The Lily Of The West

As I roved out one evening some pleasure for to find,
I saw a girl from Winchester most pleasing to my mind;
Her coal-black eyes, her cherry cheeks, like daggers pierced 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;
Although she robbed my liberty, deprived me of my rest,
But still I love my Mary, the lily of the west.

As I roved out one evening down by a shady grove,
I saw a lord of high renown conversing with my love;
He sang, he sang so merrily, whilst I was so repressed,
He sang for handsome Mary, the lily of the west.

I rushed upon my rival, my dagger in my hand,
I tore him from my own true love, I boldly made him stand;
Being mad with desperation, my dagger pierced his breast,
I was betrayed by Mary, the lily of the west.

Soon I was took and put in prison and sentence given to me,
They put me in the criminal dock but later set me free;
The kindly judge to Mary these words he then addressed,
"Begone, you faithless Mary, the lily of the west."

Oh, now I've gained my liberty to rove this country through,
I'll roam this country o'er and o'er to find a loved one true;
Although she robbed my liberty, deprived me of my rest,
But still I love my Mary, the lily of the west.

####.... Author unknown. Variant of a 19th century British broadside ballad [Laws P29] American Balladry From British Broadsides (G. Malcolm Laws, 1957). Also a variant of a 19th century British broadside ballad, The Lily Of The West, published by W. Birmingham (Dublin) ca.1867, and archived at the Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, shelfmark: Harding B 19(104) ....####

Collected in 1958 from Mrs. Freeman Bennett (1908-2006) and Mr. Freeman Bennett of St. Paul's, NL, by Ken Peacock and published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 2, pp.473-474, by the National Museum of Canada (1965) Crown Copyrights Reserved.