Lyr Req: Mathy Groves

Subject: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From:
Date: 03 May 06 - 02:30 PM

Hello,

I am new to this site so I apologize if my question has already been covered a while back, but I would like to find the complete lyrics of "Little Mathy Groves" as they were sung in the movie "Songcatcher." I have read that there are at least 14 different versions of this ballad, but I'm really partial to that one, and was disappointed that the song wasn't included on the soundtrack. If anyone can point me in the right direction, please email me at the above address.

Thank you!

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: Willa
Date: 03 May 06 - 02:37 PM

Hi Lucie
Welcome to Mudcat.Mattie Groves can be found by browsing the DT lyrics box under M

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 May 06 - 02:40 PM

Hi, Lucie, welcome to the Mudcat!

I am guessing that you mean "Matty" Groves. If so, you will find THIS THREAD helpful, as well as the links provided, at the beginning of it, to several other threads on this song.

Hope that helps,

kat

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 May 06 - 02:41 PM

Oops, cross-posted! :-)

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: Willa
Date: 03 May 06 - 02:44 PM

This might also be helpful.http://www.slickshoppers.com/details-B000066701.html

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 04 May 06 - 02:11 PM

The "complete" Mathy Groves was not sung in "Songcatcher"--the closest you're apt to find is in Sheila Kay Adams' CD "What Ever Happened to John Parrish's Boy?" Sheila did all the musical arrangements for Songcatcher.

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: GUEST,Joe_F
Date: 04 May 06 - 10:09 PM

There are, indeed, 14 different versions just in Francis James Child's collection (it is No. 81, "Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard"). And he didn't know the half of it.

--- Joe Fineman    [e-mail]

||: The power to concentrate is the power to crush. :||

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: Roberto
Date: 05 May 06 - 12:33 PM

Sheila Kay Adams' recording and Doc Watson's. R

Little Mathey Groves
Sheila Kay Adams, What Ever Happened to John Parrish's Boy? – Granny Dell Records 1221, 2001.

Oh holiday, oh holy day
The first day of the year
Little Mathey Groves to church did go
Some holy words to hear, hear
Some holy words to hear

He spied some women dressed in black
As they came into view
Lord Daniel's wife was gaily clad
The flower of the few, few
The flower of the few

She step-ed up to Little Mathey Groves
Her eyes cast on the ground
Said, "Please, oh please, come with me stay
As you pass through this town, town
As you pass through this town"

Oh please, oh please come with me stay
I'll hide thee out of sight
I'll pleasure you beyond compare
And sleep with you all night, night
I'll sleep with you all night

I cannot stay, I dare not stay
I fear t'will cost my life
Cause I can tell by your finger rings
That you are Lord Daniel's wife, wife
That you are Lord Daniel's wife

Lord Daniel's in some distant land
He's left me for to roam
He's taken all his merry men
And I am quite alone, 'lone
And I am quite alone

Her little footy-page was a standing near by
Was a hearing every word was said
He said, "Before the sun goes down
Lord Daniel'll know what's said, said
Lord Daniel'll know what's said"

He ran along the king's highway
He swam against the tide
And before the sun went down
He's standing at Daniel's side, side
Standing at Daniel's side

"What news, what news," Lord Daniel cried
"What new do you bring to me?
My castle's burned, my tenants wronged
My wife with a baby, be
My wife with a baby"

No harm has come to your house or lands
While you have been away
But Little Mathey Groves is a hugging and a kissing
On your fair lady gay, gay
Your fair lady gay

If what you say is not the truth
As I take it to be
I'll build a scaffold tower so high
And hang-ed you will be, be
Hang-ed you will be

If what I say is not the truth
And false as false can be
You need not build a scaffold tower
Just hang me from a tree, tree
Hang me from a tree

Lord Daniel called his merry men
And bid them with him go
But warned them not to speak a word
And not a horn to blow, blow
Not a horn to blow

But riding with his merry men
Was one who'd wish no ill
He popped his bugle to his mouth
And he blew it loud and shrill, shrill
Blew it loud and shrill

