Lakes of Pontchartrain
Paul Brady

This song is sung by Christy Moore and this is his version.
I haven't heard the Paul Brady version but I presume they are the same.
These are the 4 verses that Christy plays but there are 2 extra verses at the bottom here.
I don't know if Paul Brady plays these or not.

This is a beautiful song and I'm delighted to say I have figured out the tab for it also

The chords are here for the beginners but I strongly recommend the tabbed version.
If are going to strum to these chords then do it gently with your thumb
DO NOT USE A PLECTRUM!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
C:  x 3 2 0 1 0
Em: 0 2 2 0 0 0
Am: x 0 2 2 1 0
G:  3 2 0 0 0 3 (or 3 0 0 0 0 3 if it's easier for you)
F:  1 3 3 2 1 1 (you can get away with using x x 3 2 1 0 in this song)

----------------------------------------------------------------------


C           Em         Am G       F               C
It was one fine March morning I bid New Orleans adieu

       C      Em         Am      G        C           F
And I took the road to Jackson town, my fortune to renew.

    C         Em     Am G       C               F
I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain,

        C        Em         Am      G            F              C
Till I fell in love with my Creole girl 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, I knew it would 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 by 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





Additional Verses:

Note: They are to be played after the first verse


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, our house is very plain,

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