[ Предположительная тональность: G ] G D C G/B It was on one fine March morning G D G G I bid New Orleans adieu. G D C G/B And I was on the road to Jackson town, G G/B C my fortune to renew, G D C G/B I cursed all foreign money, G D C C no credit could I gain, G D C G/B Which filled my heart with longing for G D G G the lakes of Pontchartrain. G D C G/B I sat on board a railway car, G D G G beneath the morning sun, G D C G/B and I road the rails till evening, G G/B C and I laid me down again, G D C G/B All strangers there no friends to me, G D C C till a dark girl towards me came, G D C G/B And I fell in love with a Creole girl, G D G G by the lakes of Pontchartrain. G D C G/B I said, "My pretty Creole girl, G D G G my money here's no good, G D C G/B But if it weren't for the alligators, G G/B C I would sleep out in the woods". G D C G/B "You're welcome here kind stranger, G D C C our house is very plain. G D C G/B But we never turn a stranger out, G D G G >From the lakes of Pontchartrain." G D C G/B She took me into her momma's house, G D G G and treated me right well, G D C G/B The hair upon her shoulder G G/B C in jet black ringlets fell. G D C G/B To try and paint her beauty, G D C C I'm sure 'twould be in vain, G D C G/B So handsome was my Creole girl, G D G G By the lakes of Pontchartrain. G D C G/B I asked her would she'd marry me, G D G G she said it never would be, G D C G/B For she had got another, G G/B C and he was of at sea. G D C G/B She said that she would wait for him G D C C and faithful she'd remain. G D C G/B Waiting for her sailor, G D G G on the lakes of Pontchartrain. ========== banjo solo goes here (any help appreciated) ============ G D C G/B So fare you well my Bonny ol girl, G D G G I never will see you no more, G D C G/B I wont forget your kindness, G G/B C in the cottage by the shore. G D C G/B at every social gathering, G D C C a golden glass I'll drain, G D C G/B And I'll drink all health to the Creole girl, G D G G And the lakes of Pontchartrain.