[Verse 1]
A holiday, a holiday
And the first one of the year
Lord Arnold's wife came into the church
The gospel for to hear

[Verse 2]
And when the meeting it was done
She cast her eyes about
And there she spied little Matty Groves
A-walking through the crowd

[Verse 3]
Said, "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"

[Verse 4]
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home
Sleeping with you tonight
For by the rings on your fingers I can tell
You are my master's wife"

[Verse 5]
"And what if I am Lord Arnold's wife?
He is not at home
He is out to the far country
He's bringing the yearlings home"
[Verse 6]
But a servant who was standing by
Hearing what was said
Swore Lord Arnold he would know
Before the sun did set

[Verse 7]
And in his hurry to carry his news
She bent his breast and he ran
When he came to the broad millstream
He took off his shoes and he swam

[Verse 8]
So little Matty Groves, he lay down
And he took a little sleep
When he awoke, Lord Arnold
Was standing by his feet

[Verse 9]
Saying, "How do you like my feather bed?
How do you like my sheets?
How do you like my lady wife
Who lies in your arms asleep?"

[Verse 10]
"Oh, well I like your feather bed
Better I like your sheets
Best of all I like your own dear wife
Who lies in my arms asleep"
[Verse 11]
"Get up! Get up, get up," Lord Arnold cried
"Get up as quick as you can
But it'll never be said in fair England
That I slew a naked man"

[Verse 12]
"Oh, I can't get up, 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"

[Verse 13]
"It's true I have two beaten swords
They cost me deep in my purse
But you will have the better of them
And I will keep the worse

[Verse 14]
"And you will strike me the very first blow
Strike it like a man
I will strike the very next blow
And I'll kill you if I can"

[Verse 15]
So Matty struck the very first blow
And he hurt Lord Arnold sore
Lord Arnold struck the very next blow
And Matty struck the floor
[Verse 16]
And then he took his own dear wife
He sat her upon his knee
And said, "Who do you like the best of us now
Your dead Matty Groves or me?"

[Verse 17]
And then up spoke his own dear wife
Never heard to speak so free
"I would rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips
Than you and all of your finery"

[Verse 18]
And that Lord Arnold he jumped up
And loudly did he bawl
He stuck his wife right through the heart
And he pinned her up to the wall

[Verse 19]
"A grave, a grave," Lord Arnold cried
"To put these lovers in
But won't you bury my lady at the top
For she was of noble kin"

[Instrumental]