Flora
Betrayal and Tragedy: The Tale of Flora in Crooked Still's Song
Lyrics
When first I came to Louisville
Arrival in Louisville, seeking pleasure.
Some pleasure there to find
Searching for enjoyment.
A damsel there from Lexington
Encountering a lady from Lexington.
Was pleasing to my mind
Impressed by her.
Her rosy cheeks
Notable physical feature of rosy cheeks.
Her ruby lips
Notable physical feature of ruby lips.
Like arrows pierced my breast
Intense attraction, metaphorically expressed.
The name she bore was Flora
The lady's name is Flora, referred to as the Lily of the West.
The Lily of the West
Flora's symbolic association as a beautiful flower.
I came to my love Flora
Returning to Flora for pleasure.
Some pleasure there to find
Intent to find joy with Flora.
She turned in to another man
Flora turns to another man, causing distress.
Which sort of stressed my mind
Emotional impact of Flora's actions.
She robbed me of my loyalty
Flora betrays the narrator, taking away loyalty.
Deprived me of my rest
Resulting in a loss of peace and tranquility.
I loved my faithless Flora
Despite betrayal, the narrator still loves Flora.
The Lily of the West
Reiterating Flora as the Lily of the West.
Now down in yonder shady grove
Describing a location, a shady grove.
The man who was to come
Awaiting a man's arrival.
Conversing with my Flora there
Flora talking to another man, causing confusion.
It seemed so strange to me
Strange and unexpected behavior by Flora.
And the answer that she gave to him
Flora's response to the man's inquiries affects the narrator.
It sort of me oppressed
The response oppresses and troubles the narrator.
I was betrayed by Flora
Feeling betrayed by Flora.
The Lily of the West
Reiterating Flora as the Lily of the West despite betrayal.
I stepped up to my rival
Confronting the man who is involved with Flora.
My dagger in my hand
Narrator armed with a dagger, ready for action.
I seized him by the collar
Taking control of the situation.
And I boldly made him stand
Making the man stand and face consequences.
We met in desperation
Meeting in desperation, indicating intense emotions.
I pierced him in the breast
The narrator physically harms the man.
I killed the man for Flora
Committing murder for Flora.
The Lily of the West
Reiterating Flora as the Lily of the West despite extreme actions.
I had to stand my trial
Facing legal consequences, standing trial.
I had to make my plea
Presenting a defense, pleading innocence.
They placed me in a criminal box
Being confined in a criminal box.
And then commenced on me
Legal proceedings against the narrator begin.
Although she sold my life away
Flora's actions affecting the narrator's life profoundly.
Deprived me of my rest
Resulting in a loss of peace and tranquility.
I loved my faithless Flora
Despite everything, the narrator still loves Flora.
The Lily of the West
Reiterating Flora as the Lily of the West.
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