The Lakes Of Pontchartrain

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It was one fine March morning I bid New Orleans adieu
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And I took the road to Jackson town, my fortune to renew
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I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain
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Which filled my heart with longing for the lakes of Ponchartrain

[Verse 2]
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I stepped on board of a railroad car beneath the morning sun
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I rode the rods till evening and I laid me down again
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No friends to me all strangers  till a dark girl towards me came
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And I fell in love with my Creole girl by the lakes of Ponchartrain

[Verse 3]
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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 is very plain
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But we never turned a stranger out by the lakes of Ponchartrain

[Verse 4]
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She took me into 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, Im sure twould be in vain
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So handsome was my Creole girl by the lakes of Ponchartrain

[Verse 5]
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I asked her if she'd marry me, She said that never could be
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For she had got a lover 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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Till he'd return to his Creole girl on the lakes of Ponchartrain

[Verse 6]
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Its fare thee well, me Creole girl, I never may see you more
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I'll never forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore
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And at each social gathering, a flowing bowl I'll drain
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And I'll drink a health to my Creole girl by the lakes of Ponchartrain