Added to an great old, long thread -- this is a pretty accurate chord version, based on Paul Brady -- some of the words are slightly different (cf. above!). The trick is to be sure and stress the 6/8 time signature.


LAKES OF PONTCHARTRAIN   6/8 time

       C   F   C          G C
It was on one bright March morning
Am       G          C
I bid New Orleans adieu
      C(Em)       G       Am      F
And I took the road to Jackson town,
   C       G    F
My fortune to renew
C(Em)          G       Am Dm
I cursed all foreign money
   C      G       F
No credit could I gain
      C      F   C          G      C
Which filled my heart with longing for
Am          G       C
The lakes of Pontchartrain

   C    F    C         G       C
I stepped on board a railroad car
Am            G       C
Beneath the morning sun
       C(Em)    G       Am   F
And I rode the rods till evening
       C       G    F
And I laid me down again,
    C(Em)       G      Am       Dm
Until the shades of evening,
       C            G       F
When a dark girl towards me came,
       C    F   C            G    C
And I fell in love with a Creole girl
Am             G    C
By the lakes of Pontchartrain

   C F C         G    C
I said 'My pretty Creole girl,
Am         G          C
My money here's no good.
    C               G   Am   F
If it weren't for the alligators
         C         G    F
I’d sleep out in the wood'
         C      G          Am   Dm
'You're welcome here, kind stranger,
    C       G    F
Our house is very plain.
       C F C          G    C
But we never turn a stranger out
Am       G      C
On the lakes of Pontchartrain'


    C F C          G          C
She took me to her mother’s house
Am          G          C
And treated me right well.
    C      G      Am   F
Her hair in jet black ringlets
    C         G       F
About her shoulders fell.
    C      G       Am   Dm
To try to paint her beauty,
    C         G    F
I'm sure would be in vain,
   C F      C       G      C
So handsome was my Creole girl
Am                G       C
By the lakes of Pontchartrain

   C F C             G    C
I asked her would she marry me,
Am               G    C
She said ‘That ne’er could be'
    C       G    Am   F
For she had got another
    C      G    F
And he was far at sea.
    C         G         Am      Dm
She said that she would wait for him
    C         G       F
And true she would remain,
    C F C             G       C         
'Til he returned to his Creole girl
   Am       G    C
By the lakes of Pontchartrain

    C F       C       G       C
So fare thee well, my Creole girl
   Am         G       C
I never may see you more
         C         G       Am   F
But I'll ne’er forget your kindness
       C       G       F
In that cottage by the shore
       C   G      Am   Dm
And at every social gathering
   C      G          F
A golden glass I'll drain
         C F       C       G            C
And I'll drink all health to my Creole girl
Am       G       C
By the lakes of Pontchartrain