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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 me heart with longing for the lakes of Ponchartrain

I stepped on board of a railroad car beneath the morning sun

I rode the rods 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 my Creole girl by the lakes of Ponchartrain

I said My pretty 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 is very plain

But we never turned a stranger out by the lakes of Ponchartrain

She took me into her Mammy's house, and treated me right well

The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell

To try and paint her beauty, Im sure twould be in vain

So handsome was my Creole girl by the lakes of Ponchartrain

I asked her if she'd marry me, She said that never could be

For she had got a lover and he was far at sea

She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain

Till he'd return to his Creole girl on the lakes of Ponchartrain

Its fare thee well, me Creole girl, I never may see you more

I'll never forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore

And at each social gathering, a flowing bowl I'll drain

And I'll drink a health to my Creole girl by the lakes of Ponchartrain