Love this traditional Irish song. I picked these chords out by ear to the version of the
song by Deanta, which can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNn0iRA0f3M
G [320033]
Cadd9 [032033]
D/F# [200233]
Em7 [022033]
Capo 6
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
'Twas on one bright March mornin' I bid New Orleans adieu
G D/F# Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Cadd9
And I took the road to Jackson town, me fortune to renew
Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Em7 D/F# Cadd9
I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
Which filled me heart with longing for the lakes of Pontchartrain
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
I stepped on board of a railroad car beneath the morning sun
G D/F# Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Cadd9
I rode the road 'til evening and I laid me down again
Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Em7 D/F# Cadd9
All strangers there, no friends to me, 'til a dark girl towards me came
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
And I fell in love with a Creole girl by the lakes of Pontchartrain
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
I said, "My pretty Creole girl, me money here's no good
G D/F# Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Cadd9
If it weren't for the alligators, I'd sleep out in the wood"
Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Em7 D/F# Cadd9
"You're welcome here, kind stranger, our house, it's very plain
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
But we never turn a stranger out from the lakes of Pontchartrain"
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
She took me to her mammy's house and treated me right well
G D/F# Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Cadd9
The hair upon her shoulders in jet-black ringlets fell
Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Em7 D/F# Cadd9
To try and paint her beauty, I'm sure 'twould be in vain
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
So handsome was my Creole girl by the lakes of Pontchartrain
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
And I asked her if she'd marry me, she'd said it could never be
G D/F# Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Cadd9
For she had got another, and he was far at sea
Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Em7 D/F# Cadd9
She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
'Til he returned for his Creole girl by the lakes of Pontchartrain
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
So fare thee well, me bonny own girl, I never will see no more
G D/F# Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Cadd9
But I'll ne'er forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore
Em7 Cadd9 G D/F# Em7 D/F# Cadd9
And at each social gathering a flowing glass I'll raise
G Cadd9 D/F# Em7 Cadd9 D/F# G
And I'll drink a health to me Creole girl and the lakes of Pontchartrain
Enjoy!
