LAKES OF PONTCHARTRAIN
Traditional (Celtic)
Barry Taylor


T'was 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 here's no good 
If it weren't for the alligators I'd sleep out in the wood 
You're welcome here kind stranger, our house it's very plain 
But we never turn a stranger out at the Lakes of Pontchartrain. 

She took me to her mummy's house and she treated me quite well 
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell 
To try and paint her beauty I'm sure t'would be in vain 
So handsome was my Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain. 

I asked her if she'd marry me, she'd 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 I'll ne'er 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 me Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain.