Little Matty Groves- Williams (TN) 1832 Boswell
[From Folk song of Middle Tennessee, Boswell. Wolfe's notes follow. My date- sung by Williams in 1949, dating back through his family to c. 1832.
R. Matteson 2015]
Most versions end with Lord Donald killing Little Matty with a sword, in front of the lord's wife, and then taunting her, asking how she liked it. This version omits the final confrontation. Although this is the only version of the ballad in the Boswell collection, it has been popular in Tennessee; Cecil Sharp found three versions of Flag Pond and Rocky Ford in 1916, and later collectors have found variants in Cades Cove, Carter County, Harcogate, Maryville, and Sale Creek.
Brown's collection of North Carolina folklore offers a good sampling of versions of the song, along with background information (2:101-11). The version here was collected on November 6, 1949, from Albert Williams, a prominent Nashville attomey. A remarkable source of songs for Boswell, Williams supplied no fewer than fifteen, including many rare and unusual texts. Williams learned "Little Matty Grove" from his mother, Amanda Farris Rear Williams, who had been born in Nashville in 1853. His great-grandfather had been an overseer on the original McGavock plantation (the site of present-day Opryland amusement park), and his grandmother had been born in 1832 on the way to Tennessee from the family's original base in Scott County, Virginia. There is a good likelihood that the song may go back that far in Williams's family.
Little Matty Groves- sung by Williams in 1949, dating back through his family to c. 1832
1. On the very first day, the very first day,
The very first day of the year,
Little Matty Grove to church did go,
All for to see and to hear, hear,
All for to see and to hear.
2. Now the very first one that did come by,
She was all dressed in white,
And the very next one that did come by,
She was Lord Donald's wife, wife,
She was Lord Donald's wife.
3. And as she there was passing by,
On him she cast her eye.
"Oh, come, come, come my Little Matty Grove,
In bed for to lie, lie."
4. "Oh no, no, no," said Little Matty Groves
"I could not for my life,
I know by the ring on your forefinger,
You are Lord Donald's wife, wife."
5. "Well, if I be Lord Donald's wife
As you may s'pose me to be,
Lord Donald's to the castle court,
King Henry for to see, see."
6. Now the little foot-page was standing near.
He took to his heels and he run,
He run til he came to the deep water side.
He smote his breast and he swum, swum.
7. He swum til he came to the other shore,
He rook to his heels and he run,
He run til he came to the castle gate,
He jingled the bell and it rung, rung.
8. "What news, what news, my little foot-page?
What news do you bring to me?"
"Little Matty Grove's at home alone,
Alone with the fair lady, lady."
9. "If this be true, my little foot-page,
As we may suppose it to be,
If I have but one daughter in the wide world,
Your wedded wife she'll be, be."
10. "But if this be false, my little foot-page,
As we may s'pose it to be,
You have but one more hour to live
And hanged you shall be, be."
11. Lord Donald summoned all his men,
And he placed them in a row,
He allowed not one loud word spoke,
Nor bugle to be blown, blown.
12. Now one of Lord Donald's men,
He knew Little Matty well,
He clapped his bugle to his mouth,
And he blew both loud and shrill, shrill.
13. As Little Matty Grove was lying there,
He was all filled with fear,
He says, "Thar is Lord Donald's horn,
And it blows both loud and clear."
14. "Lie still, lie still my Little Matty Grove
And keep me from the cold,
'Tis only my father's two little boys,
A-driving sheep from the fold."
15. Little Matty Grove was lying there,
And locked in slumber sweet,
When the very first thing that he did know,
Lord Donald was at his feet.
16. "Arise, arise my Little Matty Grove,
And put your clothing on.
For it shall nor lie in any mouth,
I slew a naked man."
17 . "I think 'tis hard," Little Matty said,
"That I should fight for my life,
While you have two broadswords by your side,
And I have nary a knife."
18. "Then I'll take one," Lord Donald said,
"And thou mayst take the other
And I could no no one whit better,
If it were my own dear brother."
19. Lord Donald thrust him through,
[text missing]