Fairport Convention - I Heard It Through The Grapevine Lyrics

This is of course fab but do check out Planxty's version (Little Musgrave) live from Vicar St Dublin 2004.

This band was one that inspired Wishbone ash. Very obvious hearing them.

women, bunch of slags anyway. you can never win with them because everything's wired up the wrong way round. not only that, but they're only interested in marrying you if you've got money, but in order to make money, you must be a complete prick. so they all marry complete pricks and then play around with whoever until they get divorced and then take half the complete prick's money and then start all over again, albeit using the alimony from the divorce settlement, to get botox injections. what you all need to do is just kill yourselves now and rid the world of this infested cut their own bugle off to spite their own face crud you call a human race. you're all a bunch of useless fucking arseholes.

Someone’s got a big dick......it’s not me though.

by the ring on your finger i can tell you are Lord Arnolds wife !!

Wow! Now that's REAL music! Awesome!

Very grateful that KMET Los Angeles played this a lot in the early 70's. That and Pentangle, and Traffic's John Barleycorn album. I had a huge crush on Sandy Denny back then.

raising a glass of rum, orange, giner ale and a bit of sloe gin to y'all listening to this

That sounds really refreshing!

Amazing band , amazing song . Brilliant Music !

I was lucky enough to have a great disc jockey in Philadelphia during the 1970 (Edward Leon Sciaky- Ed "Shocky"). He played the cool stuff you didn't get on rotation, and this song was played by Ed and I loved it.

This is an interesting version. Done from Matty grove's perspective unlike the doc Martin version of the song. Sandy was a goddess.

φ(*￣0￣)φ(*￣0￣)(～￣▽￣)～ψ(｀∇´)ψ...(*￣０￣)ノ(￣_,￣ )[←_←](ˉ▽ˉ；)...😙😉

That voice, so haunting, so beautiful, gone far too soon🙁

I was in Germany as a soldier (1975-1978) and I was stationed in a tiny village near the E. German border. There was a store that sold albums, most of them odd and unknown for an American. I bought L&L just on the album cover, having never heard of the group. It blew me and my tiny band o' brothers away! We'd meet at someone's place (ancient Fachwerk house) on a dark and stormy night, light the candles, drink Kahlua, cognac and go out into this L&L legendspace.

Bloody hell that is good.

"What if I am Lord Donald's wife. Lord Donald's not at home."
Sounds like an OK argument 😂

This is one of my 5 year old daughter's favorite bed time songs. I sing her a cleaned up version where Matty was just there for a sleep, and gets away.

When she grows up I'm anticipating quite the talk about the real version 😊

When I was 10 in 1969 They would play Tam Lin and Matty Groves on the local Philadelphia FM station. I loved this album ever since 🎶 Fairport Convention was my introduction to British Folk Rock music

Awesome

I just found out this band today, and theyre from my nation, an were formed in the year i was born !

Better late than never ...

Best version!

Wonderful story of true love

Don't fool with a another man's wife.

Matte groves

fucking snitch ass servant

Love it !!!

O'Donnell?

@a oneiill Quite possibly. I don't mind either way, but that is the name I have seen written in the lyrics. There are so many versions of this song that it can be whatever one wants it to be.

@Portcullis O'Donell has historic reference...Darnell has what...?

@a oneiill OK. I was just being helpful and tried to be reasonable. You presume I am English? I was born in northern England, but my great grandmother was from Tipperary and my grandad was from Lithuania. I love the song. I love Sandy Denny's voice even more. I care little for historical and provincial grudges and squabbles. It is tedious and has no place in discussions on music. All music shares common roots (English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh and American folk is an eclectic mix of influences). I prefer to judge a person on behaviour rather than background. I believe our discussion ends there, unless it is on music.

@Portcullis O'Donelll... from an O'Neill

@a oneiill Whatever.

Der servant war wohl doch nicht auf ihrer seite.

Warum "little" matty groves? Hat sie mit einem Zwerg gepimpert?

renaissance-reggae-rocks!

Nope.... its BRITISH FOLK ROCK !!!!!!!

RIP Sandy. RIP, Swarbs.

What are the instruments in this song , need it for homework plz 😑

Drums. electric bass guitar, electric lead guitar, rhythm guitar, fiddle and, best of all, the sublime voice of Sandy Denny.

I came upon a compilation called Meet on the Ledge: An Island Records Folk-Rock Anthology. There are many choice cuts on this collection, and this is one of them.

