As I walked by the lake one day by chance my Dorraine passed my way 

Then she and I walked hand in hand on the banks of Ponchartrain 

I pinned a flower on her heart I swore we'd never be apart 

She vowed her love forever and as I kissed her did the same 

Dorraine my Dorraine my fair haired little angel my belle of Ponchartrain 

We sat down on the dock and with our hearts and fingers locked 

We laughed and talked and joked about when our names are the same 

And joking I said honey are you marrying me for money 

And it took just one quick look to tell it hurt my dear Dorraine 

She jumped and stood above me and she cried why you don't love me 

I'm rowing home across the lake you won't see me again 

I called and called some more but she rowed fast from the shore 

And the clouds brought by a wind began to rain on Ponchartrain 

Dorraine I called Dorraine come back my little angel my belle of Ponchartrain 

The storm should make her learn that she should make a swift return 

But as the rain fell harder I lost sight of my Dorraine 

As panic gripped my heart I drew the oars and made my start 

To look for her on raging waters and the rain on Ponchartrain 

At darkness I still called but no one heard my cries at all 

And when the daybreak came then others helped me look for my Dorraine 

But there was not a thing afloat except the oars from her rowboat 

For all was lost upon the choppy waves and rain on Ponchartrain 

Now I come day after day to where my sweetheart rowed away 

And I gaze across the water of the rainy Ponchartrain 

Just one thing and nothing more ever floated back to shore 

Twas this flower I hold it is the one I pinned on my Dorraine 

Dorraine my Dorraine my fair haired little angel my belle of Ponchartrain