Lyr Req/Add: The Lily of the West (Knopfler/Chieft

Subject: Looking for the lyrics (& chords?) to a song.....
From: Peavey
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 10:02 AM

Looking for the lyrics to Chieftains' version of 'The Lily of the West' sang by Mark Knopfler in the 'The Long Black Veil' album.

Thanks in advance.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Looking for the lyrics to a song on the......
From: Barry Finn
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 10:40 AM

Peavey, I don't know how the Chieftains did it but if you enter into the search box in the upper right hand corner of this page Flora The Lily Of The West you'll find it in the database. Barry

Subject: RE: Looking for the lyrics to a song on the......
From: Peavey
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 10:59 AM

Barry, That might be a different song all together.

The one I'm looking for shares the same melody with 'By the Lakes of Pontchatrain'

Thanks anyway.

Subject: RE: Looking for the lyrics to a song on the......
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 05:14 PM

That's not a lot of help: I've heard at least three different tunes to Lakes of Pontchartrain, and one of them (Tramps and Hawkers) must have several thousand other songs set to it.

Subject: Lyr Add: LILY OF THE WEST (Knopfler/Chieftains)
From: Big Mick
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 10:25 PM

Peavey,

Here are the lyrics to the Knopfler/Chieftains version. There are a number of versions to this song. This CD is highly recommended.

LILY OF THE WEST
Chieftains’ version as recorded on "The Long Black Veil"
Sung by Mark Knopfler
3/4 time. Moderately bright waltz
Key is C.
Chords are: C G C Am F/G C F C G/B Am Em C F C G/B Am Em C F C G C Am F/G.

I wish I could put those on the words, but no one has figured out how yet.

When first I came to Ireland, some pleasure for to find,
It's there I spied a damsel fair, so pleasing to mind.
Her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes like arrows pierced my breast,
And they call her lovely Molly-O, the lily of the west.

One day as I went walking down by the shady grove,
I spied a lord of high degree conversing with my love.
As she sang a song delightfully, while I was sorely pressed.
Saying I bid adieu to Molly-O, the lily of the west.

I stepped up with my rapier, and my dagger in my hand.
And I dragged him from my false love, and boldly did bid him stand.
But being mad with desperation, I swore I'd pierce his breast,
I was then deceived by Molly-O, the lily of the west.

I then did stand my trial, and boldly I did plea.
A flaw was in my indictment found, and that soon had me free.
That beauty bright I did adore, the judge did her address.
He said, "Go, you faithless Molly-O, the lily of the west.”

Now that I've gained my liberty, a-roamin' I will go.
I'll ramble through old Ireland and travel Scotland o'er.
Though she thought to swear my life away, she still disturbs my rest.
I still must style her Molly-O, the lily of the west.

Subject: RE: Looking for the lyrics to a song on the......
From: Big Mick
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 10:27 PM

BTW, there is a songbook for this CD available. I got mine from Elderly.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Looking for the lyrics to a song on the......
From: Barry Finn
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 11:26 PM

Dan Milner has a nice version on his "Irish Ballads & Songs Of The Sea", done to the tune of "The Star Of The County Down". Barry

Subject: RE: Looking for the lyrics to a song on the......
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 05:30 AM

Peavey

The most common air for Ponchartrain (at least in Ireland!) is essentially the same as that used for Lily of the West.

Regards

Subject: RE: Looking for the lyrics to a song on the......
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 06:18 AM

all of the lyrics from that album can be found on the web: go here

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Looking for the lyrics to a song on the......
From:
Date: 10 Dec 98 - 09:53 AM

On the subject of how The Lily of the West got to The Lakes of Pontchartrain:

[1995:] I first heard this song back in the 1960s, when traditional ballad singing was undergoing something of a renaissance. Originally an English street ballad or "broadside", I believe it became very popular in America in the 19th century. The original air can be found in 'Sing Out - The Folk Song Magazine', Vol. 7 and Colm O'Louchlann's 'Irish Street Ballads'. This air is very similar to another ballad, The Lakes of Pontchartrain, as recorded by Paul Brady, and it was this version that Mark [Knopfler] preferred to use. (Paddy Moloney, notes The Chieftains, 'The Long Black Veil')

Susanne

Subject: RE: Looking for the lyrics to a song on the......
From: Bill Cameron
Date: 11 Dec 98 - 01:56 PM

Once when I was kind of hammered and fooling around on the guitar in A minor, I spontaneously started singing the Pontchartrain lyrics to the (Baez/Dylan etc. version) Lily of the West tune. No wonder the words scanned so well!

