Brady, Paul - The Lakes Of Pontchartrain Lyrics






'Twas on one bright March morning
I bid New Orleans adieu
And I took the road to Jackson town
My fortune to renew
I cursed all foreign money
No credit could I gain
Which filled my heart with longing
For the lakes of Pontcahrtrain

I stepped on board of a railroad car
Beneath the morning sun
I rode the rods till evening
And I laid me down again
All strangers there, no friends to me
Till a dark girl towards me came
And I fell in love with a Creole girl
By the lakes of Pontchartrain

I said my pretty Creole girl
My money here's no good
And if it weren't for the alligators
I'd sleep out in the wood
"You're welcome here kind stranger
Our house is very plain
But we never turned a stranger out
On the banks of Pontchartrain"

She took me into her mammy's house
And she treated me right well
The hair upon her shoulders
In jet black ringlets fell
To try to paint her beauty
I'm sure 't would be in vain
So handsome was my Creole girl
By the lakes of Pontchartrain

I asked her if she'd marry me
She said this could never be
For she had got a lover
And he was far at sea
She said that she would wait for him
And true she would remain
Till he'd return to his Creole girl
By the Lakes of Pontchartrain

So fare thee well, my bonny own girl
I never may see you more
But I'll ne'er forget your kindness
In the cottage by the shore
And at each social gathering
A flowing glass I'll drain
And I'll drink a health to my Creole girl
By the lakes of Pontchartrain





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Brady, Paul The Lakes Of Pontchartrain Comments
  1. C.... R....

    No finer rendition exists on this earth. Period.

  2. B.... C....

    I’ve listened to this song for the first time in Grafton Street, Dublin City. Some buskers were playing at night. I could just memorize some verses and then I found the song here. Amazing!

  3. j.... m....

    Nice to see the audience giving him their full attention, no distractions like smart phones back then.

  4. G.... N....

    He has been given talent..

  5. C.... 4....

    The best way to sing his classic?? Possible... From France.

  6. j.... ....

    No one can sing this song like Paul Brady.

  7. U.... M....

    Ed Sheeran v0.1 :D:D:D

  8. n.... t....

    What a song! What a guy!

  9. r.... s....

    Awesome song bro

  10. M.... K....

    Im 40yrs listening to the lake's and it's as poignant as ever .... it simply does not get any better .... it's time to introduce my 12yr old daughter.

  11. L.... O....

    I was married to an irishman who introduced me to irish folk music sadly i have l lost him now but his music will always be with me love you mcflute x

  12. f.... ....

    What a beautiful arrangement of this classic song!!

  13. N.... ....

    Listening to this at my home on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain :)

    N.... ....

    Any nice Creole girls there ? 😊

  14. S.... M....

    Any one says anything about ed sheeran and I will scream.

  15. M.... H....

    BRADY OWNS THAT SONG
    😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

    M.... H....

    Absolutely !

  16. B.... B....

    My song! I was engaged to and called to sing in my locals.....tis my love song....

  17. D.... O....

    A wonderful song by a wonderful singer

  18. a.... h....

    Álainn, ach i nGaeilge tá sé iontach.

  19. T.... 7....

    Strabane so finest

  20. A.... R....

    Brilliant then. Still utterly brilliant and moving now.

  21. A.... D....

    T'was on one bright March morning I bid New Orleans adieu
    And I took the rode to Jackson town, me fortune to renew
    I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain
    Which filled me heart with longin' for the Lakes of Pontchartain.
    I stepped on board of a railroad car beneath the morning sun
    And I rode the roads 'til evening and I laid me down again
    All strangers here, no friends to me 'til a dark girl towards me came
    And I fell in love with a Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain.
    I said my pretty Creole girl, me money here's no good
    If it weren't for the alligators I'd sleep out in the wood
    You're welcome here kind stranger, our house it's very plain
    But we never turn a stranger out at the Lakes of Pontchartrain.
    She took me to her mummy's house and she treated me quite well
    The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
    To try and paint her beauty I'm sure t'would be in vain
    So handsome was my Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain.
    I asked her if she'd marry me, she'd said it could never be
    For she had got another and he was far at sea
    She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain
    'Til he returned for his Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain.
    So fair thee well me bonny o' girl I never see no more
    But I'll ne'er forget your kindness and the cottage by the shore
    And at each social gathering a flowin' glass I'll raise
    And drink a health to me Creole girl from the Lakes of Pontchartrain.

  22. f.... ....

    Ed Sheehan’s let himself go.

  23. G.... F....

    Old school , beautiful song , and song with heart , Paul looks like a nerd here , but far from it , take a bow dude .

  24. E.... F....

    LEF: I’ll always remember you by this song and hold a deep place in my heart for you whenever you would like to claim it.
    I’ll always be here for you.

  25. K.... M....

    Come in Brian Cowan , and sing it ye feckin' eejit.

  26. f.... ....

    Absolutely Captivating!

