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.)