It was on the high holiday
Very first day of year
Matty Groves to the church did go, God's holy word to hear
God's holy word to hear.
First come rond was a lady in red
Then, the lady in pearl
Last come down Lord Berner's wife
The fairest among them all,
The fairest among them all.
She set her eyes on Matty Groves
"Matty Groves" ask she
"How much will you take, Little Matty Groves,
To spend this night with me?"
To spend this night with me.
"To spend this night with you" said he
"Would cause no end up war"
"For I know you be Lord Berner's wife
By the gold ring that you wear."
By the gold ring that you wear.
"So, what if I be Lord Berner's wife?
Lord Berner is not at home
He gone down to London town
To fetch young Henry Throne."
To fetch young Henry Throne.
A little footpage was standing by
He took to his heal and run
He run till he come to the waterside
Then bend his breast and swam
Then bend his breast and swam.
"What news do you bring, my little footpage?"
"Is my castle burning down?"
"Or if my lady brought to bed of a daughter or a son?"
Of a daughter or a son.
"You castle is not burning down"
"You have no daughter nor son"
"Little Matty Groves is in bed with your wife"
"They lie as they was one"
They lie as they was one.
They went in bed bout an hour or more
Nor yet fell fast asleep
When up the steps, Lord Berner himself
Stood at their bedfeet
And stood at their bedfeet.
"How do you like my blanket, sire?"
"How do you like my sheet?"
"How do you like my gay young wife?
That lie in your arms asleep"
That lie in your arms asleep.
"Right, well do I like your blanket, sire"
"Right, well do I like your sheet"
"Better do I like your gay yong wife,
That lie in my arms asleep"
That lie in my arms asleep.
"Arise and dress, Little Matty Groves
As fast as ever you can
It'll never be said in the morning sun
That I killed a naked man"
That I killed a naked man.
"By my side ant two broadswords
They cost so deep in purse"
"And you shall have the better one
And I shall have the worse"
And I shall have the worse.
Little Matty had the very first blow
He struck and hit the floor
Lord Berner had the second blow
And Matty struck no more
And Matty struck no more
He took his lady by the hand
And sat her on his knee
"Come tell to me, which you love best
Little Matty Groves or me?"
Little Matty Groves or me?
"Right, well do I like your cheek" said she
"Right, well do I like your chin"
"Better, do I like Little Matty Groves
Then you and all your kin"
Then you and all your kin.
He took his lady by the hand
And led her through the hall
He took her to the upper-most room
And slew her before them all
And slew her before them all
"Go bury these lovers in one grave
Bury them soft-within"
"But lay my lady on the top
For she of the the noble kin"
For she of the the noble kin.