The Lakes of Pontchartrain

Twas on one bright March morning I bid New Orleans adieu
And I took the rode to Jackson town, me fortune to renew
I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain
Which filled me heart with longin for the Lakes of Pontchartain.
I stepped on board of a railroad car beneath the morning sun
And I rode the roads til evening and I laid me down again
All strangers here, no friends to me til a dark girl towards me came
And I fell in love with a Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain.
I said my pretty Creole girl, me money heres no good
If it werent for the alligators Id sleep out in the wood
Youre welcome here kind stranger, our house its very plain
But we never turn a stranger out at the Lakes of Pontchartrain.
She took me to her mummys house and she treated me quite well
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
To try and paint her beauty Im sure twould be in vain
So handsome was my Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain.
I asked her if shed marry me, shed said it could never be
For she had got another and he was far at sea
She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain
Til he returned for his Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain.
So fair thee well me bonny o girl I never see no more
But Ill neer forget your kindness and the cottage by the shore
And at each social gathering a flowin glass Ill raise
And drink a health to me Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain.