The Lakes of Pontcharttrain

It was 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, and no credit could I gain
Which filled me heart with longing for the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I stepped on board of a railroad car, beneath the morning sun
And I rode the rods till evening, when I lay down again
All strangers there no friends to me, till a dark girl towards me came
And I fell in love with a Creole girl by the lakes of Pontchartrain

I said, "My pretty Creole girl, my money here is no good
If it weren't for the alligators, I'd sleep out in the wood"
She said, "You're welcome, stranger. From such mad thoughts refrain
For me Mammy welcomes strangers by the shores of Pontchartrain"

She took me into her Mammy's house, and treated me right well
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
To try to paint her beauty, I knew it would be in vain
So handsome was my Creole girl by the lakes of Pontchartrain

I asked her if she'd marry me. She said that ne'er could be
For she had got a lover, and he was far out 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 Pontchartrain

It's fare thee well, my Creole girl, I never will see you more
But I won't forget your kindness, in the cottage down by the shore
And at each social gathering, a flowing bowl I'll drain
And I'll drink a health to my Creole girl by the lakes of
Pontchartrain