Lakes of Pontchartrain Lyrics

It was on one fine March morning when
I bid New Orleans adieu.
And I was on the road to Jackson town,
My fortunes to renew,
I cursed all foreign money,
No credit could I gain,
Which filled my heart with longing for
The lakes of Pontchartrain.
I sat on board a railway car,
Beneath the morning sun,
And I road the rails till evening,
When I lay me down again,
All strangers, they're no friends to me,
Till a dark girl towards me came,
And I fell in love with a Creole girl,
On the lakes of Pontchartrain.

I said, "My pretty Creole girl,
My money here's no good,
If it weren't for the alligators,
I would sleep out in the woods".
"You're welcome here kind stranger,
Our house is very plain.
But we never turn a stranger out,
On the lakes of Pontchartrain."
She took me into her momma's house,
And treated me right well,
Her hair upon her shoulder
In jet black ringlets fell.
To try to paint her beauty,
I'm sure would be in vain,
So handsome was my Creole girl,
On the lakes of Pontchartrain.
I asked her would she'd marry me,
And she said it would never be,
For she had got another,
And he was off at sea.
She said that she would wait for him
And faithful she'd remain.
Waiting for her sailor,
On the lakes of Pontchartrain.

So fare you well my Bonny ole girl,
I never will see you no more,
I won't forget your kindness
In that cottage by the shore.
At every social gathering
A golden glass I'll drain,
And I'll drink o' health to the Creole girl,
On the lakes of Pontchartrain.