Christy Moore - Lakes of Pontchartrain lyrics

It was one fine 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 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, "Me pretty Creole girl
Me 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
From such sad thoughts refrain
For me Mammy welcomes strangers 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 ne'er 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 neer 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