[Verse 1]
A holiday, a holiday
And the first one of the year
Lord Darnell's wife came into the church
The gospel for to hear

[Verse 2]
And when the meeting it was done
She cast her eyes about
And there she saw little Matty Groves
Walking in the crowd

[Verse 3]
"Come home with me, little Matty Groves
Come home with me tonight
Come home with me, little Matty Groves
And sleep with me till light"

[Verse 4]
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home
And sleep with you tonight
By the rings on your fingers I can tell
You are Lord Darnell's wife"

[Verse 5]
"What if I am Lord Darnell's wife?
Lord Darnell's not at home
Well, he is out in the far cornfields
Bringing the yearlings home"
[Verse 6]
And a servant who was standing by
And hearing what was said
He swore Lord Darnell he would know
Before the sun would set

[Verse 7]
And in his hurry to carry the news
He bent his breast and ran
And when he came to the broad millstream
He took off his shoes and swam

[Verse 8]
Little Matty Groves, he lay down
Took a little sleep
When he awoke, Lord Darnell
Was standing at his feet

[Verse 9]
Saying, "How do you like my feather bed
And how do you like my sheets?
How do you like my lady
Who lies in your arms asleep?"

[Verse 10]
"Oh, well I like your feather bed
And well I like your sheets
But better I like your lady gay
Who lies in my arms asleep"
[Verse 11]
"Well, get up, get up," Lord Darnell cried
"Get up as quick as you can
It'll never be said in fair England
I slew a naked man"

[Verse 12]
"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up
I can't get up for my life
For you have two long beaten swords
And I not a pocket knife"

[Verse 13]
"Well, it's true I have two beaten swords
And they cost me deep in the purse
But you will have the better of them
And I will have the worse

[Verse 14]
"And you will strike the very first blow
And strike it like a man
I will strike the very next blow
And I'll kill you if I can"

[Verse 15]
So Matty struck the very first blow
And he hurt Lord Darnell sore
Lord Darnell struck the very next blow
And Matty struck no more
[Verse 16]
And then Lord Darnell he took his wife
And he sat her on his knee
Saying, "Who do you like the best of us
Matty Groves or me?"

[Verse 17]
And then up spoke his own dear wife
Never heard to speak so free
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips
Than you or your finery"

[Verse 18]
Lord Darnell he jumped up
And loudly he did bawl
He struck his wife right through the heart
And pinned her against the wall

[Verse 19]
"A grave, a grave," Lord Darnell cried
"To put these lovers in
But bury my lady at the top
For she was of noble kin"

[Violin Solo]

[Guitar Solo]