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Mattie Groves |
Child Ballad |
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| A holiday and a holiday The best day of the year Little Mattie Groves to church did go Some holy words to hear He spied three ladies dressed in black As they came into view Lord Arlen’s wife was gaily clad A flower among the few She trip’ed up to Mattie Groves He eyes so low cast down Saying “Pray, oh pray, come with me stay As you pass through the town” “I cannot go I dare not go I fear it would cost me life For I see by the little ring you wear You are Lord Arlen’s wife” “This may be false, this may be true I can’t deny it all But Arlen’s gone to consecrate King Henry at Whitehall Oh pray, oh pray come with me stay I’ll hide thee out of sight I’ll serve you there beyond compare And sleep with you the night Her little page did listen well Too all that they did say And ere the sun could rise again He quickly sped away And he did run the King’s Highway He swam across the tide He ne’er did stop until he came To the great Lord Arlen’s side |
“What news, What news my bully boy What news brings you to me? My castle burnt, My tenants roused My lady with baby? “No harm has come your house and land” The little page did say “But Mattie Groves is bedded up With your fair lady gay” Little Mattie Groves he did lie down He took a nap asleep And when he woke Lord Arlen was A’standin’ at his feet “Rise up, rise up little Mattie Groves As fast as e’re you can In England it shall ne’er be said I slew a sleeping man” And the firstest stroke little Mattie struck He hurt Lord Arlen sore But the nextest stoke Lord Arlen struck Little Mattie Struck no more “Rise up, rise up my gay young bride Draw on your pretty clothes Now tell me do you like me best Or like your Mattie Groves” She pick’ed up Mattie’s dying head She kissed from cheek to chin Said “It’s Mattie Groves I’d rather have Than Arlen and his kin” “Ah woe is me, and Woe is thee Why stayed you not your hand? For you have killed the fairest lad In all of England” For you have killed the fairest lad In all of England. |
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