Matty Groves chords by Doc Watson

Chords with lyrics

From the album 'Home Again'

Introduction:
C majorC  A minorAm FF  C majorC

Verse 1:
   A minorAm          C majorC
twas on the high high holy day, the very best day in the year.
            A minorAm
Little Matty Groves had gone to church, Holy words for to hear,
FF         C majorC
Holy words for to hear.

Verse 2:
  A minorAm                C majorC
The first to come down was dressed in red, and the second one dressed in green.
                A minorAm
The third to come down was Lord Daniel's wife as fair as any queen,
    FF      C majorC
Just as fair as any queen.

Verse 3:
   A minorAm               C majorC
Then Matty Groves says to one of his men "See the fair one dressed in white?
           A minorAm
Although she is Lord Daniel's wife, I'll be with her tonight,
   FF       C majorC
I'll be with her tonight."

Verse 4:
     A minorAm              C majorC
Well the little foot page was a'standing by and heard every word that was said.
              A minorAm
He says "Lord Daniel shall know tonight before I go to bed,
 FF      C majorC
Before I go to bed."

guitar break:
C majorC  A minorAm FF  C majorC

Verse 5:
    A minorAm              C majorC
He had fifteen miles for to go that night and ten of them he run.
              A minorAm
He run till he come to the broke down bridge, then he bent to his breast and he swum,
  FF           C majorC
He bent to his breast and he swum.

Verse 6:
  A minorAm                   C majorC
He swum til he come to where the grass was green, he took to his feet and he run.
              A minorAm
He run till he come to Lord Daniel's gate, then he rattled at the bells and they rung,
  FF               C majorC
He rattled at the bells and they rung.

Instrumental:
C majorC  A minorAm FF  C majorC

Verse 7:
   A minorAm              C majorC
"What news? What news?" Lord Daniel says, "What news to me have you brung?"
                A minorAm
"Little Matty Groves is in the bed with your wife and their hearts both beat as one,
     FF          C majorC
And their hearts both beat as one."

Verse 8:
   A minorAm             C majorC
"Now if the truth you've told to me, a rich man you shall be.
          A minorAm
But if a lie you've told to me, I'll hang you to a tree,
   FF       C majorC
I'll hang you to a tree."

Verse 9:
  A minorAm          C majorC
He gathered him up about fifty good men. He done it with a free good will.
              A minorAm
Then he popped his bugle unto his lips, and he blowed it loud and shrill,
  FF         C majorC
He blowed it loud and shrill.

Verse 10:
   A minorAm                C majorC
"I'd better get up," said little Matty Groves,"I'd better get up and go.
             A minorAm
I know your husband is a'coming home, for I heared his bugle blow,
 FF        C majorC
I heared his bugle blow."

Verse 11:
   A minorAm             C majorC
"Lay down, lay down, my precious one lay down and go to sleep.
           A minorAm
It's only my father's shepherd's horn, and he's a calling for his sheep,
FF           C majorC
He's a calling for his sheep."

Instrumental:
C majorC  A minorAm FF  C majorC

Verse 12:
  A minorAm            C majorC
So they laid down together again, and they soon were fast asleep,
              A minorAm
And when they awoke it was broad daylight, Lord Daniel at their feet,
   FF        C majorC
Lord Daniel at their feet.

Verse 13:
   A minorAm           C majorC
"Get up from there you naked man and put you on some clothes.
           A minorAm
I never intend for to have it said that a naked man I slew
    FF      C majorC
That a naked man I slew."

Instrumental:
C majorC  A minorAm FF  C majorC

Verse 14:
  A minorAm                  C majorC
"Oh give me a chance," said little Matty Groves, "A chance to fight for my life.
            A minorAm
For there you have two very fine swords, and me not as much as a knife,
  FF          C majorC
And me not as much as a knife."

Verse 15:
  A minorAm            C majorC
"Oh yes I have two very fine swords, and they cost me deep in the purse.
         A minorAm
You may have the finest one, and I will take the worst,
  FF        C majorC
Yes I will take the worst."

Verse 16:
   A minorAm                 C majorC
Then Matty Groves struck the very first lick and he wounded Lord Daniel sore.
            A minorAm
Lord Daniel struck the very next lick, and he drove Matty Groves to the floor,
  FF             C majorC
He drove Matty Groves to the floor.

Verse 17:
    A minorAm          C majorC
Then he taken his lady by the hand and he sat her on his knee.
                A minorAm
And he says, "Now which do you love the best? Little Matty Groves or me?
    FF        C majorC
Little Matty Groves or me?"

Verse 18:
   A minorAm          C majorC
"Very well I like your rosy cheeks, very well I like your chin.
             A minorAm
But better I love little Matty Groves than you and all of your kin,
   FF          C majorC
Than you and all of your kin.

Verse 19:
     A minorAm               C majorC
"You can dig my grave on a pretty green hill, dig it wide and deep.
              A minorAm
And put little Matty Groves in my arms Lord Daniel at my feet,
   FF      C majorC

Other versions of Matty Groves

Alternative guitar chords and tabs for Matty Groves by Doc Watson