I was first introduced to Fairport and the wonderful Sandy Denny as a school boy aged 15 and still love them now 50 years later

My life was cinematic for 8:12 minutes

Love it Christèen

Ik versta er geen bal van. Vrouwenrechten? OK.

Lindirsfarn

Brilliant song, I for 1 like it a hell of a lot. Sandy kills it and so sad that she left us way to early RIP SANDY.

These drums sound tits

A beautiful voice, rivals Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell - just as pure but without the sickly sweetness.

Also, check out judee sill.

I guess that tact wasn't Lady Arnold's thing?

Love this song

Leige & Leif is an amazing album

A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the year 
Lord Donald's wife came into the church, the gospel for to hear 
And when the meeting it was done, she cast her eyes about 
And there she saw little Matty Groves, walking in the crowd 
"Come home with me, little Matty Groves, come home with me tonight 
Come home with me, little Matty Groves, and sleep with me till light" 
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonight 
By the rings on your fingers I can tell you are my master's wife" 
"But if I am Lord Donald's wife, Lord Donald's not at home 
He is out in the far cornfields bringing the yearlings home"

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

Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep 
When he awoke, Lord Donald was standing at his feet 
Saying "How do you like my feather bed and how do you like my sheets 
How do you like my lady who lies in your arms asleep?" 
"Oh, well I like your feather bed and well I like your sheets 
But better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep" 
"Well, get up, get up, " Lord Donald cried, "get up as quick as you can 
It'll never be said in fair England that I slew a naked man" 
"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life 
For you have two long beaten swords and I not a pocket knife" 
"Well it's true I have two beaten swords and they cost me deep in the purse 
But you will have the better of them and I will have the worse 
And you will strike 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 Lord Donald took his wife and he sat her on his knee 
Saying "Who do you like the best of us, Matty Groves or me?" 
And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free 
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips than you or your finery"

Lord Donald he jumped up and loudly he did bawl 
He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall 
"A grave, a grave, " Lord Donald cried, "to put these lovers in 
But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin"

I'm getting kicks out of this kinda music! I really dig it!

Böyle bir müziği kendim üretmek isterdim. Excelent!

I'm shocked that nobody has commented on the sheer, undisputable BALLS Matty had.


Lord Donald was standing above him while he was naked in bed with the lady. And instead of panicking, he responded in the most ballsy way possible. When asked if he liked the bed, the sheets, and the lady, Matty calmly said, "Yes. I like your bed. I like your sheets. But most of all, I like your wife."


Take a minute to picture that. And then when he's called upon to fight, his objection is not that he doesn't want to fight, but *that he doesn't have a weapon.*


Matty Groves may have been a fool to sleep with the lord's wife, but he was a HELL of a man. Which is quite possibly why the lady spoke up in such a manner.

This was a truly wonderful band and had Richard Thompson's magical picking to back Sandy's stellar vocals, folk rock just doesn't get any better than this murder ballad... and you can dance to it as well

Turned my niece onto this when she was 9 or 10 and we'd be in me car singing along !

One of the best songs of Fairport Convention, if not the best. However, unfortunately, the abrupt change in the previous beautiful melody at time 4:35 is a hair-brained idea !

check out Doc Watson’s version of Matty Groves

This song is almost as legendary as your👇




Beer belly 🍺

A holiday, a holiday
And the first one of the year
Lord Donald's wife came into the church
The Gospel for to hear
And when the meeting it was done
She cast her eyes about
And there she saw little Matty Groves
Walking in the crowd
"Come home with me, little Matty Groves
Come home with me tonight
Come home with me, little Matty Groves
And sleep with me 'til light"
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home
And sleep with you tonight
By the rings on your fingers
I can tell you are Lord Donald's wife"
"But if I am Lord Donald's wife
Lord Donald's not at home
He is out in the far cornfields
Bringing the yearlings home"
And a servant who was standing by
And hearing what was said
He swore Lord Donald he would know
Before the sun would set
And in his hurry to carry the news
He bent his breast and ran
And when he came to the broad mill stream
He took off his shoes and he swam
Little Matty Groves, he lay down
And took a little sleep
When he awoke, Lord Donald
Was standing at his feet
Saying, "How do you like my feather bed
And how do you like my sheets
How do you like my lady
Who lies in your arms asleep?"
"Oh, well, I like your feather bed
And well, I like your sheets
But better I like your lady gay
Who lies in my arms asleep"
"Well, get up, get up", Lord Donald cried
"Get up as quick as you can
It'll never be said in fair England
I slew a naked man"
"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up
I can't get up for my life
For you have two long beaten swords
And I not a pocket knife"
"Well, it's true I have two beaten swords
And they cost me deep in the purse
But you will have the better of them
And I will have the worse"
"And you will strike 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 Lord Donald he took his wife
And he sat her on his knee
Saying, "Who do you like the best of us
Matty Groves or me?"
And then up spoke his own dear wife
Never heard to speak so free
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips
Than you or your finery"
Lord Donald, he jumped up
And loudly he did bawl
He struck his wife right through the heart
And pinned her against the wall
"A grave, a grave", Lord Donald cried
"To put these lovers in
But bury my lady at the top
For she was of noble kin"

