Little Matthew Groves- Hurt (VA) 1921 Davis D
D. "Little Matthew Groves." collected by Mr. John Stone. Sung by Mrs. M. C. Hurt, of Wytheville, Va. Wythe County. November 8, 1921.
1 Little Matthew Groves went to church
The very first day in the week[1]
Those holy words for to hear, for to hear,
Those holy words for to hear.
2 The very first one that came down
Was dressed all in white;
The very next one that came down
Was Lord Donald's wife.
3 The little foot-page he took to his heels
And he ran and he ran till he came to Olinglunt[2]
And there he knocked so loud till it rang, rang,
There he knocked so loud till it rang.
4 "Little Matthew Groves went home with your wife
And there with her for to lie, lie,
And there with her for to lie, lie,
And there with her for to lie.',
5 "If this be the truth, which I suppose it to be,
I have a daughter in Olinglunt[2]
And a wedded man you shall be, be,
And a wedded man you shati be.
6 " If this be a lie, which I suppose it to be,
I have a rope in Olinglunt,
And a hanged man you shall be, be,
And a hanged man you shall be."
7 "Little Matthew Groves, rise and fight for your life."
"'T is hard to rise and fight for my life,
When you have two bright swords i"'fr".a,
And me not so much as a knife, knife,
And me not so much as a knife.,, )
8 "O yes, I have two. bright swords in my hand,
And you can take the very best
And I will take the worst, worst,
And I will take the worst."
9 Little Matthew Groves struck the very first lick
And wounded him full sore;
Lord Donald struck the very next,
Little Matthew struck no more, more,
Little Matthew struck no more.
10 He took his wife by her lily-white hand
And set her on his knee:
" Which do you love the best
Little Matthew Groves or me, me,
Little Matthew Groves or me?"
11 "It's very well I love your red ruby lips,
It's very well I love your skin;
Much better do I love little Matthew Groves
Than you and all your kin."
12 He took her by her lily-white hand
And placed her on the plane;
He took in hand his new bright sword
And split her head to the brain.
1. year (to rhyme)
2. Old England?