  27. C.... C....

    bonnie owen. band name called it

  28. P.... S....

    Such beauty and soul.

  29. P.... W....

    I just love to listen to Paul from when I was a young girl living in Ireland many years ago......Thanks for sharing

  30. D.... G....

    Paul taught this tune to Bob Dylan..epic

  31. T.... P....

    brilliant

  32. K.... D....

    It still amazes me after all these years how easy he makes singing and playing these songs look. Second nature to him. Wonderful.

  33. J.... D....

    Paul Brady,s great version, inspierd of this lovely, song inspired me to do my only portrait that was ever in anxhibition, and got a lot of praise .Thank you to a very young Paul, who went on to be one of Irelands greats.🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

  34. B.... H....

    Excellence in Art,Thank you for this.

  35. a.... ....

    Ooof the sex appeal.

  36. G.... J....

    I love the lilt in his voice.

  37. a.... ....

    Special praise to the Japanese for making great dreads in the early 70s. I think he's playing a YAMAHA FG180 here.

  38. r.... d....

    Just beautiful

  39. S.... M....

    Demigods

  40. C.... C....

    magic stuff guys

  41. S.... M....

    Bloody great

  42. J.... K....

    I met an Irish girl this year. She took me back to her home in Cork and introduced me to her family and this incredible music. We are no longer together but part of my soul will always stay with her

    J.... K....

    One day you will appreciate just what you have lost. Your soul !

    J.... K....

    James Kelly why ? She would never do that unless yo meant everything to her ????

    J.... K....

    @camm1961
    A Soul? Did you a say 'a soul' ?

    J.... K....

    @mary OREILLY Please tell me you are the girl !! I am a sucker for happy endings xD

  43. B.... M....

    I love this damn music

  44. J.... L....

    The setting for this song is the place where I was raised. It has always filled me with sweet sorrows as oil refineries and "development" has destroyed the magic that once was.

    J.... L....

    It sounds such a beautiful place in this song John.Jim.Liverpool.

  45. K.... R....

    YouTube's outage is resolved: Now, I can get back to listening to Andy and Paul again. :-)
    Thank you, as always, Mick Connell, for uploading this wonderful collection.

  46. T.... C....

    Tis the rarest of songs that carries in the wind to america

  47. m.... ....

    Bob Dylan 🤣🤣

  48. S.... B....

    I used to be a big fan...now I'm an air conditioner

  49. c.... l....

    The double Low whistle solo on the recorded version of this sends shivers up the spine! be sure to check it out! While yer at it "The Unquiet Grave" Luke Kelly (recorded version too)

  50. k.... ....

    If it weren't for the alligators I would sleep out in the woods. What a fucking line. Sums my life up

  51. c.... ....

    superb...thank you

  52. J.... D....

    Andy Irvine said last year that he will not be touring the US again. He said he no longer was getting an audience. Christy Moore no longer comes to the US because the interest is not there. Mary Black I believe has finished touring the US.
    About two years ago, Lisa O Neill a respected if not alternative and innovative folk singer back in Ireland played Boston's, Berkley College of Music, Red Room. She had an audience of only 12 people in the heart of Irish America. I know because I was one of the twelve. Five years ago I saw Moya Brennan formerly the lead singer with Clannad in the Somerville Theater. She had an audience of maybe 200 people. The theater capacity is about1200 people.
    U2 still get a crowd. Lisa Hannigan can still get a crowd.
    However, the truth of the matter is that Americans no longer desire Irish folk music. Traditional Irish music has an even worse fate as far as audiences are concerned. The larger picture is that the Irish Cultural experience has already died in Boston proper and most of its suburbs. This is a sad reality.

    J.... D....

    James Dolan :-( A very sad development. Personally I don't think anything will ever move me quite like Irish trad tunes have....

  53. 0.... ....

    Does it, Can it get any better than this? I would love it to bear witness to whatever that thing is because THIS is astounding.

  54. i.... ....

    fantastic

  55. N.... R....

    The story of an Irish immigrant who lost everything after the collapse of the Confederate cause in the American Civil War when his hard-won fortune in Confederate dollars was made worthless and he had to take to the roads to survive.Sic transit gloria mundi!

  56. C.... L....

    listen to that guitar, of course that must be said for everything!!

  57. J.... B....

    A little bit of musical heaven. Can't stop listening. Thank you.

  58. D.... M....

    Check out my acoustic version of this song :)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_TE00WviyU

    David x

  59. N.... M....

    THE definitive version..... love it!

  60. A.... H....

    I'm crying.

  61. M.... F....

    Wonderful !!

  62. K.... M....

    By far the best version of this song 💯

  63. E.... ....

    One of my favourite songs!

  64. C.... C....

    Perfection

  65. B.... C....

    @1:30 As Bein A 1st Nation And I Love Everything

  66. H.... p....

    A lovely American ballad, from around 1850 or so.

  67. S.... C....

    Flawless

  68. F.... K....

    Ths man is EPIC

  69. n.... O....

