When I first came to Louisville, my fortune there to find There was a maiden there from Lexington, was pleasing 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
Well I courted lovely Flora, some pleasure there to find But she turned unto another man, which sore distressed my mind She robbed me of my liberty, deprived me of the rest Then go my lovely Flora, the lily of the west
It was down in yonder shady grove, with a man of high degree Conversing with my Flora there, and it seemed so strange to me The answer that she gave to him sore did my heart oppress I was betrayed by Flora, the lily of the west
I stepped up to my rival, my dagger in my hand I seized him by the collar and boldly bade him stand Being mad to desperation, I pierced him in the breast It was all for the love of Flora, the lily of the west
I had to stand my trial, I had to make my plea They put me in the criminal box and then commenced on me Although she stole my life away, deprived me of the rest Still I love my faithless Flora, the lily of the west.