Lakes of Ponchartrain

It was one bright March morning I bid New Orleans adieu
I was on my way to Jackson, my fortune to renew
I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain
Which filled my heart with longin' for the banks of Pontchartain.

I stepped on board a railroad car beneath the morning sun
And I rode the rails 'til evening and I laid me down again
All strangers there, no friends to me 'til a dark girl towards me came
And I fell in love with a Creole girl by the banks of Pontchartrain.

I said my pretty Creole girl, my money here's no good
But if it weren't for the alligators I'd sleep out in the wood
She said "You're welcome here kind stranger, our home it's very plain
But we've never turned a stranger out by the banks of Pontchartrain.

She took me to her mama's house and she treated me right well
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
To try and paint her beauty I know would be in vain
So handsome was my Creole girl by the banks of Pontchartrain.

I asked would she marry me, she'd said no it never could be
For she has got a lover and he's off far at sea
She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain
'Til he returned for his Creole girl by the banks of the Pontchartrain.

So fair thee well my Creole girl I'll never see you more
But I wont forget your kindness and the cottage by the shore
And at each social gathering a flowin' glass I'll raise
And drink a health to my Creole girl from the banks of Pontchartrain.