“Matty Groves” is an English folk ballad that describes an adulterous tryst between a man and a woman that is ended when the woman’s husband discovers and kills them. It dates to at least the 17th century, and is one of the Child Ballads collected by 19th-century American scholar Francis James Child. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matty_Groves

• Was on the high, high holy day
• The very best day in the year
• Little Matty Groves had gone to church
• holy words for the year
• holy words for the year
• the first to come to come down, was dressed in red
• and the second one dressed in green
• the third to come down, was Lord Daniel’s wife
• just as fair as any queen
• just as fair as any queen
• then Matty Groves says to one of his men
• see the fair one dressed in white
• although she is Lord Daniel’s wife
• I’ll be with her tonight
• I’ll be with her tonight
• well the little footpage was standing by
• and he heard every word that was said
• he says “Lord Daniel shall know tonight
• before I go to bed
• before I go to bed”
• he had 15 miles for to go that night
• and 10 of them he run
• he run til he come to the broken bridge
• then he bent to his breast and he swung
• he bent to his breast and he swung
• he swum til he come, to where the grass was green
• he took to his feet and he run
• he run til he come, to Lord Daniel’s gate
• he rattled at the bells and they rung
• he rattled at the bells and they rung
• “what news, what news”, Lord Daniel says,
• “what news to me have you brung”
• “little Matty Groves, is in the bed with your wife
• and their hearts both beat as one
• and their hearts both beat as one”
• “now if the truth you’ve told to me,
• a rich man you shall be,
• but if a lie, you’ve told to me,
• I’ll hang you to a tree
• I’ll hang you to a tree”
• he gathered him up about 50 good men,
• he done it with a free good will
• then he popped his bugel to his lips
• he blowed it loud and shrill
• he blowed it loud and shrill
• “I better get up” said little Matty Groves
• “I better get up and go
• I know your husband is coming home
• for I heard his bugel blow
• I heard his bugel blow”
• “lay down, lay down, my precious one
• lay down and go to sleep
• it’s only my father shepherd’s horn
• and he’s calling for his sheep
• he’s calling for his sheep”
• so they lay down, together again
• and they soon were fast asleep
• and when they awoke it was broad daylight
• Lord Daniel at their feet
• Lord Daniel at their feet
• “get up from there, you naked man
• and put you on some clothes
• i never intend for to have it said
• that a naked man I slew
• that a naked man I slew”
• “Oh give me a chance”, said little Matty Groves,
• “a chance to fight for my life
• for there you have, two very fine swords
• and me not as much as knife
• and me not as much as knife”
• “Oh yes I have, two very fine swords
• and they cost me deep in the purse
• you may have, the finest one
• and I will take the worst
• yes I will take the worst”
• then Matty Groves struck, the very first lick
• and he wounded Lord Daniel’s sword
• Lord Daniel struck the very next lick
• and he drove Matty Groves to the floor
• he drove Matty Groves to the floor
• then he taken his lady, by the hand
• and he set her on his knee
• and he says “now which, do you love the best
• little matty groves or me
• little matty groves or me”
• “very well I like your rosy cheeks
• very well I like your chin
• but better I love, little matty groves
• than you and all of your kin
• than you and all of your kin
• You can take my grave on a pretty green hill
• dig it wide and deep
• and put a little Matty Groves in my arms
• Lord Daniel at my feet
• Lord Daniel at my feet”