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