Lakes of Pontchartrain

It was on one bright March morning I bid New Orleans adieu
I took the road to Jackson town, my fortune to renew
I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain
It filled my heart with longin' for the Lakes of Pontchartain

I stepped on board the railroad car in the early morning sun
I rode the rails 'til evening and I laid me down again
All strangers here no friend to me, 'til a dark girl towards me came
And I fell in love with a Creole girl by the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I said my lovely Creole girl, my 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
But we never turn a stranger out on the banks of Pontchartrain

She took me to her mammy's house and she treated me quite well
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
To try an' paint her beauty, to which surely be in vain
So charming was my Creole girl by the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I asked her if she'd marry me, she'd said that could never be
For she had got a lover and he was far at sea
She promised that she would wait for him and faithful she'd remain
'Til he returned to his Creole girl on the Lakes of Pontchartrain

[Interlude]

Fare thee well my bonny girl I never see no more
But I'll never forget your kindness, and the cottage by the shore
And at every social gathering, a flowin' glass I'll raise
An' I'll drink to the health to me Creole girl on the Lakes of Pontchartrain
I'll raise a glass to my Creole girl on the Lakes of Pontchartrain