Matty Groves- Doc Watson (NC) 1966 Recording
[From the late great Doc Watson's CD, Home Again, and on Songcatcher II, the Tradition that inspired the movie, Vanguard 79716-2.
R. Matteson 2012, 2105]
Matty Groves- Arranged Doc Watson, 1966. Words and Melody from Stewart Yonce, Dolly Greer (Doc's cousin) of Lenoir, North Carolina.
[Listen Matty Groves- Arranged Doc Watson]
[guitar break]
Was on the high high holy day,
The very best day in the year.
Little Matty Groves had gone to church,
Holy words for to hear,
Holy words for to hear.
The first to come down was dressed in red,
And the second one dressed in green.
The third to come down was Lord Daniel's wife
As fair as any queen,
Just as fair as any queen.
Then Matty Groves says to one of his men
"See the fair one dressed in white?
Although she is Lord Daniel's wife,
I'll be with her tonight,
I'll be with her tonight."
Well the little foot page was standing by
And heard every word that was said.
He says "Lord Daniel shall know tonight
Before I go to bed,
Before I go to bed."
[guitar break]
He had fifteen miles for to go that night
And ten of them he run.
He run till he come to the broke down bridge [1]
Then he bent to his breast [2] and swum,
He bent to his breast and swum.
He swum til he come to where the grass was green,
He took to his feet and he run.
He run till he come to Lord Daniel's Gate,
Then he rattled at the bells and they rung,
He rattled at the bells and they rung.
[guitar break]
"What news? What news?" Lord Daniel says.
"What news to me have you brung?"
"Little Matty Groves is in the bed with your wife
And their hearts both beat as one,
And their hearts both beat as one."
"Now if the truth you've told to me,
A rich man you shall be.
But if a lie you've told to me,
I'll hang you to a tree,
I'll hang you to a tree."
He gathered him up about fifty good men.
He done it with a free good will.
Then he popped his bugle unto his lips,
And he blowed it loud and shrill,
He blowed it loud and shrill.
"I'd better get up," said little Matty Groves,
"I'd better get up and go.
I know your husband is a coming home,
For I heared his bugle blow,
I heared his bugle blow."
"Lay down, lay down, my precious one
Lay down and go to sleep.
It's only my father's shepherd's horn,
And he's a calling for his sheep,
He's a calling for his sheep."
[guitar break]
So they laid down together again,
And they soon were fast asleep,
And when they awoke it was broad daylight,
Lord Daniel at their feet,
Lord Daniel at their feet.
"Get up from there your naked man
And put you on some clothes.
I never intend for to have it said
That a naked man I slew [pronounced "slow"],
That a naked man I slew."
"Oh give me a chance," said little Matty Groves,
"A chance to fight for my life.
For there you have two very fine swords,
And me not as much as a knife,
And me not as much as a knife."
"Oh yes I have two very fine swords,
And they cost me deep in the purse.
You may have the finest one,
And I will take the worst,
Yes I will take the worst."
Then Matty Groves struck the very first lick
And he wounded Lord Daniel sore.
Lord Daniel struck the very next lick,
And he drove Matty Groves to the floor,
He drove Matty Groves to the floor.
Then he taken his lady by the hand
And he sat her on his knee.
And he says, "Now which do you love the best?
Little Matty Groves or me,
Little Matty Groves or me?"
"Very well I like your rosy cheeks.
Very well I like your chin.
But better I love little Matty Groves
Than you and all of your kin,
Than you and all of your kin.
"You can dig my grave on a pretty green hill
Dig it wide and deep.
And put little Matty Groves in my arms
Lord Daniel at my feet,
Lord Daniel at my feet."
1. originally "broken briggs"
2. originally "bent his bow and swum." See 1921 article "Bent Bow" attached to Recordings & Info page.