"Oh what is this?" cried Little Mathey Groves
As he sat up in the bed
"I fear it is your husband's men
And I will soon be dead, dead
And I will soon be dead"

Oh lay back down, Little Mathey Groves
And keep my back from cold
'Tis nothing but my father's men
Calling their sheep to fold, fold
Calling their sheep to fold

So Little Mathey Groves, he laid back down
And soon fell off to sleep
When he woke up, Lord Daniel was
Standing at his bed feet, feet
Standing at his bed feet

Saying, "How do you like my snow white pillows?"
Saying, "How do you like my sheets?"
Saying, "How do you like my pretty little woman
That's a laying in your arms asleep, sleep
Laying in you arms asleep?"

Very well do I like your snow white pillows
Very well do I like your sheet
Much better do I like your pretty little woman
That's a laying in my arms asleep, sleep
Laying in my arms asleep

"Get up, get up," Lord Daniel cried
"And put on your clothes
In England it shall never be said I
Killed a naked man, man
Killed a naked man"

I won't get up, I can't get up
I fear t'will cost my life
Cause you have got two bitter swords
And I ain't got a knife, knife
I ain't got a knife

I know I've got two bitter swords
They cost me deep in purse
I'll give to you the best of these
And I will keep the worst, worst,
I will keep the worst

The first swing that Little Mathey made
It hurt Lord Daniel sore
The next swing that Lord Daniel made
Little Mathey hit the floor, floor
Little Mathey hit the floor

Get up, get up, my pretty little wife
And come sit on my knee
And tell me which you liked the best
Little Mathey Groves or me, me
Little Mathey Groves or me

She looked up in Lord Daniel's face
And saw his jutting chin
Said, "I wouldn't trade Little Mathey Groves
For you and all your kin, kin
For you and all your kin"

He took her by the lily white hand
And led her across the hall
He pulled out his sword and cut off her head
And he kicked it against the wall, wall
Kicked it against the wall

Go dig me a grave both wide and deep
To bury these two in
Just kick little Mathey Groves over the side
But lower my sweet wife in, in
Yes, lower my sweet wife in


Matty Groves
Doc Watson, on Songcatcher II, the Tradition that inspired the movie, Vanguard 79716-2. Melody by Stewart Yonce of Lenoire, North Carolina.

'Twas on the high, high holiday
The very best day in the year
Little Matty Groves had gone to church
Holy words for to hear
Holy words for to hear

The first to come down was dressed in red
And the second one dressed in green
The third to come down was Lord Daniel's wife
As fair as any queen
Just as fair as any queen

Then Matty Groves says to one of his men:
See the fair one dressed in white
Although she is Lord Daniel's wife
I'll be with her tonight
I'll be with her tonight

Well, the little foot page was a-standin' by
And he heard every word that was said
He says, Lord Daniel shall know tonight
Before I go to bed
Before I go to bed

He had fifteen miles for to go that night
And ten of them he run
He run till he come to the broke down bridge
Then he bent to his breast and he swum
He bent to his breast and he swum

He swum till he come to where the grass was green
He took to his feet and he run
He run till he come to Lord Daniel's gate
He rattled at the bells and they rung
He rattled at the bells and they rung

What news, what news, Lord Daniel says
What news to me have you brung?
Little Matty Groves is in the bed with your wife
And their hearts both beat as one
And their hearts both beat as one

Now if the truth you've told to me
A rich man you shall be
But if a lie you've told to me
I'll hang you to a tree
I'll hang you to a tree

He gathered him up about fifty good men
He done it with a free good will
Then he popped his bugle unto his lips
And he blowed it loud and shrill
He blowed it loud and shrill

I'd better get up, said little Matty Groves
I'd better get up and go
I know your husband is a-comin' home
For I heard his bugle blow
I heard his bugle blow

Lay down, lay down, my precious one
Lay down and go to sleep
It's only my father's shepherd's horn
And he's a-callin' for his sheep
He's a-callin' for his sheep

So they lay down together again
And they soon were fast asleep
And when they awoke it was broad daylight
Lord Daniel at their feet
Lord Daniel at their feet

