Matty Groves- Dobbin (NL) 1951 Leach REC
[From: MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada; online. Their notes follow. Matty Groves was performed by Din Dobbin. Accession # 78-054 NFLD 2 Tape 12A Track 3; St. Vincent's, NL- 1951.
R. Matteson 2015]
In 1949, 1950, and 1951, MacEdward Leach made three trips to Atlantic Canada with a recording machine. He was not new to collecting nor, indeed, to Canada: for many years, due to his first wife's connections, Leach spent at least a portion of the summer months in Nova Scotia.
St. Vincent's is located at the eastern opening of Holyrood Pond, an estuary off the southwestern arm of St. Mary's Bay. Like many other small communities in the area, it was used by 16th century French and Portuguese migratory fishermen as a seasonal station. Most notable is its connection with the Portuguese fishery; St. Vincent's appeared as "Porta da Cruz" on a Portuguese map of the region dated 1519. Permanent settlement began in the late 1700s when English and Irish settlers established a local salmon fishery. Holyrood Pond is still known today for its sea-run trout and salmon populations.
Matty Groves -Performed by Din Dobbin of St. Vincent's, NL- 1951. Recording: Accession # 78-054 NFLD 2 Tape 12A Track 3.
Listen: http://www.mun.ca/folklore/leach/sounds/NFLD2/12A-03_51.mp3
DOBBIN: I’m sort of hoarse today
LEACH: That doesn’t make any difference
Dobbin: sings:
Being on the first of January
the very first day in the year [1]
Young Matty Groves to the playroom[2] goes
some funny things to hear
The first came in was dressed in satin
the next was dressed in silk
And the next came in was Lord Donald's wife
and her skin as white as milk
Oh and her skin as white as milk
She gazed all around the ballroom
For to see what she could see
Saying Matty Groves this very night
In bed must lie with me oh
In bed must lie with me
I would not sir l dare not
Or l cannot for my life
By the ring ‘ats on your finger
You are Lord Donald's wife oh
You are Lord Donald's wife
If l am Lord Donald's wife
I’m nothing the worst of him said she
Lord Donald on a visit is gone
King Henry for to see oh
King Henry for to see
The little foot-page was standing by
Those words he heard them say
The little foot-page was standing by
When he took to the hills to run
And when he came to the river side
He hove on his breast and swam oh
He hove on his breast and swam
And when he came to Lord Donald’s palace
He jingled hard at the ring
And no one there but Lord Donald himself
For to let the little foot-page in oh
To let the little foot-page in
What news what news have you for me
Sad news sad news said he
Are they any of my stores burnt
Are they any of my towers knocked down
Are they any of my servants in bed this night
With a daughter or a son
With a daughter or a son
There’s none o’ your stores burnt
None o' your towers knocked down said he
But this very night young Matty Groves
Is in bed wit' your fair lady oh
In bed wit’ your fair lady
If that's a lie you've told to me
The gallows I’ll ‘range for you
If that's a lie lord Donald he said
No gallows you’ll ‘range for me
I’m satisfied for to be hung
Out of the apple tree oh
Out of the Apple tree
Oh he called all of his merry men and he counted them one by one
He called all of his merry men
And he coupled them two by two
He put his horn to his mouth
He blew he made it say
Any man that's in bed with another man's wife
Why it's time they be jogging away
Oh it's time they be jogging away
Young Groves he had not been asleep
These words to her did say
I think l hear Lord Donald's horn
l think l hear it say
Anyone that's in bed with another man's wife
Its time they be jogging away oh
Its time they be jogging away
Come huddle me come cuddle me
Just keep me from the cold
For that is my father's shepherd she said
And he driving his sheeps to fold
And he driving his sheeps to fold
He huddled and he cuddled her the two fell fast asleep
And when they awoke to their great surprise
Lord Donald stood at their feet
Oh Lord Donald stood at their feet
How do you like my bed he said
How do you like my sheets
And how do you like my fair lady
That lies in your arms to sleep oh
That lies in your arms to sleep
It’s well l like your bed he said
And better l like your sheets
And best l like your fair lady
That lies in my arms to sleep
Oh that lies in my arms to sleep
Arise arise young Matty Groves
Some of your clothes put on
It will never be said when l am dead
That l killed a naked man oh
I killed a naked man
I could not sir l would not sir
I dare not for my life
For you've got two swords by your side
And I’m without a knife
Oh and l without a knife
If l got two swords down by my side
I paid for them out of my purse
And you shall choose the very best
And I shalI choose the worst
And you shall have the very first blow And I shall have the next
The very first blow young Matty Groves
He wounded Lord Donald sore
the very first blow Lord Donald he gave
Young Groves he was no more oh
Young Groves he was no more
He took his wife upon his knee
These words to her did say
Oh now you must come choose yourself
Between young Groves and me
Oh between young Groves and me
It’s well l do like you she said
But better l do like him
I’d rather his little finger this night
Than all your queen and king oh
Than aIl your queen and king
The bells of Scotland ring tonight
They always ring for sorrow
Lord Donald killed young Groves and his wife
And he'll be hung tomorrow
And he'll be hung tomorrow [last line spoken]
1. After this line, on the recording he speaks: I’m too high now. Then he lowers his pitch.
2. should be "ballroom"