Lakes of Ponchartrain

It was on one bright March morning, I bid New Orleans adieu

And I took on the road to Jacksontown, my fortune to renew

I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain

Which filled my heart with longing for the lakes of Ponchartrain

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

We rode the road till evening time till I laid me down again

All strangers there no friends to me till a dark girl toward me came

And I fell in love with a Creole girl by the lakes of Ponchartrain

I said, "My bonny Creole lass, my money it tells no good

And if it weren't for the alligators, I would sleep here in the woods"

"You're welcome here, kind stranger, our house is very plain

We never turned a stranger out on the shores of Ponchartrain"

She took me home to her mammy's house and treated me right well

The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell

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

As handsome was my Creole lass on the shores of Ponchartrain

I asked her if she'd marry me, she said that would never be

For she do have a lover who is far away at sea

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

Till he returned to his Creole girl at the banks of Ponchartrain

So fare thee well, my Creole lass, who I will see no more

I'll never forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore

And at each social gathering, a flowing glass I'll drain

And drink a health to my Creole girl at the lakes of Ponchartrain