Dec182021

Bert Jansch – The Lily Of The West Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsAm G F Em

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
N.C.
Here's an American folk song
called The Lily of the West
Am  Am
G  Am F G

[Verse 1]
Am
Am                       G
  I just came down from Louisville,
Am              F   G Am
  some pleasure there    to find
G
   A handsome girl there
        Am    Em
   from Lexington
          Am G     Em      Am
   was so pleasing to my mind
G                      Am    Em
  Her rosy cheeks, her ruby lips
       Am  G  F          Am
  like arrows pierced my breast
Am                          G
  And the name she bore was   Flora:
Am          F G    Am
  The Lily of the West
F   G Am

[Verse 2]
Am                  G
   I courted lovely Flora,
Am              F   G Am
   her pleasure there    to find
G                       Am    Em
  But she turned unto another man,
         Am  G    Em       Am
  which sore distressed my mind
G                      Am    Em
   She robbed me of my liberty
      Am    G   F     Am
   deprived me of my rest
Am                  G
   Then go, my lovel-y Flora,
Am          F G    Am
   the Lily of the West

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[Verse 3]
Am                   G         Am
   Way down in yonder shady grove,
               F   G Am
   a man of high degree
G                             Am
Conversing with my Flora there,
    Em         Am G     Em      Am
which seemed so strange to me
Am                          G
And the answer that she gave to
	    Am          F G    Am
him, it sore did me oppress
Am                   G
   I was betrayed by Flora:
       Am   F G    Am
   The Lily of the West

[Verse 4]
Am                 G     Am
   I rushed upon my rival:
              F  G    Am
   my  dagger in my hand
G                       Am  Em
   I grabbed him by the collar,
       Am   G Em        Am
   and boldly made him stand
G                   Am  Em
   Being mad by desperation,
      Am  G   Em         Am
   my dagger peirced his breast
Am            G
   For lovely Flora:
       Am   F G    Am
   The Lily of the West

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Verse 5]
Am                 G     Am
 I had to stand my trial,
           F   G    Am
 I had to make my plea
G                       Am    Em
  They put me in the criminal box,
      Am   G   Em       Am
  and then commenced on me
G                       Am      Em
  Although she swore my life away,
      Am   G  Em    Am
  deprived me of my rest
Am                    G
  I love my faithless Flora,
      Am   F G    Am
  the Lily of the West
Am     G     Am   F G    Am

How to play The Lily Of The West: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for The Lily Of The West by Bert Jansch on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

The Lily Of The West by Bert Jansch is centred on A minor (no sharps or flats). The song uses 4 chords: Am, G, F and Em.

Listen for G – Am – F – G (VII – i – VI – VII in A minor): the song comes back to it again and again. Once these 4 changes are comfortable, most of the song is done.

Good to know: on guitar, F needs a barre or movable shape. Take the change into it slowly at first; piano and ukulele players have it easier.