Little Matthew Groves- Pierce/King(SC) 1925 Joyner
[From Folk Song in South Carolina by Charles Joyner, 1971. This is the secong compilation in my collection the first is by Mackenzie in 1909 JOAFL using 5 ballads from Nova Scotia.
R. Matteson 2015]
Little Matthew Groves
(Child 81)
A collated text from two fragments in South Carolina Ballads. Stanzas 7, 2, 4. 3-4, 5, 6, 7. 1-2, 8, and 9 communicated by Tressie Pierce, Columbia, 1925. Stanzas 3, 4. 1-2, 7. 3-4, and 10 through 20 communicated by Mrs. John B. King, Williamston, 1913. Editorial emendations are indicated in parentheses. Reprinted by permission of the publishers from Reed Smith, South Carolina Ballads, pp. 125-28 (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1928.
Little Matthew Groves- compilation of two SC ballads
High and a high and a high holiday
Upon the very first of the year
Little Matthew Groves started out to the church
The holy word for to hear
The holy word for to hear
First passed him by a gay young bride
And the next passed him by was a pearl[1]
And the third passed him by was Lord Donald's wife
The fairest of the three
Lord Donald's wife went out to town
To hear the Holy Word
Little footpage was standing near
A-listening what was said
He heard her ask Little Matty Groves
To go home with her tonight
Come along with me Little Matthew she said
This night in my arms for to lie
O no, oh no, oh no, he said
I dare not for my life
For I know by the gold rings on your fingers
That you are Lord Donald's wife
And what if I am Lord Donald's wife
Lord Donald is not at home
He's gone to the new academy
King Henry for to see
A little foot page was standing by
And he took to his heels and he run
He run he run to the broad riverside
And tuck to his belly and swum
He ran till he came to King Henry's gate
And tingled at the ring
And none so ready as Lord Donald himself
To get up and let him in
What news what news my little foot page
What news have you for me
Little Matthew Groves is at your own house
In bed with your gay lady
Lord Donald your wife went out of town today
To hear the Holy Word
And I heard her ask Little Matty Grove(s)
To bed with her tonight
If this is a lie you've told to me
I'll hang you to a tree
And if this is the truth you've told to me
My daughter your bride shall be
What's this what's this cried Little Matty Groves
What's this so loud and shrill)
I hear Lord Donald's horn a-blowing
A-coming over the hill
Lie still lie still Little Matty Grove(s)
And go to sleep (said she)
It's nothing but papa's little shipping boys
A-driving the lambs to the ford
From that they fell to a chat of talk
From that to a doze of sleep
(At morning light) when they woke
Lord Donald was standing at the feet
It's how do you like my bed he says
And how do you like my sheet
And how do you like my gay lady
A-lying in your arms asleep
I like your bed very well Lord Donald
And I like your sheet
But I think more of your gay lady
A-lying in my arms asleep
Rise you up Little Matty Grove(s)
And draw on your fine suit
For I don't want it said when I am dead
That I slewed a naked man
And very the first lick was Little Matty Grove's
He caused the blood to run
The very next lick was Lord Donald's
He drove Little Matty Grove(s) to the floor
I think very well of you Lord Donald
I think very well of your kin
But I think heap more of Little Matty Grove(s)
Than I do of you and your kin
Oh don't you hear them little birds sing
Oh don't you hear them cry
Lord Donald has killed two people today
And tomorrow he must die die
And tomorrow he must die.