    CERTAIN

  70. L.... S....

    The most beautiful voice in folk music. Unbelievable. This version is the best of them all❤

  71. B.... N....

    OP, please can you upload the full quality version as youtube no longer has a cap on the size of your upload.

    B.... N....

    no uploads/activity for 6 years, Id guess OP is dead mate.

    B.... N....

    capretta444 😂😂😂😂

  72. �.... �....

    It was one fine March morning, I bid New Orleans Adieu
    And I took the road to Jackson Town, my fortune to renew
    I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain
    Which filled my heart with a longing for, the Lakes of Ponchartrain

    I stepped on board of a railroad car beneath the morning sun
    I rode the rods till evening and I laid me down again
    All strangers there no friends to me 'til a dark girl towards me came
    And I fell in love with the Creole Girl, by the Lakes of Ponchartrain

    I said "Me pretty Creole Girl, me money here's no good,
    If it weren't for the alligators, I'd sleep out there in the wood"
    "You're welcome here kind stranger, Our house is very plain"
    "But we never turned a stranger out, by the Lakes of Ponchartrain"

    She took me into her mammy's house and treated me right well
    The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
    To try and paint here beauty, I'm sure 'twould be in vain
    So handsome was my Creole girl by the Lakes of Ponchartrain

    I asked her if she'd marry me, she said that ne'er could be
    For she had got a lover and he was far at sea
    She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain
    Till he'd return to his Creole girl, on the Lakes of Ponchartrain

    It's fare thee well, me Creole girl, I'll never see you more
    I'll never forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore
    And at each social gathering, a flowing bowl I'll drain
    And I'll drink a health to my Creole girl, by the Lakes of Ponchartrain
    Explanations
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  73. K.... H....

    Pure as crystal

  74. s.... g....

    s e s h

    s.... g....

    Pint in hand and a grand song

  75. G.... E....

    Wish I could shake this mans hand before our time on earth ends... Beautifully sung ✌

  76. k.... ....

    is this regular tuning anyone know?

    k.... ....

    koukouvania I

  77. C.... C....

    This is excellent......

  78. N.... K....

    west germany, nato solgier, she was portuguese, i got three days kitchen police, i steeped plates in boiling water. she informed my hands , i was an complete idiot, me creole gweil in gefushushuckt germine , explained , 'we can never be ' and i sing this song to portoguese that saved me , saved me

    N.... K....

    actually, if it was not for the lingue-phone cassette tape, well boiling water is boiling oil. we speak iin germine, i was a dumb paddy irish, she spoke local. at lunch break, other staff members left us alone, but it was noted by staff , we both spoke german, ein biseeen

  79. P.... K....

    62 people must be deaf ..classic

    P.... K....

    No, just Russin bots trying to sew discord. Ignore and enjoy!

  80. T.... V....

    Is there a snake inside his guitar? The hiss is unbearable.

    +Mick Connell look up on google how to apply a low-pass filter.

  81. T.... C....

    Up there with any great piece of music . Gives you that feeling like no other

  82. N.... C....

    So darn good

  83. J.... B....

    Love Brady's guitar arrangement on this gorgeous song.

  84. R.... ....

    There are many several good covers of this song, but Brady's is the ultimate. And, just a great song to begin with.

  85. B.... F....

    Damn theres just a different kinda soulful feeling from songs like this. Couldn't ask for a better tune from two guys like this

  86. A.... T....

    take the million baby!

  87. J.... R....

    Not alone is Ireland the home of country and western music, and Irish traditional music, it's also the real home of Folk music and it should be promoted as such worldwide. I mean what other country has so many brilliant folk singers like Paul Brady and I'm delighted to see the huge folk revival sweeping the country again, and isn't it part of who we are.

  88. R.... ....

    Great, great song and performance!

    R.... ....

    in love with this song.

  89. A.... T....

    that is my life forever and ever, thank you god
    and thank you paul,
    Irvine and craig

  90. B.... T....

    Great singer great song awesome

    B.... T....

    Lovely talent at its best.

  91. N.... B....

    gorgeous...

  92. 2.... ....

    Gerrrd O Hare

  93. C.... N....

    like the soldier himself was singing it

  94. T.... L....

    Martin Taylor

  95. S.... ....

    beautiful performance. side question: is that a bobby lee guitar strap?

  96. W.... F....

    christy moore did this originally with planxty...it`s on the cold blow album...paul, who replaced christy in planxty, made it his own with this version, which bob dylan enquired about...he was amazed at paul`s open tuning system and met paul to find out....christy`s version was great, also, with johnny moynihan doing seconds...all good.

    W.... F....

    Willie Finn

    W.... F....

    Willie Finn njfkksomp

    W.... F....

    Willie Finn
    msjwnjnjjddnks.o

  97. r.... ....

    Breathtakingly beautiful. R

  98. a.... ....

    Still just as heart catching as many yesterdays