Dorraine of Ponchartrain

As I walked by the lake one day by chance my Dorraine passed my way

Then she and I walked hand in hand on the banks of Ponchartrain

I pinned a flower on her heart, I swore we'd never be apart

She vowed her love forever and as I kissed her did the same

Dorraine, my Dorraine, my dark haired little angel

My belle of Ponchartrain

We sat down on the dock and with our hearts and fingers locked

We laughed and talked and joked about when our names are the same

And joking I said honey are you marrying me for money

And it took just one quick look to tell it hurt my dear Dorraine

She jumped and stood above me and she cried why you don't love me

I'm rowing home across the lake you won't see me again

I called and called some more but she rowed fast from the shore

And the clouds brought by a wind began to rain on Ponchartrain

Dorraine, I called Dorraine

Come back my little angel my belle of Ponchartrain

The storm should make her learn that she should make a swift return

But as the rain fell harder I lost sight of my Dorraine

As panic gripped my heart I drew the oars and made my start

To look for her on raging waters and the rain on Ponchartrain

At darkness I still called but no one heard my cries at all

And when the daybreak came then others helped me look for my Dorraine

But there was not a thing afloat except the oars from her rowboat

For all was lost upon the choppy waves and rain on Ponchartrain

Now I come day after day to where my sweetheart rowed away

And I gaze across the water of the rainy Ponchartrain

Just one thing and nothing more ever floated back to shore

Was this flower I hold it is the one I pinned on my Dorraine

Dorraine, my Dorraine, my dark haired little angel

My belle of Ponchartrain