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 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 whose 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.
Away down in yonder shady grove, a man of high degree Conversin' with my Flora there, it seemed so strange to me And the answer that she gave to him it sore did me oppress I was betrayed by Flora, the lily of the west.
I stepped up my rival, dagger in my hand I seized him by the collar, and bodly made him stand Seing 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 me of my rest Still I love my faithless Flora, the Lily of the west.