Mike Pritchard" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >I'm writing an academic paper for a conference in October >on the theme of domestic violence and murder of women by >their husbands/lovers.
Another one that comes to mind (as a classic 'crime of passion' song) is the Child ballad - Matty Groves. Sandy Denny with Fairport Convention did a great version of this on their Liege & Lief album. Matty Groves A holiday, a holiday, The first one of the year Lord Donald's wife came into 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 'Tis true 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 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 And 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 have but a pocket knife. Well it's true I have two beaten swords, 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, 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 and your finery. Lord Donald he jumped up And loudly he did bawl He stuck 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PaulC
