Little Mose Groves- Presley(VA) 1936 Scarborough A
[From: Scarborough's "A Song Catcher"; pre 1936, (Bronson dates it c. 1932) the year Scarborough died. Bronson dates her versions c. 1934. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
Mrs. Mary N. Presley, formerly O'Quinn, of Council, Virginia, learned it from her father-in-law, she said. She sung it with spirit and dramatic fire. The lover's name has been changed to one that suits mountain usage better.
(A) Little Mose Groves
It happened on one holiday
The very best day in the year,
That Little Mose Groves went to church
The Holy Word for to hear.
Some come dressed in satin fine,
And some in purple and blue,
But last stepped in Lord Barnett's wife,
Dressed the finest of the crew.
She looked all around herself
And smiled both pleasant and neat;
Says, "Little Mose Groves shall go home with me
With me this night for to sleep."
"How dare I for to go home with you?
How dare I risk my life?
For the ring you wear on your little finger
Shows you are Lord Barnett's wife."
His little foot-page was standing by
But hearing what they should say,
He says, "My master shall hear of this
Before the break of day."
He had three long miles for to go
And two of them he run,
And. when he come to the broken bridge shore
He bore on his breast and swum.
And when he came to the other side
He bent himself and run,
And when he came unto the yard gate
He tingled so loud at the ring.
"What news, what news, my little foot-page,
What news you brought unto me?
That you should come this hour of night
Your master for to see?"
"Is my castle late burned down,
Or is my power[1] won?
Or is my wife confined to her bed
With a daughter or a son?"
"It's your castle late hit ain't burned. down,
Not your power hit ain't won,
But you wife's in bed with little Mose Groves
And their hearts are both as one."
"Let this be a lie, my little foot-page,
That you do tell to me,
A wooden gallow shall be made
And hang-ed you shall be."
"But this ain't no lie, my greatest master,
That I do tell unto thee.
A wooden gallows need not be made
But hang me on a tree.
Then calling up his merry, merry men
He made this story known.
He ordered a drum not to be beat,
A horn not to be blown.
But one of Lord Barnett's merry, merry men
Loved little Mose Groves so dear,
He clapped his horn unto his mouth
And sounded loud and clear.
Hit's "Hark, hark, hark, what did I hear?
Come sounding loud and clear.
It's one of Lord Barnett's merry men's horns
A-sounding in my ear."
"Lay down, lay down, again," she said,
And keep my back from the cold.
For it's only my father's little shepherd boy
A-driving the sheep to the fold."
Hit's he-laid down, laid down again,
And at last they both felt unto sleep,
And nary one never woke again
Till he hollered at their bed-feet.
Hit's "How do you like my bed? " he said,
"Or how do you like my sheet?
Or how do you like my fair lady
Who lies in your arms asleep? "
Hit's "Very well I like Your bed,
And very well Your sheet,
And still I love Your fair lady
Who lies in my arms asleep."
"Get up, get up," again he said,
"And put your clothing on,
It never shall be said through old England
That I slew a naked man."
"How dare I for to get up?" he said,
"And fight you for my life,
When you have two glittering swoards[2] a-hanging by your side
And me not as much as a knife? "
"I know I have two glittering swords
A-hanging by my side,
And they cost me deep in my purse
But You shall have the very best one
And I will have the worst.
"And you may have the very first blow
And you may strike like a man,
And I will have the very next blow
And I will kill you if I can."
Little Mose Groves had the very first blow
And he wounded Lord Barnett full sore,
Lord Barnett he had the very next blow
And he killed him dead on the floor.
Then calling for his loving wife,
Said, " Come, sit on my knee,
And tell me which you love the best,
Little Mose Groves or me?"
She looked him straight up to the eyes
And says, "It is plain to see
I love Mose Groves' little finger
Better than your whole body."
She had not time to speak again
Till he split her head full sore,
Then she fell off from his arms
And lay upon the floor.
"There is but one thing grieves me
That grieves my heart full sore,
That is to see my infant dear[3]
A-dying on the floor."
1. Tower.
2. swords
3. This indicates that she was pregnant