Lily Of The West

Trad., arr. E.Davies, J.Peterson

 New Morning recording session 4, Columbia Studios, NYC - 3.jun.1970, take 2  
 New Morning recording session 6, Columbia Studios, NYC - 5.jun.1970, take 1  
 New Morning recording session 6, Columbia Studios, NYC - 5.jun.1970, take 4  

When first i came to Louisville, some pleasure [there / for] to find
A damsel there from Lexington so pleasin' to my mind
Her rosy cheeks, her ruby lips like arrows pierced my breast
And the name she bore was Flora, the lily of the west.

I courted lovely Flora, some pleasure [for / there] to find
But she turned to another man who sore distressed my mind
She robbed me of my liberty, deprived me of my rest
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, it seemed so strange to me
And the answer that she gave to him sure did me oppress
I was betrayed by Flora, the lily of the west.

I [stepped up / took] to my rival, a dagger in my hand
I seized him by the collar [and] boldly made him stand
Being mad by desperation, i pierced him to the breast
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 of my rest
Still i love my faithless Flora, the lily of the west.