:28 PM (#323455)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Bernard

The version of Child 81 that I have is on Rosemary Hardman's first album, Queen of Hearts... recorded on December 29th, 1968 at the Bate Hall Hotel, Macclesfield.

She wasn't writing much at the time - there are only two of her own songs on this album - Child of Merseyside and Ontario Bound. Very memorable songs...??

20 Oct 00 - 03:45 PM (#323510)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Catrin

I have just had a response from the website owner 'Llwetrah'. Here it is (copied and pasted)....

> I found your version of Matty Groves from your website >(The Last Lay of Matty Groves). Would you mind telling >me who wrote it, or where it came from?

I wrote it. You're welcome to use it - that's why I write the things! Any acknowledgement (if you do so) when it's performed should simply be to 'Llewtrah'. In the realms of bawdy verse I don't use my own name.

Thanks,

Llewtrah

22 Oct 00 - 07:56 AM (#324397)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Catrin

Refresh

29 Oct 06 - 09:53 AM (#1871329)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: GUEST,BeaJay

Matty Groves

A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the year.
Lord Darnell's wife came into church, the gospel for to hear.

And when the meeting it was done, she cast her eyes about,
And there she saw little Matty Groves, walking in the crowd.

"Come home with me, little Matty Groves, come home with me tonight.
Come home with me, little Matty Groves, and sleep with me till light."

"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonight,
By the rings on your fingers I can tell you are Lord Darnell's wife."

"What if I am Lord Darnell's wife? Lord Darnell's not at home.
For he is out in the far cornfields, bringing the yearlings home."

And a servant who was standing by and hearing what was said,
He swore Lord Darnell he would know before the sun would set.

And in his hurry to carry the news, he bent his breast and ran,
And when he came to the broad mill stream, he took off his shoes and swam.

Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep.
When he awoke, Lord Darnell he was standing at his feet.

Saying "How do you like my feather bed? And how do you like my sheets?
How do you like my lady who lies in your arms asleep?"

"Oh, well I like your feather bed, and well I like your sheets.
But better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep."

"Well, get up, get up," Lord Darnell cried, "get up as quick as you can!
It'll never be said in fair England that I slew a naked man."

"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life.
For you have two long beaten swords and I not a pocket-knife."

"Well it's true I have two beaten swords, and they cost me deep in the purse.
But you will have the better of them and I will have the worse."

"And you will strike the very first blow, and strike it like a man.
I will strike the very next blow, and I'll kill you if I can."

So Matty struck the very first blow, and he hurt Lord Darnell sore.
Lord Darnell struck the very next blow, and Matty struck no more.

And then Lord Darnell he took his wife and he sat her on his knee,
Saying, "Who do you like the best of us, Matty Groves or me?"

And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free.
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips than you and your finery."

Lord Darnell he jumped up and loudly he did bawl,
He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall.

"A grave, a grave!'' Lord Darnell cried, "to put these lovers in.
But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin."

30 Oct 06 - 08:57 PM (#1872637)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Jim Dixon

Where did you get that version, BeaJay?

30 Oct 06 - 09:13 PM (#1872647)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: & info req. Matty Groves
From: Malcolm Douglas

It's the modernised Fairport Convention recording, as posted in many other threads already (see links above). It's also in the DT, but the transcription there is poor and full of mis-hearings.

07 Oct 21 - 08:52 PM (#4122222)
Subject: DT Correction. Matty Groves (Fairport/DT)
From: Joe Offer

Here are the Digital Tradition Lyrics for Matty Groves, alongside my transcription of the Fairport Convention version.

MATTIE GROVES (DT)

A holiday, a holiday, the first one of the year
Lord Arlen's wife came into church the gospel for to hear.

And when the meeting it was done she cast her eyes about
And there she saw little Mattie Groves, walking in the park.

Come home with me little Mattie Groves, come home with me tonight
Come home with me little Mattie Groves and sleep with me tonight.

Oh I can't come home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonight
By the rings on your fingers I can tell you are Lord Arlen's wife.

