The Lakes Of Pontchartrain

	  		

 

 

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'Twas on one bright March mornin' I bid New Orleans adieu 
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And I took the road to Jackson town, me fortune to renew 
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I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain 
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Which filled me heart with longing for the lakes of Pontchartrain 


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


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I said, "My pretty Creole girl, me money here's no good 
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If it weren't for the alligators, I'd sleep out in the wood" 
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"You're welcome here, kind stranger, our house, it's very plain 
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But we never turn a stranger out from the lakes of Pontchartrain" 


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She took me to her mammy's house and treated me right well 
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The hair upon her shoulders in jet-black ringlets fell 
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To try and paint her beauty, I'm sure 'twould be in vain 
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So handsome was my Creole girl by the lakes of Pontchartrain 


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And I asked her if she'd marry me, she'd said it could never be 
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For she had got another, and he was far at sea 
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She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain 
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'Til he returned for his Creole girl by the lakes of Pontchartrain 


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So fare thee well, me bonny own girl, I never will see no more 
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But I'll ne'er forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore 
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And at each social gathering a flowing glass I'll raise 
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And I'll drink a health to me Creole girl and the lakes of Pontchartrain