Matty Groves (Traditional/Reimagining)

Southern storytelling, murder ballad, rap

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[Intro]
[Male Lead: Close-mic Southern/Appalachian voice; ominous, restrained.]
On the high, high holy day...
The finest day of the year...
Two hearts crossed a line...
And death was waiting near...
[Verse 1]
[Male Lead: Intimate narrative; measured old-ballad phrasing.]
It was on the high, high holy day,
The finest day of the year,
Little Matty Groves had gone to church
To hear the holy words draw near.
The first one down was dressed in red,
The second one dressed in green,
The third one down was Lord Daniel's wife,
As fair as any queen.
Then Matty Groves leaned to one of his men,
"See that lady dressed in white.
Though she belongs to Lord Daniel,
I'll be with her tonight."
But a little foot page heard every word,
And knew what must be said.
"Lord Daniel will know tonight,
Before I go to bed."
[Verse 2]
[Male Lead: Tension rising; faster conversational phrasing.]
He had fifteen miles to travel that night,
And ten of them he ran.
He ran until he reached the broken bridge,
Then bent his breast and swam.
He swam until the grass grew green,
Then pulled himself to run.
He ran until he reached Lord Daniel's gate,
And rattled till the bells had rung.
"What news? What news?" Lord Daniel cried,
"What news have you brought to me?"
"Little Matty Groves is in your bed,
With your wife where he should not be."
"If the truth you've told to me,
A rich man you shall be.
But if you've brought a lie to me,
I'll hang you from a tree."
[Rap Verse 1]
[Male Lead: Low, urgent Southern cadence; rhythmic storytelling.]
Fifteen miles in the dead of night,
Ten on foot with the fear in flight,
River in the darkness, broken bridge ahead,
Every step getting closer to the bed.
Lord Daniel heard it, Lord Daniel knew,
A promise made and a promise due.
He gathered his men, let the night wind blow,
And raised that horn with a deadly glow.
No turning back, no time to pray,
He saddled up before the break of day.
When a secret gets carried through a kingdom that small,
Everybody hears when the mighty man calls.
[Verse 3]
[Male Lead: Ominous, controlled; tension tightening.]
He gathered fifty good men around,
And they came of their own free will.
Then he raised his bugle to his lips
And blew it loud and shrill.
"I'd better rise," said little Matty Groves,
"I'd better get up and go.
I know your husband is coming home,
For I heard his bugle blow."
"Lie down, lie down, my precious one,
Lie down and go to sleep.
It's only my father's shepherd's horn,
He's calling for his sheep."
So they lay down together once more,
And soon they were fast asleep.
When morning broke across the room,
Lord Daniel stood at their feet.
[Rap Verse 2]
[Male Lead: Low, tense cadence; nearly whispered, then harder.]
Morning came and the room went still,
No more running, no more thrill.
Daniel at the foot of the bed,
A storm behind his eyes, fire in his head.
Matty reached for time, but time was gone,
The night had ended with the break of dawn.
Two fine swords hanging within his reach,
One for a man with something to teach.
But love don't care what a warning means,
And pride don't bend when the truth gets seen.
So steel came flashing in the morning light,
And two men stepped into the final fight.
[Verse 4]
[Male Lead: Sharp, dramatic storytelling; duel becomes immediate.]
"Get up from there, you naked man,
And put some clothes upon you.
I never meant for it to be said
That I found a naked man before you."
"Give me a chance," said Matty Groves,
"A chance to fight for my life.
There stand two very fine swords,
And I have nothing but a knife."
"Oh yes, I have two very fine swords,
They cost me dearly to buy.
You may take the finest one,
And I'll take the one that's mine."
Then Matty struck the very first blow,
And wounded Lord Daniel sore.
Lord Daniel struck the very next,
And Matty fell upon the floor.
[Verse 5]
[Male Lead: Pull back; mournful, intimate.]
Then Daniel took his lady by the hand
And sat her upon his knee.
"Now tell me true, which one do you love?
Little Matty Groves or me?"
"I love your rosy cheeks," she said,
"I love your chin so fair.
But more than you or all your kin,
I love my Matty there."
Then she looked toward the morning light
And knew what she must do.
"You can dig my grave on a pretty green hill,
Dig it wide and deep and true.
And lay little Matty Groves in my arms,
Where I can hold him near.
Then lay Lord Daniel at my feet,
For love has conquered fear."
[Final Chorus]
[Male Lead: Full tragic intensity; never shouted.]
Dig the grave on the green green hill,
Make it wide and deep.
Lay Matty Groves within my arms,
Where lovers ought to sleep.
Lay Lord Daniel at my feet,
Let the whole world know:
You can command a kingdom,
But you cannot command the heart to let go.
[Outro]
[Male Lead: Close-mic whisper; fading.]
On the high, high holy day...
The bells rang bright and clear...
But three hearts crossed beneath the sun...
And death was waiting near...
Matty Groves...
Lay him in her arms...
Lord Daniel at her feet...
And let the old song sleep...

