Flora
Peter Paul And Mary Lyrics

When first I came to Louisville, my fortune there to find,
Upon my arrival in Louisville, I was hoping to find my fortune.

I met a fair young maiden there, her beauty filled my mind.
I came across a beautiful young lady who completely captured my attention.

Her rosy cheek, her ruby lips, they gave my heart no rest.
Her vibrant features had an irresistible effect on me.

The name she bore was Flora, the lily of the west.
This exquisite lady was known as Flora, the symbol of beauty in the western lands.

I courted lovely Flora, she promised ne'er to go.
I pursued relationship with Flora and she promised to remain loyal.

But soon a tale was told to me that filled my heart with woe.
Unfortunately, I heard of a story that brought me great sadness.

They said she meets another man who holds my love in jest.
It was rumored that Flora was seeing another man who did not value my love.

And yet I trusted Flora, the lily of the west.
Despite the rumors, I kept faith in Flora's character.

'Way down in yonder shady grove, a man of low degree,
Deep within a shady patch of trees, a man of lower social standing appeared.

He spoke unto my Flora there and kissed her 'neath a tree.
He approached Flora and shared intimate moments with her under a tree.

The answers that she gave to him like arrows pierced my breast.
The words she spoke to him were like daggers to my heart.

I was betrayed by Flora, the lily of the west.
I felt as though Flora had betrayed me with the man from the grove, going against our promise of faithfulness.

I stepped up to my rival, my dagger in my hand.
In a fit of anger, I confronted the man with a weapon in hand.

I seized him by the collar and I ordered him to stand.
I aggressively restrained him, demanding he face me.

All in my desperation I stabbed him in his breast.
I resorted to violence and fatally attacked him with the dagger.

I'd killed a man for Flora, the lily of the west.
I committed murder due to my love and loyalty towards Flora.

And then I had to stand my trial, I had to make my plea.
I had to face consequences and defend my actions in court.

They placed me in a pris'ner's dock and then commenced on me.
I was put in a courtroom's prisoner's box while they charge against me.

Although she swore my life away, deprived me of my rest.
Despite Flora testifying to my guilt, depriving me of my peace and freedom.

Still I love my faithless Flora, the lily of the west.
Even in these trials, I still find love for Flora, the symbol of beauty of the western lands.