Frank Harte - Matt Hyland Lyrics

      

Matt Hyland
by Frank Harte

Verse 1
There was a lord lived in this town
Who had a lovely handsome daughter
She was courted by a fair young lad
Who was a servant to her father
But when her parents came to know
They swore they would send him from the island
Oh this maid she knew her heart would break
If she to part with young Matt Hyland

Verse 2
Oh the lord discoursed his young wife fair
One night alone in her bedchamber
Saying, "Matt Hyland I will send afar;
I fear my daughter stands in danger."
The maid she overheard these words
As on her bed she lay reclining
Saying, "I will my father him deceive
And so protect my own Matt Hyland."

Verse 3
Straightway unto her love she goes
Into his room him to awaken
Saying, "Arise my love and go away
This very night you will be taken
I overheard my father say
That from the island he would transport you
So arise my love and go away
I wish to God I'd gone before you."

Verse 4
They both sat down upon the bed
Just for the sake of one half hour
And not one word did either speak
But down their cheeks the tears did pour
She laid her head upon his breast
And round his neck her arms entwined
Saying "No duke, nor lord nor earl I'll wed
I'll wait for you my own Matt Hyland."

Verse 5
"Oh, must I go, my love?" he says
"Oh, must I go without my wages
Without a penny in my purse
Just like some poor forlorn stranger?"
"Here’s fifty guineas in bright gold
And that’s far more than my father owes you
So take it now and go away
You know right well I do adore you."

Verse 6
'Tis then these lovers severed were
That he might elude transportation
Since he was gone, perhaps fore'er
Her sad heart knew no consolation
As days passed by, she then began
To roam the groves alone and slighted
And, in her grief, she cried aloud
"Send back, send back my own Matt Hyland."

Verse 7
Oh the lord discoursed his daughter fair
One night alone as she lay repining
Saying, "I'll give you leave to bring him back
Since there's no one else you style above him."
She wrote a letter then in haste
For him her heart it was still repining
They brought him back, to the church they went
And she made a lord of young Matt Hyland