AmDm
Hi ho hi ho holiday
AmE
The best day of the year
AmDm
Little Matty Groves to church did go
AmEAmEAm
some holy words to hear, some holy words to hear
[Verse 2]
AmDm
He spied three ladies dressed in black
AmE
As they came into view
AmDm
Lord Arlens wife was gaily clad
AmEAmEAm
a flower among the few, a flower among the few.
[Verse 3]
AmDm
She tripped up to Matty Groves
AmE
Her eyes so low cast down
AmDm
Saying "Pray, oh, pray come with me stay
AmEAmEAm
As you pass through the town, as you pass through the town
[Verse 4]
AmDm
I cannot go, I dare not go
AmE
I fear 'twould cost my life
AmDm
For I see by the little ring you wear
AmEAmEAm
You are Lord Arlens wife, the great Lord Arlens wife
[Verse 5]
AmDm
This may be false, this may be true
AmE
I can't deny it all
AmDm
Lord Arlens gone to consecrate
AmEAmEAm
King Henry at Whitehall, King Henry at Whitehall
[Verse 6]
AmDm
Oh pray, oh pray come with me stay
AmE
I'll hide thee out of sight
AmDm
I'll serve you there beyond compare
AmEAmEAm
And sleep with you the night, and sleep with you the night
[Verse 7]
AmDm
Her little page did listen well
AmE
to all that they did say
AmDm
and ere the sun could rise again
AmEAmEAm
He quickly sped away, he quickly sped away
[Verse 8]
AmDm
And he did run the Kings highway
AmE
He swam across the tide
AmDm
He ne'er did stop until he came
AmEAmEDmDsus2Dm
To the great Lord Arlens side, to the great Lord Arlens side
[Instrumental]
AmAsus2AmEE7EAm
[Verse 9]
AmDm
What news what news my bully boy
AmE
what news brings you to me
AmDm
My castle burned, my tenants robbed
AmEAmEAm
My lady with baby, my lady with baby
[Verse 10]
AmDm
No harm has come your house and land
AmE
The little page did say
AmDm
"But Matty Groves is bedded up
AmEAmEAm
With your fair lady gay, With your fair lady gay
[Verse 11]
AmDm
Lord Arlen called his merry men
AmE
He bade them with him go
AmDm
He bade them ne'er a word to speak
AmEAmEAm
And ne'er a horn to blow, and ne'er a horn to blow
[Verse 12]
AmDm
But among Lord Arlens merry men
AmE
Was one who wished no ill
AmDm
And the bravest lad in all the crew
AmEAmEDmDsus2Dm
Blew his horn so loud and shrill, blew his horn so loud and shrill
[Instrumental]
AmAsus2AmEE7EAm
[Verse 13]
AmDm
Whats this whats this cried Matty Groves
AmE
Whats this that I do hear
AmDm
It must be Lord Arlens merry men
AmEAEAm
The ones that I do fear, the ones that I do fear
[Verse 14]
AmDm
Lie down lie down little Matty Groves
AmE
And keep my back from cold
AmDm
Its only Lord Arlens merry men
AmEAmEAm
a'callin the sheep to fold, a'callin the sheep to fold.
[Verse 15]
AmDm
Little Matty Groves he did lie down
AmE
He took a nap asleep
AmDm
And when he woke Lord Arlen was
AmEAEDmDsus2Dm
A'standing at his feet, a'standing at his feet.
[Instrumental]
AmAsus2AmEE7EAm
[Verse 16]
AmDm
How now how now my bully boy
AmE
Oh how do you like my sheets
AmDm
And how do you like my fair young bride
AmEAmEAm
Who lies in your arms asleep, who lies in your arms asleep.
[Verse 17]
AmDm
Ah its very well I like your bed
AmE
And its fine I like your sheets
ADm
But its best I like your fair young bride
AmEAmEAm
Who lies in my arms asleep, Who lies in my arms asleep.
[Verse 18]
AmDm
Rise up rise up little Matty Groves
AmE
As fast as e'er you can
AmDm
In England it shall ne'er be said
AmEAmEAm
I slew a sleepin' man, I slew a sleepin' man
[Verse 19]
AmDm
And the firstest stroke little Matty struck
AmE
He hurt Lord Arlen sore
AmDm
But the nextest stroke Lord Arlen struck
AmEAmEAm
Little Matty struck no more, Little Matty struck no more.
[Verse 20]
ADm
Rise up rise up my gay young bride
AmE
Draw on your pretty clothes
AmDm
Now tell me do you like me best
AmEAmEAm
Or like you Matty Groves, or the dying Matty Groves.
[Verse 21]
AmDm
She picked up Matty's dying head
AmE
she kissed from cheek to chin
AmE
Said "Its Matty Groves I'd rather have
AmEAmEAm
Than Arlen and all his kin, than Arlen and all his kin.
[Verse 22]
AmDm
Ah, woe is me and woe is thee
AmE
Why stayed you not your hand
AmDm
For you have killed the fairest lad
AmEDmA
In all of England, in all of England