Matty Groves- Joan Baez; 1962 Recording- Gibson
[Posted on Mudcat Forum. From Bob Gibson based on an unknown version. I don't consider this traditional until a source is provided. Notes from Art Thieme follow.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
[Art Thieme] I'm just about certain tha Joan Baez learned her version of "MATTY GROVES"---tune and lyric---from Bob Gibson when they worked together at the Gate Of Horn folk nightclub in Chicago 1959. Bob had been singing the song in Chicago for over a year by then and I do remember it as the only song he played with a 12-string guitar at that time. Later the 12-string guitar would become his main instrument. Baez opened the show for Gibson back then at the "Gate". One could not hear Baez and not be blown away by her voice in those days. Bob took Joan to the Newport Folk Festival as his guest in '59 and brought her up on stage to sing with him----and the rest is history (as they say).
Bob Gibson did the song just about the exact way Joe Offer posted it---except that I don't believe the last 4 lines of the song as posted were there at all. Nothing at all about kicking the severed head. Somehow, that image was comedic & people would giggle. It was a dramatic version that Bob did with a real intensity. As mentioned by someone here in this thread, Baez did it intensely also.
Joan Baez recorded it on Joan Baez in Concert. But they were dressed in Black. Very different words. I never noticed back then how Spanish her guitar playing was. In this song, the guitar builds up incredible tension and power. "
Matty Groves (live)- Joan Baez - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfCIlmngRfY
Hi ho, hi ho, holiday, the best day of the year
Little Mattie Groves to church did go, some holy words to hear
Some holy words to hear
He spied two ladies dressed in black, as they came into view
Lord Arlen's wife was gaily clad, a flower among the few
A flower among the few.
She tripped up to Mattie Groves, her eyes so low cast down
Sayin' pray, oh pray, come with me stay, as you pass through the town
As you pass through the town
I cannot go, I dare not go, I fear it would cost my life
For I see by the little ring you wear you are Lord Arlen's wife
You're the great Lord Arlen's wife.
This may be false, this may be true, I can't deny it all
Lord Arlen's gone to consecrate, King Henry at Whitehall
King Henry at Whitehall
Oh pray, oh pray, come with me stay, I'll hide you out of sight
I'll serve you there without compare, and sleep with you the night
and sleep with you the night
Her little page did listen well to all that they did say
And err the sun could rise again, he quickly sped away
He quickly sped away
And he did run the King's highway, he swam across the tide
He ne'er did stop until he came to the great Lord Arlen's side
To the great Lord Arlen's side
Guitar bridge
How now, how now my bully boy? What news brings you to me?
My castle burnt, my tenants robbed, my lady with baby?
My lady with baby?
No harm has come to your house and lands, his little page did say
But Mattie Groves is bedded up with your fair lady gay
With your fair lady gay
Lord Arlen called his merry men, he bade them with him go
he bade them nary a word to speak and nary a horn to blow
And nary a horn to blow
But among Lord Arlen's merry men was one who wished no ill
and the bravest lad among the crew blew his horn so loud and shrill
Blew his horn so loud and shrill
Guitar Bridge 2
What's this, what's this cried Mattie Groves, what's this that I do hear
It must be Lord Arlen's merry men, the ones that I do fear
The ones that I do fear
Lie down, lie down little Mattie Groves and keep my back from cold
It's only Lord Arlen's merry men they're calling the sheep to fold
They're calling the sheep to fold
Little Mattie Groves he did lie down, he took a nap asleep
And when he awoke Lord Arlen was standing at his feet
A-standin at his feet
Guitar Bridge 3
How now, how now, my bully boy, how do you like my sheets?
And how do you like my fair young bride who lies in your arms asleep?
Who lies in your arms asleep?
Oh it's very well I like your bed and it's fine I like your sheets
But it's best I like your fair young bride who lies in my arms asleep
Who lies in my arms asleep
Rise up, rise up little Mattie Groves as fast as e'er ye can
In England it shall ne'er be said that I slew a sleepin man
I slew a sleepin man
Now the first to struck little Mattie struck, he hurt Lord Arlen sore
But the next to stroke Lord Arlen struck little Mattie struck no more
Little Mattie struck no more
Rise up, rise up my gay young bride, draw on your pretty clothes
Now tell me do you like me best, or like your Mattie Groves
Or the dying Mattie Groves
She picked up Mattie's dying head she kissed from cheek to chin
Said it's Mattie Groves I'd rather have than Lord Arlen and all his kin
Lord Arlen and all his kin
Woe is me, woe is thee, why staid you not your hand
For you have killed the fairest lad in all of England
In all of England