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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. |
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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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All strangers there no friends to me 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. |
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I said, "Me 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, from such sad thoughts refrain, |
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For me Mammy welcomes strangers by the lakes of Ponchartrain. |
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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. |
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I asked her if she'd marry me. She said that ne'er 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. |
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Its fare thee well, me Creole girl, I never may see you more. |
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I'll neer 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. |