Historical Folk Lyrics
"Lily Of The West"

Version 1

As I went down to Louisville some pleasure for to find,
There came a girl from Lexingtown so pleasing to my mind;
Her hair was laid in diamonds and a star upon her breast,
They called her Handsome Mary, the Lily of the West.

She had rings on every finger that come from the distant shores,
Ten thousand hundred dollars laid up for her in store;
'Tis enough to entice the king of Press, how costly she did dress,
And I called her my sweet Mary, the Lily of the West.

I courted her for a long time, her love I expected to gain,
Until she turned her back on to me and I to her the same;
But I never shall forget that day the clod lie on my breast
And I talked to my sweet Mary, the Lily of the West.

One day when I was a-walking down by the shady grove
There come a man from Lexingtown, come dashing with my love;
He sung a song most melodious, it did my soul depress,
And he called her his sweet Mary, the Lily of the West.

My rifle on my shoulder, my dagger in my hand,
I caught him by the collar while bold I bid him stand;
Me being mad and desperate, I quickly pierced his breast,
For talking to my Mary, the Lily of the West.

They took me to the Justice, he only but made my plea,
The jury found me innocent, the judges set me free.
And they did not say more or less
Begone you scornfulish Mary; the Lily of the West.

There was a man among them that was so honorable mean,
He had me bound down in iron chains and brought me back again;
They put me in the guard house, my life to explore,
There are spies at every window, Joys, and six at every door.

I went around in the guard house, I surveyed it around and around,
I jumped out at one window and knocked five of them down;
The footmen and the horsemen they quickly followed me,
But I wheeled old Jack four times around and gained my liberty.

I've traveled through the westerns, I've traveled America through,
And a-many pretty cottage girl has come into my view;
But I never shall forget that day the clod lie on my breast
And I talked to my sweet Mary, the Lily of the West.

Version 2

I just came down from Louisville some pleasure for to find,
A handsome girl from Michigan so pleasing to my mind,
Her rosy cheeks and rolling eyes like arrows pierce my breast,
They call her Handsome Mary, the Lily of the West.
I courted her for many a day, her love I thought to gain;
Too soon, too soon she slighted me which caused me grief and pain.
She robbed me of my liberty, deprived me of my rest,
They call her Handsome Mary, the Lily of the West.
One evening as I rambled down by yon shady grove
I met a lord of high degree conversing with my love;
He sang, he sang so merrily while I was sore oppressed,
He sang for Handsome Mary, the Lily of the West.

I rushed upon my rival, a dagger in my hand,
I tore him from my true love and boldly made him stand;
Being mad to desperation, my dagger pierced his breast,
I was betrayed by Mary, the Lily of the West.

Now my trial has come on and sentenced soon I'll be;
They put me in the criminal box and there convicted me.
She so deceived the jury, so modestly did dress,
She far out-shone bright Venus, the Lily of the West.
Since then I've gained my liberty, I roamed the country through,
I'll travel the city over to find my loved one true;
Although she stole my liberty and deprived me of my rest
I love my Mary, the Lily of the West.