The Carcinogens - Matty Groves (Traditional)
Channel: TimothyBIinks
Date: 2013-05-31

Shot in La Caravane's backyard, in the heart of Ottawa, with my friend Julia. (Laurie was briefly a member of The Carcinogens, but found it too hot to stay outside).
A very old English ballad. In the Appalachians, it became ''Shady Grove.''

More specifically, this ballad was first published in Wit and Drollery (1658). It was quoted in several old plays earlier than this. It has been collected in southern Scotland, England and America. It is a variant of Child Ballad #81 (Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard).
So says:
http://www.contemplator.com/child/mattie.html

I recommend the gorgeous version by Alela Diane & Alina Hardin:
http://youtu.be/bUns2Ye0wWM
I also adore the version by Elizabeth laprelle, done in an ultra-traditional way. It's harsh and lovely:
http://youtu.be/_gajbmVvUpk

Doc Watson does a great version of "Shady Grove," and I recommend this one which he did with David Holt. 
http://youtu.be/-7MwW3JuEOY
To get an idea of how different the words are, Doc describes as a "courting song." (Don't think many would sing "Matty Groves" to try to court someone).

For those interested in learning it, Matt Vaughan walks through the chords for "Shady Grove" as part of his awesome "Rise Up Singing Project." I used his chords (with an 8th fret capo) and melody, but with the words for "Matty Grove."
http://youtu.be/guOgPcDWjqM

An updated and arguably better version, not involving Julia though:
https://wychwood.xyz/songs-of-love-death/#10

More and newer music by Tim:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKlJd5R6Ffdea1nODZf2Ng
https://wychwood.bandcamp.com/music


The lyrics as we do them are as follows. (There are countless variations on the lyrics, and we made up our own, mostly based on the version linked to above on 'contemplator.com'.)
__________

A holiday, a holiday, the first one of the year
Lord Arlen's wife came into church, the gospel for to hear
And when the meeting it was done, she cast her eyes about
And there she saw little Mattie Groves, walking in the park

"Come home with me little Mattie Groves, come home with me tonight
Come home with me little Mattie Groves, and sleep with me tonight"
"Oh I can't come home, I won't come home, and sleep with you tonight
(For) by the rings on your fingers, you are my master's wife"

" 'Tis true I am Lord Arlen's wife, Lord Arlen's not at home
He is out to the far corn fields, bringing the yearlings home"
So Mattie Groves, he lay down, and took a little sleep
When he awoke Lord Arlen was standing at his feet

Saying "how do you like my feather bed, and how do you like my sheets?
And how do you like my lady fair, who lies in your arms asleep?"
"Oh well I like your feather bed, and well I like your sheets
But best I like your lady fair, who lies in my arms asleep"

"Well get up! Get up!" Lord 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 can't get up for my life
For you have two long beaten swords, and I but a pocket knife"

"Well it's true I have two beaten swords, they cost a pretty 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 Mattie struck the very first blow, and he hurt Lord Arlen sore
Lord Arlen struck the very next blow, and Mattie struck no more

Ah then Lord Arlen took his wife, he sat her on his knee
Saying "who do you like the better of us, little Mattie Groves or me?"
And then spoke up his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free
"I'd rather kiss dead Mattie's lips, than you and your finery"

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

We omitted a few couplets about the page who informs Lord Arlen that his wife is sleeping with Matty Groves. I find it keeps things more focussed and dramatic, and the it's the kind of sudden leap in narrative that a lot of traditional songs make. 

But there's some interesting variations on the page's motivations in the many different versions of 'Lady Musgrave and Lady Barnard':
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch081.htm