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| Lily, the unfaithful lover has appeared in English street ballads (broadside ballads) for more than 100 years. The tune is similar to Lakes of Pontchartrain.
Although this version of the ballad is identified with the American West, Rev. S. Baring-Gould collected versions of Lily of the West in Devonshire, Yorkshire and elsewhere. Baring-Gould felt the ballad was of definite Irish origin (though it may not have been sung to a similar air) and traced it back to at least 1839. The lyrics in Sam Henry's Songs of the People are an Irish version which begins; "When first I came to Ireland..." Another theory of it's origin traces it back to the West of Ireland during the time of Cromwell. |
When first I came to Louisville, Some pleasure there to find A damsel there from Lexington Was pleasing to my mind Her rosy cheeks, her ruby lips Like arrows pierced my breast. The name she bore was Flora The Lily of the West. I courted lovely Flora And to her I was so kind, But she went to another man It nearly wrecked my mind. She robbed me of my freedom, Deprived me of my rest Betrayed was I by Flora, The Lily of the West. He met her in a shady grove, This man of high degree I saw him kiss my Flora And it sure did things to me. She told me he was just a friend, But still I was depressed, Betrayed was I by Flora, The Lily of the West. I stepped up to my rival, With my dagger in my hand I seized him by the collar, it's not hard to understand, That, blinded by my jealousy, I pierced him in the breast. Betrayed was I by Flora, The Lily of the West. The trial was held, I made my plea But 'twas of no avail, Now I await the hangman In a stinkin' rotten jail. But though I give my all away And though my life is messed, I love my faithless Flora, The Lily of the West. |
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Words from Golden Encyclopedia of Folk Music See Bibliography for full information. |
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