The Be Good Tanyas Follow

It was on one fine March morning when I bid New Orleans adieu
And I was on the road to Jackson town, my fortunes to renew
I cursed small foreign money, no credit could I gain
Which filled my heart with longin' for the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I sat on board a railway car beneath the morning sun
And I rode the rails '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 on the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I said, "My pretty Creole girl, my money here's no good
If it weren't for the alligators I would sleep out in the woods
You're welcome here, kind stranger, our house is very plain
But we never turn a stranger out on the Lakes of Pontchartrain

Her hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
To try to paint her beauty, I'm sure would be in vain
So handsome was my Creole girl on the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I asked her would she marry me, now she'd said it never would be
For she had got another and he was off at sea
She said that she would wait for him and faithful she'd remain
And wait up for her sailor on the Lakes of Pontchartrain

So fare you well, my bonny old girl, I may never see you no more
I won't forget your kindness in that cottage by the shore
And at every social gathering a golden glass I'll drink
And I'll drink all health to the Creole girl on the Lakes of Pontchartrain

It was on one fine March morning when I bid New Orleans adieu
And I was on the road to Jackson town, my fortunes to renew
I cursed small foreign money, no credit could I gain