C
G
a G
F
C G
It was one fine March morning I bid New Orleans adieu,
C
G F
G a
F
And I took the road to Jackson town, my fortune to renew.
C G
F G a C
F
I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain,
C G
a G F
C
G
which filled me heart with longing for the Lakes of Ponchartrain.
I stepped on board of a railroad
car beneath the morning sun.
I rode the rods till evening and I laid me down again.
All strangers there no friends to me, till a dark girl towards me came,
and I fell in love with the Creole girl by the Lakes of Ponchartrain.
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 is very plain,
but we never turn a stranger out by the Lakes of Ponchartrain.
She took me in her Mammy's house
and treaded me right well.
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlers fell.
To try to paint her beauty, I'm sure it would be in vain.
So handsome was my Creole girl by the Lakes of Ponchartrain.
I asked her if she'd marry me.
She said that never could 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 Croele girl on the Lakes of Ponchartrain.
It's fare thee well, me Creole
girl, I never may see you more.
I'll ne'er forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore.
And at each social gathering, a flowing glass I'll drain,
and I'll drink a health to my Creole girl by the Lakes of Ponchartrain.