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N.C.
A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the year
Lord Arlen's wife came into the church, the gospel for to hear
And when the meeting it was done, she cast her eyes about
And there she saw little Matty Groves, walking in the crowd
AmC
"Come home with me, little Matty Groves, come home with me tonight
GEmAm
Come home with me, little Matty Groves, and sleep with me till light"
AmC
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonight
GEmAm
By the rings on your fingers I can tell you are my master's wife"
AmC
"But if I am Lord Arlen's wife, Lord Arlen's not at home
GEmAm
He is out in the far cornfields bringing the yearlings home"
AmC
And a servant who was standing by and hearing what was said
GEmAm
He swore Lord Arlen he would know before the sun would set
AmC
And in his hurry to carry the news, he bent his breast and ran
GEmAm
And when he came to the broad millstream, he took off his shoes and he swam
[Picking Solo]
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[Verse]
AmC
Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep
GEmAm
When he awoke, Lord Arlen was standing at his feet
AmC
Saying "How do you like my feather bed and how do you like my sheets
GEmAm
How do you like my lady who lies in your arms asleep?"
AmC
"Oh, well I like your feather bed and well I like your sheets
GEmAm
But better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep"
AmC
"Well, get up, get up, " Lord Arlen cried, "get up as quick as you can
GEmAm
It'll never be said in fair England that I slew a naked man"
AmC
"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life
GEmAm
For you have two long beaten swords and I not a pocket knife"
AmC
"Well it's true I have two beaten swords and they cost me deep in the purse
GEmAm
But you will have the better of them and I will have the worse
AmC
And you will strike the very first blow and strike it like a man
GEmAm
I will strike the very next blow and I'll kill you if I can"
AmC
So Matty struck the very first blow and he hurt Lord Arlen sore
GEmAm
Lord Arlen struck the very next blow and Matty struck no more
AmC
And then Lord Arlen took his wife and he sat her on his knee
GEmAm
Saying "Who do you like the best of us, Matty Groves or me?"
AmC
And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free
GEmAm
"I'd rather kiss from dead Matty's lips than you or your finery"
[Picking Solo]
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[Outro]
AmC
Lord Arlen he jumped up and loudly he did bawl
GEmAm
He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall
AmC
"A grave, a grave, " Lord Arlen cried, "to put these lovers in
GEmAm
But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin.