Lakes of Pontchartrain (Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC)

T'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
 It filled my heart with longin' for the Lakes of Pontchartrain
 I stepped on board the railroad car in the early morning sun
 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 by the Lakes of Pontchartrain
 I said my lovely Creole girl, my 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 turned a stranger out on the banks of Pontchartrain
 She took me to her mammy's house and she treated me quite well
 The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
 To try an' paint her beauty, to which surely be in vain
 So, charming was my Creole girl by the Lakes of Pontchartrain
 I asked her if she'd marry me, she said that can never be
 She had got a lover and he was far at sea
 She promised that she would wait for him, and faithful she'd remain
 'Til he returned to his Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain
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 Fare thee well my bunny girl I never see no more
 But I'll never forget your kindness, and the cottage by the shore
 And at every social gathering, a flowin' glass I'll raise
 And I'll drink to the health of my Creole girl on the Lakes of Pontchartrain
 I'll raise a glass to my Creole girl on the Lakes of Pontchartrain