Was on the high high holy day The best day of the year Little Matty Groves went to church A gospel for to hear A gospel for to hear And first to come down was dressed in green And the second one dressed in red The third to come down was Lord Daniel's wife Just as fair as any queen Just as fair as any queen Then Matty Groves says to one of his men See the fair one dressed in white Although she is Lord Daniel's wife I'll be with her tonight I'll be with her tonight And little foot page he was standing by And heard all that was said He says Lord Daniel shall know tonight Before I go to bed Before I go to bed He had fifteen miles for to go that night And ten of them he run He run til he come to the broke down bridge Then he bent to his breast and he swum He bent to his breast and he swum He swum til he come to where the gra** was green He took to his feet and he run He run til he come to Lord Daniel's Gate Then he rattled at the bells and he rung He rattled at the bells and he rung What news, what news, what news What news have you bring Little Matty Groves is in your bed with your wife And their hearts both beat as one Their hearts both beat as one Now if the truth you've told me A rich man you shall be But if a lie you've told to me I'll hang you to a tree I'll hang you to a tree Then he gathered him up about fifty good men And he done it with a free good will Then he popped his bugle to his mouth And he blowed it loud and shrill He blowed it loud and shrill I'd better get up said little Matty Groves I'd better get up and go I know your husband is coming home I hear his bugle blow I hear his bugle blow Lay down, lay down my precious one Lay down and go to sleep It's only my father's shepherd's horn And he's a calling for his sheep He's a calling for his sheep So they laid down together again And soon were fast asleep And when they awoke it was broad daylight Lord Daniel at their feet Lord Daniel at their feet Get up from there your naked man And put you on some clothes I never intend for to have it said That a naked man I slow That a naked man I slow Then Matty Groves struck the very first lick And he wounded Lord Daniel sore Lord Daniel struck the very next lick And he drove Matty Groves to the floor He drove Matty Groves to the floor Then he taken his lady by the hand And he sat her on his knee And he says now which do you love the best Little Matty Groves or me Little Matty Groves or me Very well I like your rosy cheeks Very well I like your chin But better I love little Matty Groves Than you and all of your kin Than you and all of your kin You can dig my grave on a pretty green hill And dig it wide and deep And put little Matty Groves in my arms Lord Daniel at my feet Lord Daniel at my feet You can dig my grave on a pretty green hill And dig it wide and deep And put little Matty Groves in my arms Lord Daniel at my feet Lord Daniel at my feet