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