Child # 81

Hi ho, hi ho, holiday, the best day of the year.
Little Matty Groves to church did go, some holy words to hear, some holy words to hear.

He spied three ladies dressed in black as they came into view.
Lord Arlin's wife was gaily clad, a flower among the few, a flower among the few.

She tripped up to Matty Groves, her eyes so low cast down,
saying "Pray, oh pray come with me stay as you pass through the town, as you pass through the town.

I cannot go,I dare not go. I fear 'twould cost my life. for I see by that little ring you wear, you are Lord Arlin's wife, you're the great Lord Arlin's wife.

This may be false, this may be true. I can't deny it all,
but Arlin's gone to consecrate King Henry at Whitehall.
King Henry at Whitehall.

Oh pray, oh pray come with me stay. I'll hide you out of sight.
I'll serve you there beyond compare, and sleep with you the night, and sleep with you the night.

Her little page did listen well, to all that they did say.
And ere the sun could rise again, he quickly sped away,
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 Arlin's side, to the great Lord Arlin's side.

"What news, what news, my bully boy. what news brings you to me?
My castle burned, my tenants robbed, my lady with baby,
my lady with baby?.

No harm has come your house and land, the little page did say,
but Matty Groves is bedded up with your fair lady gay, with your fair lady gay.

Lord Arlin called his merry men, he bade them with him go;
he bade them nere a word to speak, and nere a horn to blow, and nere a horn to blow.

But among Lord Arlin's merry men, was one who wished no ill.
And the bravest lad in all the crew, blew his horn so loud and shrill, blew his horn so loud and shrill.

What's this, what's this? cried Matty Groves, What's this that I do hear?
It must be Lord Arlin's merry men, the ones that I do fear, the ones that I do fear.

Lie down, lie down little Matty Groves, and keep my back from cold.
It's only Arlin's merry men, a-calling the sheep to fold, a-calling the sheep to fold.

Little Matty Groves, he did lie down. He took a nap of sleep.
And when he woke, Lord Arlin was a-standing at his feet,
a-standing at his feet.

How now, how now, my bully boy, O how do you like my sheets?
And how do you like my fair young bride, who lies in your arms asleep, who lies in your arms asleep?

Ah it's very well I like your bed, and it's fine I like your sheets,
but it's best I like your fair young bride, who lies in my arms asleep, who lies in my arms asleep.

Rise up, rise up little Matty Groves, as fast as ere you can!
In England it shall nere be said, I slew a sleeping man, I slew a sleeping man.

And the firstest stroke little Matty struck, he hurt Lord Arlin sore,
but the nextest stroke Lord Arlin struck, little Matty struck no more, little Matty 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 Matty Groves, or the dying Matty Groves.

She picked up Matty's dying head. She kissed from cheek to chin.
Said it's Matty Groves I'd rather have, than Arlin and all his kin, than Arlin and all his kin!

Oh, woe is me and woe is thee. Why stayed you not your hand?
For you have killed the fairest lad in all of England, in all of England.

Note:
In most versions there is another verse where Lord Arlin Kills his wife also.

See also:
JustSomeLyrics
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