Damn, I thought it was my idea. Because the most popular versions of each song have quite different tunes in different modes. Or the same tune in differnt modes which makes them sound different, I'm not smart enough to tell.

Humbled Bill

Subject: The Lily of the west
From: Helge
Date: 16 Sep 99 - 04:48 PM

Anyone got the version with Mark Knopler and the Cheiftains

Hege in Norway

[e-mail]

Subject: DT: FLORA THE LILY OF THE WEST ^^^
From: Cara
Date: 16 Sep 99 - 05:26 PM

I don't know if this is it or not. I got it from the DT by searching [my lovely]. Tune's in there too.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FLORA THE LILY OF THE WEST ^^^

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 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 Flora
The lily of the West

Way down in yonder shady grove
A man of high degree
Conversing with my Flora there
It seems 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 to my rival
My dagger in my hand
I seized him by the collar and
I boldly bade him stand
Being mad to desperation
I pierced him in the breast
I killed a man for Flora
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 Flora
The lily of the West

---

Note from Joe Offer: Roseanne Cash sings this version with the Chieftains on their Further Down the Old Plank Road album. Cash includes one additional, final verse about wandering Ireland and Scotland. (see below)
-Joe Offer- 15 Oct 2014-

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LILY OF THE WEST
From: John Wood
Date: 16 Sep 99 - 06:24 PM

Hi Helge.
And tak for sist(as they say up here).
What are you looking for?
The tune they use is: "The Lakes of Pontchartrain", as recorded by Mr. Paul Brady.
The words are:

THE LILY OF THE WEST

When first I came to Ireland
Some pleasures for to find
It's there I spied a damsel fair
So pleasing to my mind
Her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes
Like arrows pierced my breast
And they called her lovely Molly-O
The lily of the west.

One day as I was walking
Down by the shady grove
I spied a lord of high degree
Conversing with my love
She sang a song delightfully
While I was sore oppressed
Saying I'll bid adieu to Molly-O
The lily of the west.

I stepped up with my rapier
And my dagger in my hand
And I dragged him from my false love
And boldly bid him stand
But being mad with desperation
I swore I'd pierce his breast
I was then deceived by Molly-O
The lily of the west.

I then did stand my trial
And boldly I did plea
A flaw was in my indictment found
And that soon had me free
That beauty bright I did adore
The judge did her address
Now go you faithless Molly-O
The lily of the west.

Now that I've gained my liberty
A-roving I will go
I'll ramble through old Ireland
And travel Scotland o'er
Though she thought to swear my life away
She still disturbs my rest
I still must style her Molly-O
The lily of the west.

If you thought to play this on your mouthorgan, it goes in the key of C!!
Lykke til
Hilsen John.

---

Note from Joe Offer: This is a very accurate transcription of the version Mark Knopfler sings with the Chieftains on their Long Black Veil album. Dan Milner sings a similar version. Knopfler uses the tune I associate with "Lakes of Ponchartrain," and Milner uses "Star of County Down."
-Joe Offer- 15 Oct 2014-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lily of the west
From: Helge
Date: 16 Sep 99 - 06:50 PM

Thankyou very much John, that`s the one.

Helge

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Lily of the west
From: radriano
Date: 17 Sep 99 - 02:31 PM

The Irish version of Lily of the West that John Woods posted also fits very well with the more commonly known melody. I saw it listed that way in a book I have. Sorry, can't remember details at this time.

Regards,
radriano

Subject: Lyrics: the Lily of the West
From:
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 05:32 AM

The Lily of the West on the CD : The Chieftains "THe LOngblack veil" mark Knopfler sings this song of the cd

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics: the Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Ed Pellow
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 05:49 AM

You can find it in the Digital Tradition database here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics: the Lily of the West
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 08:17 AM

this is not the song I'm looking for. This one calls Flora the Lily of the West and not The Lily of the WEst ! Anyway thanks a lot

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics: the Lily of the West
From: GUEST,Ed Pellow
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 08:42 AM

Sorry, the version you want can be found in here

Ed