The messages in this song echo through the generations; Hoes ain't loyal, and Bros before hoes.

As much as I love Sandy Denny, she never should have left Fairport Convention

This song is epic.

A great Folk-Rock track! Fairport @ it's best #juliejuly #ladyofthefirstlight

Very good but a bit of the Raggle gaggle gypsy in there !

All these comments and nobody has mentioned Swarbrick's fiddle !

A holiday, a holiday
And the first one of the year
Lord Donald's wife came into the church
The Gospel for to hear
And when the meeting it was done
She cast her eyes about
And there she saw little Matty Groves
Walking in the crowd
"Come home with me, little Matty Groves
Come home with me tonight
Come home with me, little Matty Groves
And sleep with me 'til light"
"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home
And sleep with you tonight
By the rings on your fingers
I can tell you are Lord Donald's wife"
"But if I am Lord Donald's wife
Lord Donald's not at home
He is out in the far cornfields
Bringing the yearlings home"
And a servant who was standing by
And hearing what was said
He swore Lord Donald he would know
Before the sun would set
And in his hurry to carry the news
He bent his breast and ran
And when he came to the broad mill stream
He took off his shoes and he swam
Little Matty Groves, he lay down
And took a little sleep
When he awoke, Lord Donald
Was standing at his feet
Saying, "How do you like my feather bed
And how do you like my sheets
How do you like my lady
Who lies in your arms asleep?"
"Oh, well, I like your feather bed
And well, I like your sheets
But better I like your lady gay
Who lies in my arms asleep"
"Well, get up, get up", Lord Donald cried
"Get up as quick as you can
It'll never be said in fair England
I slew a naked man"
"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up
I can't get up for my life
For you have two long beaten swords
And I not a pocket knife"
"Well, it's true I have two beaten swords
And they cost me deep in the purse
But you will have the better of them
And I will have the worse"
"And you will strike 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 Lord Donald he took his wife
And he sat her on his knee
Saying, "Who do you like the best of us
Matty Groves or me?"
And then up spoke his own dear wife
Never heard to speak so free
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips
Than you or your finery"
Lord Donald, he jumped up
And loudly he did bawl
He struck his wife right through the heart
And pinned her against the wall
"A grave, a grave", Lord Donald cried
"To put these lovers in
But bury my lady at the top
For she was of noble kin"

The Freebird of folk songs :)

This based on a real incident? (Most of these "murder ballads" are.)

A big influence on some of my songs like Last Song (Edison Junction Band)

As a Welshman I have to admit you English cunts can write a pretty decent tune when you want to haha

Based and redpilled Lord Donald

[tl;dr I know]

Yes, it's a great version and a very deep song on a number of levels. I'm sure most people know this, but there are tons of good versions out there (ie just a click away on youtube)--inc Planxty and (a favourite) Nic Jones (Planxty I think took the tune from Mr Jones). There's a thread below about the pros and cons of a contemporary political interpretation of the song and while I'm not in favour of applying this context to a 50 or so year old version of a 450 or so old song, it's undeniable that the song is political, or at least the product of the end of the feudal system. Lord Donald (or whatever)'s man goes against his class interests by siding with his lord (who's part of the outgoing feudal system); Matty/Musgrave seizes his opportunity, like a gamekeeper from Fielding or Lawrence, etc. The wife (name? don't think she has one) follows her bliss, takes her own way through life even though it ends in her death. The Lord has "two long beaten swords" and "Little" Matty Groves (better Little Mouse-grove) only has a pocket knife. The Lord loses out in the naked competition but asserts his superiority of arms and status, including of course pinning his wife against the wall. And it's not by any accident that the dramatist Beaumont [bee-mont] includes a snippet in his 16++ (forget, too lazy to look it up, just after Shakespeare) play "Knight of the Burning Pestle" (yes, "pestle" pronounced "pizzle" and "burning": STD). This used to crack us up in school back in the 1960s--also what's going on with the permanent sleeping arrangements for the two lovers? Still, to make the song a little less subversive: the Lord cares about his reputation!

