Little Mattie Groves- Lamb/Rowe (KY) 1949 Roberts
[From: In the Pine; Roberts, 1978 with music. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
20. LITTLE MATTY GROVES
(Child 81)
More texts have been recovered in Kentucky than in any other state. There is one version in BKH, one in JAF (1917:309), on in "Notes from Pine Mountain School," one in SFC, KySyll, and TKMS. There are 9 texts in SharpK and my collection contains 7, one printed in TSCF, no. 4. The present version was sung for me by Florence Lamb and Mary Rowe, Pike County, in 1949.
SCALE: Hexachordal (c d e f g a). MODE: plagal. RANGE: e'- e'' (Perfect octave). TONAL CENTER: c. *PHRASE STRUCTURE: A B C D D1 (2,2, 2,2,2). MELODIC RELATIONSHIP: Cf. NCF IV, Nos. 26A and B, quite close in phrases 1 and 2;versions Fand Gshowslight resemblances. Also, cf. SharpK, "Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard," versions L and N. cf. Bronson, TTCB II,p. 297, variant 43, chiefly in phrases 1 and, 2. *This version is probably marked by some structural erosion; note internal incrementation in phrase B.
Little Mattie Groves- sung by Florence Lamb and Mary Rowe, Pike County, in 1949
1. One day, one day, one holly, holly day,
On the first day of the year,
We all went down to the church-house,
French Ellen for to hear,[1]
French Ellen for to hear.
2. The first come in was little Mattie Groves,
Next one in was the girl,
The very next to come in was Lord Darnell's wife,
O, a thirst among them all.[2]
3. The little foot page was standing there
To see what he could hear,
He carried the news away to Lord Darnell,
He carried it far and near,
There he carried it far and near.
4. Little Mattie Groves was a-standing there
On him she cast her eye,
Saying you must go home with me tonight,
This live long night to lie,
Now this live long night to lie.
5. I can't go home with you tonight,
I cannot by you lie,
For by the rings that you wear on your finger,
You must be Lord Darnell's wife,
Looks like you must be Lord Darnell's wife.
6. If I am Lord Darnell's wife,
Lord Darnell hain't at home,
He's gone away to the high King's gate,
French Ellen for to learn,
Where French Ellen for to learn.
7. This may be a lie you brought unto me,
This may be the truth,
And if it's a lie you brought unto me,
To the highest tree you'll hang,
And never be cut down.
8. He gathered his men all in the band,
And a bugle and a horn,
And every time the horn did blow,
Said Get up Little Mattie and go, go,
Get up Little Mattie and go.
9. I must rise up, Little Mattie says,
I must rise up and go,
I hear Lord Darnell blowin' his trumpet,
Blowing for me to go, go
Blowing for me to go.
10. Lie still, lie still, Little Mattie, she said,
Lie still in the bed with me,
It's nothing but my father's shepherds,
To summon their sheep to the food,
To summon their sheep to the food.
11. From that they fell to hugging and kissing,
From that they fell asleep,
And when Little Mattie Groves awaked,
Lord Darnell was at his bed feet,
Seed Lord Darnell was at his bed feet.
12. Rise up, rise up, Little Mattie, he says,
Rise up and put on your clothes,
Fight me like a man, for I hate to have it said
That I slew a naked man,
That I slew a naked man.
13. I can't rise up, Little Mattie says,
I cannot for my life,
You have two brand new swords hanging by your side,
And me not as much as a knife,
And me not as much as a knife.
14. If I have two brand new swords,
They cost me deep in the purse,
And you may have the best one,
And I will take the worst,
And I will take the worst.
15. You may have the first lick
And kill me if you can,
And if you don't the next lick's mine,
As sure as you're a man,
As sure as you're a man.
16. The very first lick Little Mattie struck,
He made a dreadful sore,
The very first lick Lord Darnell struck,
Little Mattie couldn't fight no more,
Little Mattie couldn't fight no more.
1. This is unusual, and a long way from "God's Holy word" or the like.
2. The last line isn't repeated, but I think it should be.