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Fairport Convention – Matty Groves from Liege & Lief, 1969.
Fairport Convention – Matty Groves Lyrics
(Based on a 17th Century Folk Ballad)
A holiday, a holiday,
And the first one of the year.
Lord Darnell’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 ’til 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.
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
Was standing at his feet
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