'Tis true I am Lord Arlen's wife, Lord Arlen's not at home
He is out to the far corn fields, bringing the yearlings home.

And the sundt who was standing by and hearing what was said
He saw Lord Arlen, he would know, before the sun would set.

And in his hurry to carry the news, he filled his breast and ran
And when he came to the broad mill stream he took off his shoes and swam

Little Mattie Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep
When he awoke Lord Arlen, was standing at his feet

Saying how do you like my feather bed and how do you like my sheets
And how do you like my lady, who lies in your arms asleep.

Oh well I like your feather bed and well I like your sheets
But better I like your lady maid who lies in my arms asleep.

Well Get Up! Get Up! Lord Arlen cried, Get Up as quick as you can
It'll never be said in fair England I slew a naked man!

Oh I won't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life
For you have two long beaten swords and I have but a pocket knife.

Well it's true I have two beaten swords, they cost me deep in the purse
But you will have the better of them and I will have the worst.

And you will strike the very first blow and strike it like a man
I will strike the very next blow and I'll kill you if I can.

So Mattie struck the very first blow and he hurt Lord Arlen sore
Lord Arlen struck the very next blow and Mattie struck no more.

And then Lord Arlen he took his wife, he sat her on his knee
Saying who do you like the best of us, Mattie Groves or me.

And then spoke up his own dear wife never heard to speak so free
I'd rather kiss one dead Mattie's lips than you and your finery.

Lord Arlen he jumped up and loudly he did bawl
He stuck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall.

A grave, a grave, Lord Arlen cried, to put these lovers in
But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin.		 MATTY GROVES (from Fairport recording)

A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the year,
Lord Darnell's wife came into church, the gospel for to hear.

And when the meeting it was done, she cast her eyes about,
And there she saw little Matty Groves, walking in the crowd.

"Come home with me little Matty Groves, come home with me tonight,
Come home with me little Matty Groves and sleep with me till light."

"Oh I can't come home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonight,
By the rings on your fingers I can tell you are Lord Darnell's wife."

"What if I am Lord Darnell's wife, Lord Darnell's not at home.
But he is out in the far corn fields, bringing the yearlings home."

And the servant who was standing by and hearing what was said,
He swore Lord Darnell he would know before the sun would set.

And in his hurry to carry the news, he bent his breast and ran,
And when he came to the broad mill stream, he took off his shoes and swam.

Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep.
When he awoke, Lord Darnell was standing at his feet

Saying, "How do you like my feather bed? And how do you like my sheets?
How do you like my lady who lies in your arms asleep?"

"Oh, well I like your feather bed, and well I like your sheets.
But better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep."

"Well, get up, get up," Lord Darnell cried, "Get up as quick as you can!
It'll never be said in fair England I slew a naked man."

"Oh I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life.
For you have two long beaten swords and I not a pocket knife."

"Well it's true I have two beaten swords, and they cost me deep in the purse.
But you will have the better of them and I will have the worse."

"And you will strike the very first blow, and strike it like a man.
I will strike the very next blow and I'll kill you if I can."

So Matty struck the very first blow, and he hurt Lord Darnell sore.
Lord Darnell struck the very next blow, and Matty struck no more.

And then Lord Darnell he took his wife, he sat her on his knee,
Saying, "Who do you like the best of us, Matty Groves or me?"

And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free.
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips than you and your finery."

Lord Darnell he jumped up and loudly he did bawl,
He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall.

"A grave, a grave," Lord Darnell cried, to put these lovers in.
But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin."



Child #81
@marriage @love @murder @adultery
recorded by Fairport Convention, John JJ. Niles and hundreds of others
filename[ MATTIEGR
TUNE FILE: MATTIEGR
CLICK TO PLAY
DC

1969 Fairport Convention Recording (Sandy Denny, lead singer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtVkYMFueWs

Also see https://mainlynorfolk.info/sandy.denny/songs/mattygroves.html

Thanks for help from Jeri and Reinhard. Their comments have been incorporated into this post.