1 |
A holiday a holiday and the first one of the year |
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Lord Darnell’s wife came out of church the gospel for to hear |
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2 |
And when the meeting it was done she cast her eyes about |
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And there she saw little Matty Groves walking in the crowd |
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3 |
Come home with me little Matty Groves come home with me tonight |
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Come home with me little Matty Groves and sleep with me’til light |
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4 |
Oh I can’t come home I won’t come home and sleep with you tonight |
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By the rings on your fingers I can tell you are Lord Darnell’s wife |
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5 |
What if I am Lord Darnell’s wife Lord Darnell’s not at home |
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For he is out in the far cornfields bringing the yearlings home |
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6 |
And a servant who was standing by and hearing what was said |
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He swore Lord Darnell he would know before the sun would set |
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7 |
And in his hurry to carry the news he bent his brest and ran |
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And when he came to the broad millstream he took off his shoes and swam |
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8 |
Little Matty Groves he lay down and took a little sleep |
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When he awoke Lord Darnell was standing at his feet |
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9 |
Saying how do you like my feather bed and how do you like my sheets |
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And how do you like my lady gay who lies in your arms asleep |
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10 |
Oh well I like your feather bed and well I like your sheets |
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But better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep |
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11 |
Get up get up Lord Darnell cried get up as quick as you can |
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It’l never be said in fair England I slew a naked man |
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12 |
Oh I can’t get up I won’t get up I can’t get up for my life |
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For you have two long beaten swords and I not a pocket knife |
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13 |
Well it’s true I have two beaten swords and they cost me deep in the purse |
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But you will have the better of them and I shall have the worse |
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14 |
And you will have the very first blow and strike it like a man |
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And I will strike the very next blow and I’ll kill you if I can |
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15 |
So Matty struck the very first blow and he hurt Lord Darnell sore |
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Lord Darnell struck the very next blow and Matty struck no more |
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16 |
And then Lord Darnell took his wife and sat her on his knee |
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Saying Who do you love the best of us Matty Groves or me |
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17 |
Then up spoke his own dear wife never heard to speak so free |
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I’d rather a kiss from dead Matty’s lips than you or your finery |
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18 |
And then Lord Darnell he jumped up and loudly did he bawl |
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He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall |
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19 |
A grave a grave Lord Darnell cried to put these lovers in |
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But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin |
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