Get up from there you naked man
And put you on some clothes
I never intend for to have it said
That a naked man I slo'
That a naked man I slo'

Oh give me a chance, said little Matty Groves
A chance to fight for my life
For there you have two very fine swords
And me not as much as a knife
And me not as much as a knife

Oh yes, I have two very fine swords
And they cost me deep in the purse
You may have the finest one
And I will take the worst
Yes, I will take the worst

Then Matty Groves struck the very first lick
And he wounded Lord Daniel sore
Lord Daniel struck the very next lick
And he drove Matty Groves to the floor
He drove Matty Groves to the floor

Then he taken his lady by the hand
And he set her on his knee
And he says, Now which do you love the best
Little Matty Groves or me
Little Matty Groves or me?

Very well I like your rosy cheeks
Very well I like your chin
But better I love little Matty Groves
Than you and all of your kin
Than you and all of your kin

You can dig my grave on a pretty green hill
Dig it wide and deep
And put little Matty Groves in my arms
Lord Daniel at my feet
Lord Daniel at my feet

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: folk1e
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:01 PM

Ged Todd does another vertion with Feet in Mouthes in which Matty wins....(sort of)
Sorry I can't remember it all but you can ask DtG if you are interestsd, or come allong to the White Lion at Swinton (Mon 9pm).

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: Mo the caller
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:18 PM

Like many a song this has been well and truly kippered -"how do you like my curtains that I bought in the sale last week" was it?

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: Ragman
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:50 PM

Have heard several versions of this song over the years. It changes even from recording to recording with some artists, but the story is so good, that it can work in many cultures and regions. I transcribed a version from a Fairport Convention CD some time ago. I think Sandy Denny took the lead. Again I have known it for years, and I think I have changed it a little for my on performances.

It's a very powerful song, sung very quickly and with passion, but every word is clear as day... I was a young naive 20 when I first heard it, and the efficient lyrics generated very stong images. It made quite an impact on me. I still get goosebumps when I get to the verse where Lord Darnley kills his wife... Still goes down very well at sessions and clubs...

Matty Groves (Liege and Lief)    By Marcel Veltman

A holiday, a holy day
The first one of the year
Lord Darnley's wife came into the 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 tonight

Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home
And sleep with you tonight
I can see by the rings on your fingers that
You are Lord Darnley's wife

Tis true I am lord Darnley's wife
Lord Darnley's not at home
He is out to the far corn fields
Bringing the yearlings home

And the servant who was standing by
And hearing what was said
He swore Lord Darnley he would know
Before the sun would set

And in his hurry to carry the news
He dropped his vest and ran
And when he came to the broad mill stream
He took off his shoes and swam

Little Matty Groves, he laid down
And took a little sleep
When he awoke Lord Darnley
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 to sleep

O well I like your feather bed
And well I like your sheets
But better I like your lady maid
Who lies in my arms to sleep

Well get up, get up Lord Darnley 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 sharp swords
And I've not 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 worse

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

So Matty struck the very first blow
And he hurt Lord Darnley's sore
Lord Darnley struck the very next blow
And Matty struck no more

And then Lord Darnley took his wife
And sat her on his knee
Saying who do like the better of us
Matty groves or me

And then up spoke his own dear wife
Never known to speak so free
I'd rather kiss poor dead Matty's lips
Than you in your finery

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

A grave a grave Lord Darnley cried
To put these lovers in
But bury my lady at the top
For she was of noble kin.

Subject: RE: Searching for Mathy Groves lyrics
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 06 May 06 - 03:29 AM

The DT file MATTIE GROVES appears to be a transcription of the Fairport recording, though it contains some odd mis-hearings that really ought to be corrected. An old thread on the subject also has a transcription of the same recording (see links above) which isn't entirely accurate, but is a lot better than the DT job.

This is one song where you really do have to look for alternative spellings. Musgrave (etc) has mutated into many forms over several hundred years (my favourite is Little Moth Grone) and rather a lot of traditional versions have turned up in the century and more since Child published his collection. Bronson (Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads, II, 1962) has more than 70, and more examples have come to light since then.