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[Intro] [Male Lead: Close-mic Southern/Appalachian voice; ominous, restrained.] On the high, high holy day... The finest day of the year... Two hearts crossed a line... And death was waiting near... [Verse 1] [Male Lead: Intimate narrative; measured old-ballad phrasing.] It was on the high, high holy day, The finest day of the year, Little Matty Groves had gone to church To hear the holy words draw near. The first one down was dressed in red, The second one dressed in green, The third one down was Lord Daniel's wife, As fair as any queen. Then Matty Groves leaned to one of his men, "See that lady dressed in white. Though she belongs to Lord Daniel, I'll be with her tonight." But a little foot page heard every word, And knew what must be said. "Lord Daniel will know tonight, Before I go to bed." [Verse 2] [Male Lead: Tension rising; faster conversational phrasing.] He had fifteen miles to travel that night, And ten of them he ran. He ran until he reached the broken bridge, Then bent his breast and swam. He swam until the grass grew green, Then pulled himself to run. He ran until he reached Lord Daniel's gate, And rattled till the bells had rung. "What news? What news?" Lord Daniel cried, "What news have you brought to me?" "Little Matty Groves is in your bed, With your wife where he should not be." "If the truth you've told to me, A rich man you shall be. But if you've brought a lie to me, I'll hang you from a tree." [Rap Verse 1] [Male Lead: Low, urgent Southern cadence; rhythmic storytelling.] Fifteen miles in the dead of night, Ten on foot with the fear in flight, River in the darkness, broken bridge ahead, Every step getting closer to the bed. Lord Daniel heard it, Lord Daniel knew, A promise made and a promise due. He gathered his men, let the night wind blow, And raised that horn with a deadly glow. No turning back, no time to pray, He saddled up before the break of day. When a secret gets carried through a kingdom that small, Everybody hears when the mighty man calls. [Verse 3] [Male Lead: Ominous, controlled; tension tightening.] He gathered fifty good men around, And they came of their own free will. Then he raised his bugle to his lips And blew it loud and shrill. "I'd better rise," said little Matty Groves, "I'd better get up and go. I know your husband is coming home, For I heard his bugle blow." "Lie down, lie down, my precious one, Lie down and go to sleep. It's only my father's shepherd's horn, He's calling for his sheep." So they lay down together once more, And soon they were fast asleep. When morning broke across the room, Lord Daniel stood at their feet. [Rap Verse 2] [Male Lead: Low, tense cadence; nearly whispered, then harder.] Morning came and the room went still, No more running, no more thrill. Daniel at the foot of the bed, A storm behind his eyes, fire in his head. Matty reached for time, but time was gone, The night had ended with the break of dawn. Two fine swords hanging within his reach, One for a man with something to teach. But love don't care what a warning means, And pride don't bend when the truth gets seen. So steel came flashing in the morning light, And two men stepped into the final fight. [Verse 4] [Male Lead: Sharp, dramatic storytelling; duel becomes immediate.] "Get up from there, you naked man, And put some clothes upon you. I never meant for it to be said That I found a naked man before you." "Give me a chance," said Matty Groves, "A chance to fight for my life. There stand two very fine swords, And I have nothing but a knife." "Oh yes, I have two very fine swords, They cost me dearly to buy. You may take the finest one, And I'll take the one that's mine." Then Matty struck the very first blow, And wounded Lord Daniel sore. Lord Daniel struck the very next, And Matty fell upon the floor. [Verse 5] [Male Lead: Pull back; mournful, intimate.] Then Daniel took his lady by the hand And sat her upon his knee. "Now tell me true, which one do you love? Little Matty Groves or me?" "I love your rosy cheeks," she said, "I love your chin so fair. But more than you or all your kin, I love my Matty there." Then she looked toward the morning light And knew what she must do. "You can dig my grave on a pretty green hill, Dig it wide and deep and true. And lay little Matty Groves in my arms, Where I can hold him near. Then lay Lord Daniel at my feet, For love has conquered fear." [Final Chorus] [Male Lead: Full tragic intensity; never shouted.] Dig the grave on the green green hill, Make it wide and deep. Lay Matty Groves within my arms, Where lovers ought to sleep. Lay Lord Daniel at my feet, Let the whole world know: You can command a kingdom, But you cannot command the heart to let go. [Outro] [Male Lead: Close-mic whisper; fading.] On the high, high holy day... The bells rang bright and clear... But three hearts crossed beneath the sun... And death was waiting near... Matty Groves... Lay him in her arms... Lord Daniel at her feet... And let the old song sleep...

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