It was on one bright March morning
I bid New Orleans adieu
And I took the road to Jackson town
My fortune to renew
I cursed all foreign money
No credit could I gain
Which filled my heart with longing for
The lakes of Pontchartrain

I stepped on board a railroad car
Beneath the morning sun
I road the roads till evening
And I laid me down again
All strangers there no friends to me
Till a dark girl towards me came
And I fell in love with a Creole girl
By the lakes of Pontchartrain

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

She took me into her mammy's house
And treated me quite well
The hair upon her shoulder
In jet black ringlets fell
To try and paint her beauty
I'm sure it would be in vain
So handsome was my Creole girl
By the lakes of Pontchartrain

I asked her if she'd marry me
She 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
Till he returned for his Creole girl
By the lakes of Pontchartrain

So fare thee well my Creole girl
I never will see you no more
But I'll ne'er forget your kindness
In the cottage by the shore
And at each social gathering
A flowing glass I'll raise
And I'll drink a health to my Creole girl
And the lakes of Pontchartrain