Lily of the West
E. Davies/J. Peterson
Recorded by Bob Dylan June 3 or 5, 1970, released on
Dylan (1973)
Tabbed by Eyolf Østrem
Am . . . |. . . . |
Am . C |G . . . |F . Am . . . |. . . .
C . . |G . . . |F . . . |Am . . .
F . . |G . . . |Am G Am . . . |
C . . |G . . . |F . Am . . . |. . . .
Am C G F Am
When first I came to Louisville, some pleasure there to find,
C G F Am
A damsel there from Lexington was pleasing to my mind.
F G Am /g Am
Her rosy cheeks, her ruby lips, like arrows pierced my breast
C G F Am
The name she bore was Flora, the Lily of the West.
C G F Am
(And the name she bore was Flora, the Lily of the West.)
I courted lovely Flora, some pleasure for to find,
But she turned unto another man, which sore distressed my mind.
She robbed me of my liberty, deprived me off my rest --
Then go, my lovely Flora, the Lily of the West.
(Then go, my lovely Flora, the Lily of the West.)
'Way down in yonder shady grove, a man of high degree
Conversing with my Flora there, which seemed so strange to me.
And the answer that she gave to him, it sore did me opress
I was betrayed by Flora, the Lily of the West.
(I was betrayed by Flora, the Lily of the West.)
I stepped up to my rival, dagger in my hand.
I seized him by the collar, and boldly made him stand.
Being mad by desperation, I pierced him through the breast
All this for lovely Flora, the Lily of the West.
(All this for lovely Flora, the Lily of the West.)
I had to stand my trial, I had to make my plea;
They placed me in the witness box, and then commenced on me.
Although she swore my life away, deprived me of my rest
Still I love my faithless Flora, the Lily of the West.
(Still I love my faithless Flora, the Lily of the West.)