The Lakes of Pontchartrain

It was on one fine March morning I bid New Orleans adieu

And I took the road to Jackson town, me fortune to renew

I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain

Which filled my heart with longin' for the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I stepped on board of a railroad car beneath the morning sun

I rode the roads 'til evening and I laid me down again

All strangers there, no friends to me 'til a dark girl toward me came

And I fell in love with a Creole girl by the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I said me pretty Creole girl, me money here's no good

If it weren't for the alligators I'd sleep out in the wood

You're welcome here kind stranger, our house it's very plain

And we never turn a stranger out by the Lakes of Pontchartrain

She took me in to her mammy's house and she treated me quite well

The hair upon her shoulder in jet black ringlets fell

To try and paint her beauty I'm sure would be in vain

So handsome was my Creole girl by the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I asked her if she'd marry me, she'd said it could never be

For she had got a lover and he was far at sea

She said she would wait for him and true she would remain

Until he returned to his Creole girl by the Lakes of Pontchartrain

So it's fare thee well my Creole girl I never may see you more

I'll ne'er forget your kindness in the cottage down by the shore

And at each social gathering a flowin' glass I'll drink

And I'll drink to the health of my Creole girl by the Lakes of Pontchartrain

And drink to the health of my Creole girl by the Lakes of Pontchartrain