The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #1866 Message #3985912
Posted By: Peter T.
04-Apr-19 - 12:56 PM
Thread Name: Chords Req: The Lakes of Ponchartrain
Subject: RE: Chords Req: The Lakes of Ponchartrain
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