Nic Planxty

Working class lad killed by a toff who gets away with murder! Nothing changes really!

Nostalgie pur!

not only that--also an important contribution to the evolution of trad music.

Great song..........brings back 1969 memories !!!

Sandy Denny! Lost her 41 years ago today. Too soon gone.

Indeed, farewell sweet songstress....

Talented people should live forever.

It was such a shame she went down hill with the drugs and the alcohol. Depression is a deep, dark hole which is near impossible to overcome. May she RIP.

I remember acting this at the Friday Talent Night at PGL camp in the Brecon Beacons in the summer of 1975 - and still remembered all the words!

The good old days when you could still defend your honor with a duel

I think it is "lord DAR-nell."

That last part is a roast. Awesome.

FOR DEBBIE SUE CRIGER OF PHOENIX LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY GOOD LIFE

Local, loadstones

Reading these comments honestly makes me feel so young and inexperienced, some of these stories about this song are incredible. Meanwhile, even my father wasn't born when this song came out. Mind blowing.

Awesome song

The Appalachian version of this has a bit more melody than this but this is nice. Thanks for the post.

Love Appalachian music...can you point me to a good version?

@ProblemChimp Norman Blake's version of Matty Grove is how the Appalachian singers do it now. He is from the mountains. Doc Watson version is more Bluegrass like but good. Doc Watson's my favorite version.

The real thing from the mountains is "Jean Ritchie - Little Musgrave (Child 81)" which is here on YouTube. I use to go to mountain people's churches here in Cincinnati where the women sounded like her. They call her kind of singing Old Tymie or Old Time.

@eottoe2001 thanks for the tip. These certainly are much closer to what we might call an original than the Fairports' poppy version. Interesting to me that Ritchie sings "we" went to church, and Watson "Matty" went to church, rather than Lord Donald's/Daniel's/Arnold's wife went. Makes a ton of difference, I think.

Da minha lista "Pra ouvir até morrer" 😄😄❤❤

Yes - the moral of this little story; don’t fool about with the local aristocrat’s woman, especially when he is a jealous thug with two long beaten swords...

Jealous? Matty fucked his wife.

Peace ✌to All!

I saw Fairport convention twice in the 70s, wonderful stuff

Jan 2019-Who's still listening and loving FC.

I only discovered them a couple years ago

I am and have loved Fairport Convention since 1968

I am and have been since 1968.

Ma non si possono mettere 10 like????

Unique incomparable songwriter...!!!

I've been hearing this song for years.
It only just occurred to me that when the lady says "Lord Donald is not here," she might very well mean that he is somewhere else and with someone else, i.e. visiting his mistress--in other words, infidelity is not okay for her, but it's just fine for him! Patriarchy in action. . .

It says he's out bringing in crops to support his family. I don't see the subjective nature to that line. It's self-explanatory.

All I can say is, beautiful...absolutely bloody beautiful!

Richard Thompson!

A bit of trivia. This song was featured on one of the George Gentley mysteries on TV. OK version too.

I hate to say it as I love Fairport Convention, but this is a bowdlerdised version of the original song! It contains the immortal lines:

Mattie played with her breasts and fin-gee-erred her quim,
And when she started to get wet he put his willy in.

Quim: English colloquialism for a hairy vulva
Willy: childish word for penis

Absolute Tune

this is for me the peak of British rock, maybe all rock

What fantastic lyrics beautifully sung

I have choose to do this for music homework,i loovveeee it!!!

It is a nice rendition but frankly I find the words a bit difficult to understand. For me, Joan Baez has the clearest version ever. Just sayin'

Hard to understand? But...she's speaking...English.

Amazing and so great song thank you

My family came from Ireland and England, and although raised a Yank, my soul is moved to the home of my ancestors every time I hear this music.. Sandy was a gift. Bless you all. RIP Sandy.