Little Matty Gross- Couch (KY) c1912 Roberts
[My date and footnotes. From Sang Branch Settlers; Roberts; 1974. Roberts' notes follow. Jim Couch was born in 1902 and died in 1978. His father Thomas was born in 1867, his grandfather John was born in 1840. This ballad is probably older than 1912 but that is the approximate date given. The date 1955 and his father's age (96) do not match up- his father would be 96 in 1963 .
R. Matteson 2015]
When I motored up the Cumberland River on a Sunday in September 1955, I found a gathering in and about the house of some twenty-five people. Jim and Dave sang and played the numbers they had recalled and practiced on, and their kin reminded them of others and requested their favorites. The harvest that day was twenty-six songs. During a lull Jim introduced from his pocket a ballad in his own hand on tablet paper. He said of it, "This is a song ballad of an old time song called, The Little Matty Gross.' I've heared my father sing it when I's a kid and he give it to me t'other day--the words-- he's 96 year old --and I wrote it down. I'm a-going to try to put the tune to the words. His voice is so bad he hain't got no tune."
4. Little Matty Gross- From the recitation of Thomas Couch, KY; remembered c. 1912 by his son Jim, who wrote down the words before 1955.
It was the first day of the week,
The first week of the year
Little Matty Gross went down to church,
Some Holy words to hear,
Some Holy words to hear
2. He said to Lord Barne's wife,
"Won't you come and join our band,
I know that you are Lord Barne's wife
By the rings that's on your hands, hands,
By the rings that's on your hands."
3. Little Foot Spaid[1] was standing by,
Hearing those words they say,
And he said, "Lord Barnes will hear this news
Before the break of day, day,
Before the break of day."
4. He had fifteen miles to go,
He ran twelve of them there,
He come to Broad Waters,
He smoothed[2] his breast and swimmed, swimmed,
He smoothed his breast and swimmed.
5. He went up to the captain's gate,
He dingled down his ring.
Who was it but Lord Barnes
To rise and let him in, in,
To rise and let him in.
6. "My fine houses is burned down?
Down are my tower?"
"No, your fine houses aren't burned down
Nor tower either are, are,
Nor tower either are."
7. He called to his daughter and said,
Come, daughter dear."
And he put his trumpet to his mouth
And he blowed it loud and clear, clear,
And he blowed it loud and clear.
8. Little Matty Gross was standing by,
Hearing those words that sound,
Saying, "I am in bed with another wife
And time to leave this town, town,
And time to leave this town."
9. "Lay still, lay still," said Lord Barne's wife,
"Lay still and go to sleep,
It's nobody but my father's boys
Herding home their sheep, sheep,
Herding home their sheep."
10. They first was talking[3]
And then was asleep.
And when he awoke
Lord Barnes stood at his feet, feet,
Lord Barnes stood at his feet.
11. "Arise up, Little Matty Gross,
Arise and put on your clothes,
There is nothing a-shame in this wide world
As to slay a naked man, man,
As to slay a naked man."
12. "No, no," said Little Matty Gross,
"You must spare my life,
You have two keen-edged swords
And I don't have a knife, knife,
And I don't have a knife."
13. "Yes, I have two keen-edged swords
And you shall have the best one of them."
And the second lick he struck little Matty
He never stroke no more, more,
He never stroke no more.
14. He took his wife all on his knee and said,
"How do you like his bedden? [4]
How do you like his cheeks?
And do you like his rhubarb[5] lips
Better than me or my kind, kind,
Better than me or my kind?"
15. "Very well I like his bedden, sir,
Very well I like his cheeks and
Much better I love a kiss from his lips
Better than you and all your kind, kind,
Better than You and all Your kind."
1. Page
2. smote
3. Was this sanitized?
4. beddin'
5. ruby