One day one day one holyday,
The first one of the year
Little Matty Groves has went to church
The Holy Word to hear, to hear
The Holy Word to hear, to hear

Lord Darnell’s wife was standing by,
She cast her eye on him
Go home with me, little Matty Groves
A wedded wife to be, to be
A wedded wife to be

I can’t come home, and I won’t come home
I cannot spare my life
But by the rings upon your hands
You are Lord Darnell’s wife, his wife
You are Lord Darnell’s wife

It’s if I am Lord Darnell’s wife,
Lord Darnell’s gone today
He’s across the waterside
He’s gone over there to stay, to stay
He’s gone over there to stay

But the little foot-page was standing by
And hearing what was said
He swore Lord Darnell he would know
Before the sun was set, was set
Before the sun was set

He ran till he came to the riverside
He bent his breast and swam
He swam till he came to the other side
And he picked up his heels and ran and ran
Picked up his heels and ran

When he came to Lord Darnell’s haa
He tinkled at the pin
Lord Darnell he was ready there
For to rise and let him in, him in
To rise and let him in

Oh is my bower a falling down,
Or does my castle burn
Or is my lady lighter yet
Of a daughter or a son, a son
A daughter or a son

Oh no your bower’s not fallin’ down
Or does your castle burn
But little Matty Groves he sleeps tonight
Keeping your lady warm, her warm
Keeping your lady warm

Then Lord Darnell took his men
And lined them in a row
The orders that he gave to them
That ne’er a horn should blow, should blow
That ne’er a horn should blow

Matty Groves he was laid down
He took a little sleep
And when he woke Lord Darnell,
He was standing at his feet, his feet
He was standing at his feet

Rise up rise up, Little Matty Groves
Rise up as quick as you can
It shalln’t be said in old Scotland
I slew a naked man, a man
I slew a naked man

Oh, I can’t get up, and I won’t get up
I cannot spare my life
For you have two swords by your side
And I have ne’er a knife, a knife
And I have ne’er a knife

It’s I’ve got two swords by my side
They cost me from my purse
And you can have the very best
And I shall have the worst, the worst
And I shall have the worst

Matty struck the very first blow
He wounded Darnell sore
Lord Darnell struck the very next blow
Little Matty struck no more, no more
Little Matty struck no more

Then Lord Darnell took his wife
He sat her on his knee
Sayin’ who do you like best of all
Little Matty Groves or me, or me?
Little Matty Groves or me?

Very well I like your rosy cheeks,
Very well I like your skin
But better I like little Matty Groves
Than you and all your kin, your kin
Than you and all your kin