[Cm] A holiday, a holiday
and the [Cm] first one [Bb] of the [Cm] year
Lord Arnolds wife came [Bb] into the church
the [Cm] gospel [Bb] for to [Cm] hear

and when the meeting it was done
she cast her eyes about
and there she spied little Matty Groves
walking in the crowd

"Come home with me little Matty Groves,
come home with me tonight
Come home with little Matty Groves
and sleep with me till light"

"I cant come home, I won't come home
and sleep with you tonight
By the rings on your fingers I can tell
you are Lord Arnolds wife"

"If I am Lord Arnold's wife
Lord Arnold's not at home
for he is out in the far cornfields
bringing the yearlings home"

And then a servant who was standing by
and hearing what was said
he swore Lord Arnold, he would know
before the sun was set

And in his hurry to carry the news
he rent his breast and ran
and when he came to the broad mill stream
he kicked off his shoes and swam

Matty, he lay down to bed
and took a little sleep
and when he awoke, Lord Arnold
was standing at his feet

"How do you like my feather bed,
and how do you like my sheets?
And how do you like my lady gay
who lies in your arms asleep?"

"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."

"Get up! Get up!" Lord Arnold cried
"Get up as quick as you can,
for it'll never be said in fair England
that I slew a naked man."

"I cant get up, I won't get up.
I can't get up for my life.
For you have two broad beaten swords
and I've not a pocket knife."

"It's true I have two beaten swords
and they cost me deep in the purse
but you may have the better of them
and I will have the worst.

And you may 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.

Matty struck the very first blow
and he hurt lord Arnold sore
and Arnold struck the very next blow
and Matty struck no more.

Then Arnold took his own dear 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 rathar a kiss from dead Matty's lips
than you in your finery."

Then Lord Arnold, up he jumped
and loudly he did bawl
He struck his wife right through the heart
and he pinned her against the wall

"A grave, a grave!" Lord Arnold cried,
"to put these lovers in,
but bury my lady at the top
for she was of noble kin"

Cm {x35543}
Bb {x1333x}

Obviously you can do it in any key. We used to play it Em/D, but I find that's too high for me personally.