Matty Groves

Hi ho hi ho holiday The best day of the year Little Matty Groves to church did go some holy words to hear some holy words to hear He spied three ladies dressed in black As they came into view Lord Arlens wife was gaily clad a flower among the few a flower among the few. She tripped up to Matty Groves Her eyes so low cast down Saying "Pray oh pray come with me stay As you pass through the town as you pass through the town I cannot go I dare not go I fear 'twould cost my life For I see by the little ring you wear You are Lord Arlens wife the great Lord Arlens wife This may be false this may be true I can't deny it all Lord Arlens gone to consecrate King Henry at Whitehall King Henry at Whitehall Oh pray oh pray come with me stay I'll hide thee out of sight I'll serve you there beyond compare And sleep with you the night and sleep with you the night Her little page did listen well to all that they did say and ere the sun could rise again He quickly sped away he quickly sped away And he did run the Kings highway He swam across the tide He ne'er did stop until he came To the great Lord Arlens side to the great Lord Arlens side    What news what news my bully boy what news brings you to me My castle burned my tenants robbed My lady  with baby my lady with baby No harm has come your house and land The little page did say "But Matty Groves is bedded up With your fair lady gay With your fair lady gay Lord Arlen called his merry men He bade them with him go He bade them ne'er a word to speak And ne'er a horn to blow and ne'er a horn to blow But among Lord Arlens merry men Was one who wished no ill And the bravest lad in all the crew Blew his horn so loud and shrill blew his horn so loud and shrill  Whats this whats this cried Matty Groves Whats this that I do hear It must be Lord Arlens merry men The ones that I do fear the ones that I do fear Lie down lie down little Matty Groves And keep my back from cold Its only Lord Arlens merry men a'callin the sheep to fold a'callin the sheep to fold. Little Matty Groves he did lie down He took a nap asleep And when he woke Lord Arlen was A'standing at his feet a'standing at his feet.   How now how now my bully boy Oh how do you like my sheets And how do you like my fair young bride Who lies in your arms asleep who lies in your arms asleep. Ah its very well I like your bed And its fine I like your sheets But its best I like your fair young bride Who lies in my arms asleep Who lies in my arms asleep. Rise up rise up little Matty Groves As fast as e'er you can In England it shall ne'er be said I slew a sleepin' man I slew a sleepin' man And the firstest stroke little Matty struck He hurt Lord Arlen sore But the nextest stroke  Lord Arlen struck Little Matty struck no more Little Matty struck no more. Rise up rise up my gay young bride Draw on your pretty clothes Now tell me do you like me best Or like you Matty Groves or the dying Matty Groves. She picked up Matty's dying head she kissed from cheek to chin Said "Its Matty Groves I'd rather have Than Arlen and all his kin than Arlen and all his kin. Ah woe is me and woe is thee Why stayed you not your hand For you have killed the fairest lad In all of England in all of England