Joan Baez - Matty Groves

Hi ho, hi ho, holiday,
The best day of the year
Little Matty Groves at 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 Arlen's 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
Sayin', 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 it'll cost my life
For I see by the little ring you wear
You are Lord Arlen's wife
You're the great Lord Arlen's wife.

This may be false, this may be true,
I can't deny it all
But Arlen's 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 tonight
And sleep with you tonight

Her little page did listen well
To all that they did say
And e'er the sun could rise again,
He quickly sped away
He quickly sped away

And he did run the King's highway,
He swam across the tide
He ne'er did stop until he came
To the great Lord Arlen's side
To the great Lord Arlen's side

What news, what news my bully boy?
What news brings you to me?
My castle burnt, my tenants robbed,
My lady with baby?
My lady with baby?

No harm has come to 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 nary a word to speak
And nary a horn to blow
And nary a horn to blow

But among Lord Arlen's 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

What's this, what's this cried Matty Groves,
What's this that I do hear
It must be Lord Arlen's 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
It's only Lord Arlen's 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 awoke Lord Arlen was
A-standin' at his feet
A-standin' 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?

It's very well like your bed
And it's fine I like your sheets
But it's 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 ye can
In England it shall ne'er be said
I slew a sleepin' man
I slew a sleepin' man

And the first to stroke little Matty struck,
He hurt Lord Arlen sore
But the next to 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 your Matty Groves
Or the dying Matty Groves

She picked up Matty's dying head,
She kissed from cheek to chin
Said, it's Matty Groves I'd rather have
Than Arlen and all his kin
Than Arlen and all his kin

Oh woe is me and woe is thee,
Why staid ye not your hand
For you have killed the fairest lad
In all of England
In all of England