Fairport Convention – The Big Three Medley: The Swirling Pit/ Matty Groves/the Rutland Reel/sack The Juggler lyrics

A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the year
Lord Donald's wife came into the church, and the gospel she did hear
And when the meeting it was done, she cast her eyes about
And there she spied little Matty Groves, Ah walking thru the crowd
"Come home with me, little Matty Groves, come home with me tonight
Come home with me, young Matty Groves, and sleep with me till light"
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't go home sleeping with you tonight
For by the rings on your fingers I can see you are my master's wife"
"What if I am Lord Donald's wife, He is not at home
He is out in the far country he's bringing the yearlings home"

But a servant who was standing by and hearing what was said
Swore Lord Donald he would know before the sun would set
And in her hurry to carry her news, she bent her breast as she ran
But when she came to the broad millstream, she took off her shoes and she swam.

So Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep
When he awoke, Lord Donald was standing by his feet
Saying "How do you like my feather bed and how do you like my sheets
and how do you like my lady wife who lies in your arms asleep?"
"Oh, well I like your feather bed and better I like your sheets
Best of all I like your lady wife who lies in my arms asleep"
"GET UP, get up, get up," Lord Donald cried, "get up as quick as you can
For It will never be said in fair England that I slew a naked man"
"Oh, I can't get up, And I won't get up, I wouldn't get up for my life
For you have two long beaten swords and I not a pocket knife"
" It's true I have two beaten swords and they cost me deep in my purse
But you will have the better of them and I will have the worse
And you will strike me 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 Matty struck the very first blow and he hurt Lord Donald sore
Lord Donald struck the very next blow and Matty struck no more
And then he took his own dear wife and he sat her a pone his knee
Said "Who do you like the best of us now , Your Dead Matty Groves or me?"
And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free
"I'd rather one kiss from dead Matty's lips than you or your finery"

At that Lord Donald he jumped up and loudly did he bawl
He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her up to the wall
"A grave, a grave," Lord Donald cried, "to put these lovers in
But won't you bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin