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[Verse 1]
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On a high, on a high, on a high holiday,
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On the very best day in the year.
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Little Matty Grove to the church did go,
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The Holy word to hear.

[Verse 2]
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And some come in all dressed in white,
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And some in purple and blue,
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And then come in Lord Arnold's wife
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The flower among the few.

[Interlude]
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[Verse 3]
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She looked him, he looked at her,
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The like had never been done
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Till she got up and took his hand
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And bade him come alone.

[Verse 4]
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Well they tossed and they turned in the bed all night
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Till they lay fast asleep.
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When they woke up in the new morn dawn,
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Lord Arnold stood at their feet.

[Interlude]
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[Verse 5]
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He said "Get up, little Mathie Grove,
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And put your clothing on.
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For it'll never be known in old England
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I slayed a naked man."

[Verse 6]
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"I shan't get up, I won't get dressed,
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I fear so for my life!
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For you have got two very short swords,
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And me not nary a knife."

[Interlude]
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[Verse 7]
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"Well yes I've got two very short swords;
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They cost me deep in the purse,
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And you shall have the better of the two
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And I shall take the worse."

[Verse 8]
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"And you may strike the very first blow,
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And strike it like a man.
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And I shall strike the very next one,
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And kill you if I can."

[Interlude]
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[Verse 9]
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Well Mathie struck the very first blow,
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It hurt Lord Arnold sore.
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And Arnold struck the very next one,
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Left Mathie layin' dead in his gore.

[Verse 10]
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He turned his eyes to his wife in her bed,
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The rage and the hate saw she.
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"Who do you like best now?" he said,
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Little Mathie Grove or me?"

[Interlude]
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[Verse 11]
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Very well do I like your brow," said she,
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"Very well do I like your chin,
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But I like Mathie Grove in all of his gore,
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Better than you and all your kin.

[Verse 12]
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Well, he took her by the hair of her head
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He led her through the hall,
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And with his sword cut off her head,
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And kicked it against the wall.