A holiday, a holiday 
the first one of the year 
Lord Donald’s wife came into church 
Some Gospel for to hear 

And when the meeting it was done 
She took a look around 
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“ 

I can’t come home, I won’t come home 
I can’t come home for my life 
For I can tell by the rings on your fingers 
That you are Lord Donald’s wife 

Well its true I am Lord Donald’s wife 
But Lord Donald he's not at home 
He's out in the far cornfields, 
Bringing the yearlings home 

Well Matty Groves he lay down 
And he took a little sleep 
When he awoke, Lord Donald 
Was standing at this feet 

Saying „How do you like my feather bed? 
And how do you like my sheets? 
And how do you like my lady fair 
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 wife 
Who lies in my arms asleep“. 

„Well, get up! Get up!“ Lord Donald cried 
„Get up as quick as you can! 
And let it never be said in fair Ireland 
That i slew a naked man“ 

„I can’t get up, I won’t get up 
I can’t get up for my life! 
For you have two fine beaten swords 
And I've but a pocket knife“ 

„Well It’s true I have two beaten swords 
And they cost me deep in the purse. 
„But you shall have the better of them 
And I shall have the worse“ 

„And you will strike the very first blow 
and strike it like a man! 
And I will strike the very next blow 
And I’ll kill you if I can“ 
I’ll kill you if I can 

When Matty struck the very first blow 
And he hurt Lord Donald sore 
Lord Donal struck the very next blow 
And Matty struck no more 

And then Lord Donald he took his wife 
And he sat her upon his knee 
Now Who do you like the better of us, 
little Matty Groves or me?“ 

Then Lord Donalds wife did speak, 
And never heard speak so free 
„I’d rather kiss dead Matty’s lips 
than your’s in your finery“ 

Then Lord Donald he jumped up 
And loudly he did bawl 
He drew his sword and pinned his wife 
To the back of a wall 
To the back of a 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.“