Ann Byrne & Jesse Owens - Lily Of The West

When first I came to Ireland

Some pleasure there to find

A damsel there from Galway

Was pleasing to my mind

Her rosy cheeks, her ruby lips

Like arrows pierced my breast

And the name she bore was Molly O

The lily of the West.

I courted lovely Molly O

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 my rest

Then go, my lovely Molly O

The lily of the West.

Way down in yonder shady grove

A man of high degree

Conversing with my flower there

It seems so strange to me

And the answer that she gave to him

It sore did me oppress

I was betrayed by Molly O

The lily of the West.

I stepped up to my rival

My dagger in my hand

I seized him by the collar and

I boldly bade him stand

Being led to desperation

I stabbed him in the breast

Then go, my lovely Molly O

The lily of the West.

I had to stand my trial

I had to make my plea

They placed me in the criminal box

And then commenced on me

Although she swore my life away

Deprived me of my rest

Still I love my faithless Molly O

The lily of the West.

      Lily of the West is a traditional British and Irish folk song, best known today as an American folk melody, listed as number 957 in the Roud Folk Song Index. Dylan sang it well.