"The Lakes Of Pontchartrain" lyrics

It was on one bright March morning, I bid New Orleans Adieu
I took the road to Jackson Town, 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

Well, I stepped on board of a railroad car underneath the morning sun
And I rode the roads all evening and lay me down again
All strangers there no friends to me 'til a dark girl toward me came
And I fell in love with the Creole Girl, by the Lakes of Ponchartrain

Well, I said "Me pretty Creole Girl, my money here's no good
And if it weren't for all the alligators, I'd sleep out in the wood"
She said "You're welcome here kind stranger, though my house is very plain
"But we've never turned a stranger out, on the banks of Ponchartrain"

She took me to 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'm sure 't would be in vain
So handsome was my Creole girl by the Lakes of Ponchartrain

Well, I asked her if she'd marry me, she said this could never be
For she had got a lover and he was lost at sea
She said that she would wait for him and true that she would remain
Till he'd return to his Creole girl, by the Lakes of Ponchartrain

So fare thee well, my Creole girl, may I never see you more
But I'll never forget your kindness, your 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