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 me heart with longing for the lakes of Ponchartrain

I stepped on board of rail car beneath the morning sun
And I rode the rods till evening and I laid me down again
All strangers there no friends to me till a pretty girl towards me came
And I fell in love with the creole girl by the lakes of Ponchartrain

I said my pretty creole girl, my money here is no good
And if it weren't for the alligators I'd sleep out in the wood
You're welcome here, kind stranger, my house is very plain
But we never take a stranger out on the banks of Ponchartrain

I asked her if she'd marry me; She said this could never be
For she had got a lover and he was far at sea
She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain
Till he'd return to his creole girl by the lakes of Ponchartrain

So fare thee well my creole girl, I never may see you more
But I'll never forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore
And at each social gathering a flowing bowl I'll soon drink
And l'll drink a health to my creole girl by the lakes of Ponchartrain