There's a wonderful variant of the song to be found in 'Singing Cowboy, A Book of Western Songs' collected and edited by Margret Larkin, published by H. Knopf, 1931, reprinted by Oak, 1963. Larkin got the song from Reva Cordell who collected it from an unnamed cowboy. It's called 'Lake of the Poncho Plains' and has its own melody which you can find in the book if you're lucky enough to locate a copy. The words are:

ON THE LAKE OF THE PONCHO PLAINS

It was late one summer's evening when I bid LA adieu
And started my way to Texas which I was forced to do
Through swamps of alligators I started my weary way
Over railroad ties and crossings my weary feet did play

It was getting late one evening when higher ground I gain
It was there I met the Cree girl on the Lake of the Poncho Plains
"Good evening fair damsel. My money is no good.
If it weren't for the alligators I'd sleep out in the wood."

She taken me to her mother's house and treated me quite well
Her raven hair in ringlets around her shoulders fell
I tried to paint her beauty but found it was in vain
Oh how handsome was that Cree girl on the Lake of the Poncho Plains

I begged her then to wed me she said it ne'er could be
She said she had a lover and he was far at sea
She said she had a true lover and true she would remain
'Till he returned to her again on the Lake of the Poncho Plains

Adieu to you my pretty miss I may never see you more
But I'll always remember your kindness that was shown by your cottage door
It's around the flaming circle a cup to my lips I drain
Drink success to the beautiful Cree girl on the Lake of the Poncho Plains


It does seem odd to ride east out of Los Angeles through swamps of allegators. The Mohave Desert isn't noted for its alligator population.

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Poster is DADGBE