One of my favorite ballads that our class listened to today was "Matty Groves" by Fairport Convention. Not only was it a more modernized form of a ballad but I thought there was a rather interesting story told within the song about infidelity, sex and violence. I feel as though the melody and actual music really set the pace for the story of Matty Groves. One of my favorite things about this ballad is how the song opens in a church when the story is based on an affair. While I was listening to this song I was wondering what brought Lord Donald's wife to this point of being unfaithful. Was Lord Donald cheating on her? Was he no longer showing her affection? Was she forced into the marriage in the first place? Was this a typical activity for "Lady Donald"?
Here is a short story of what I think could have happened prior to this ballad:
As a young woman, Lady Donald was known as Ruth. Ruth was the oldest daughter of a wealthy family, this family was looking for her to soon get married since she was at the age to be wedded and both parents wanted he to be taken care of for future years. Most preferably by a wealthy man. However Ruth was a more carefree, fun-loving individual compared to her rigid and borderline snobby parents. She would rather spend hours traveling and exploring among crowded street ways with the "commoners" than being primped for the town ball or meeting suitors her parents introduced to her. Ruth was definitely different from her family but she was about to meet a man that was the perfect fit for her, almost.
While Ruth was shopping in a downtown market one afternoon she ran into a a young and attractive man playing an instrument on the side of the road. Ruth was awestruck by this man and immediately felt the need to approah him. As she made her way over to him, he too noticed Ruth and was equally amazed at her beauty. When the two finally reached each other there was no doubt that it was love at first sight, however ridiculous that may be there was no denying it. The man introduced himelf as Matty Groves and from that moment on both Ruth and Matty were inseperable. The two spent many weeks together and it was obvious to anyone in the proximity of them that they were madly in love with each other. Although Ruth had been in pure bliss with Matty, she realized that he was not a wealthy man, and certainly not a man that her parents would approve of.
As time went Ruth's parents began to get extremely curious of this young man that their daughter Ruth was spending so much time with. In time Ruth finally got up enough courage to introduce Matty to her parents in hopes that they would accept him the way he was and allow the two to be together forever. Unfortunately the meeting of Matty and Ruth's parents did not go well and her parents were less than impressed with her choice in men. After they had spoke with Ruth about their absolute dislike for Matty, they insisted that they move to another town far away and they forbade Ruth to ever speak to Matty again. Ruth in Matty were ultimately forced apart, both heartbroken and unsure of if they would ever see each other again.
As Ruth and her family approached the new town they passed a hand-written sign for a ball in order to meet Lord Donald. Lord Donald was looking for a wife, and Ruth's parents insisted and yet again forced Ruth to attend this ball. At the ball Lord Donald found Ruth immediately and requested to spend more time with her. Ruth could only think about Matty and how much fun she had with him and that Lord Donald would never match up to the man that Matty was. Her parents had accepted Lord Donald's request for Ruth without any thought of what she wanted. Against Ruth's desires her and Lord Donald began spending more and more time together which only made her despise him more. After about two months of courtship Lord Donald asked for Ruth's hand in marraige, and yet again her parents accepted for her. Ruth was absolutely miserable and so ready to stop doing what her parents forced her to do, to stop being with Lord Donald and to overall be happy again, no matter what it took.
Ruth went to church a few miles outside of town one day to get out of Lord Donald's house and to clear her mind. However when she first walked into the church all she saw was Matty Grove playing his instrument in the church choir. Ruth could barely move, breathe or speak, but she knew that this was her chance that she was hoping for to become happy again. As courage and old memories of love filled her she walked over to Matty just like the day she had first saw him shopping downtown, and the two began to speak.
Although this probably isn't very well written this is what I think could have happened prior to the Ballad of Matty Groves.
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