Robyn Hitchcock Song Catalogue

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Author: Traditional, arr. Fairport Convention

Apparently this song has never been released by Robyn Hitchcock.

The tune used as the basis for the instrumental at the end comes from a banjo piece by Eddie West, and was also used by Martin Carthy in his version of the song Famous flower of serving men.

Fairport recorded this song several times both with and without Sandy Denny: The first (and most famous) version with Sandy appeared on Liege And Lief where the line-up is Denny / Hutchings / Mattacks / Nicol / Swarbrick / Thompson. This version also appears on The History Of Fairport Convention. The second version with Sandy is on Fairport's Live album, recorded in 1974, with Denny / Donahue / Lucas / Mattacks / Pegg / Swarbrick.

The first version without Sandy appears on Live at the L.A. Troubadour, recorded in 1970 with Mattacks / Nicol / Pegg / Swarbrick / Thompson, and the second version appears on the 1979 live album Farewell, Farewell. The third version without Sandy appears on the 1987 live album In Real Time, as part of the ``big three medley''; this version also appears in the video It All Comes 'Round Again.

This Fairport perennial is treated to yet another arrangement in the 1990 video Live Legends, and in the 25th Anniversary Concert CD (1992).


Lyrics:

A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the year
Lord Donald'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

``Come home with me, little Matty Groves, come home with me tonight
Come home with me, little Matty Groves, and sleep with me till light''
``Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonight
By the rings on your fingers I can tell you are my master's wife''
``But if I am Lord Donald's wife, Lord Donald's not at home
He is out in the far cornfields bringing the yearlings home''

And a servant who was standing by and hearing what was said
He swore Lord Donald he would know before the sun would set
And in his hurry to carry the news, he bent his breast and ran
And when he came to the broad millstream, he took off his shoes and he swam

Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep
When he awoke, Lord Donald was standing at his feet
Saying ``How do you like my feather bed and how do you like my sheets
How do you like my lady who lies in your arms asleep?''
``Oh, well I like your feather bed and well I like your sheets
But better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep''

``Well, get up, get up,'' Lord Donald cried, ``get up as quick as you can
It'll never be said in fair England that I slew a naked man''
``Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life
For you have two long beaten swords and I not a pocket knife''

``Well it's true I have two beaten swords and they cost me deep in the purse
But you will have the better of them and I will have the worse
And you will strike the very first blow and strike it like a man
I will strike the very next blow and I'll kill you if I can''

So Matty struck the very first blow and he hurt Lord Donald sore
Lord Donald struck the very next blow and Matty struck no more
And then Lord Donald took his wife and he sat her on his knee
Saying ``Who do you like the best of us, Matty Groves or me?''
And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free
``I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips than you or your finery''

Lord Donald he jumped up and loudly he did bawl
He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall
``A grave, a grave,'' Lord Donald cried, ``to put these lovers in
But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin'


No guitar tab entered.


Known to have been played live at 1 gigs:

Robyn Hitchcock:
St. Ann's Church (Brooklyn, New York), 11/21/1998 (Concert)

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