CAPO 1    
 
 A                 A7         D       A   
I travelled from Texas to old Louisanne 
                                    E7  
Through valleys over mountains and plains 
      A              A7        D      A     
Both footsore and weary I rested awhile 
        E7                         A               
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain 
 
 A                   A7            D    A    
The fairest young maiden that I ever saw 
                            E7  
Passed by as it started to rain 
    A              A7          D            A  
We both found a shelter beneath the same tree 
        E7                         A  
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain 
 
 A                 A7          D    A  
We hid from the shower an hour or so 
                            E7   
She asked me how long I'd remain 
   A               A7              D       A      
I told her that I'd spend the rest of my days 
        E7                         A  
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain 
 
 A                 A7              D    A  
I just couldn't tell her that I ran away 
                               E7  
From a jail on the West Texas plain 
   A              A7              D       A     
I prayed in my heart I would never be found 
        E7                         A   
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain 
 
 A                A7            D       A               
Then one day a man put his hand on my arm 
                                  E7   
And said I must go west the same day 
   A                A7        D        A    
I left her alone without saying goodbye 
        E7                         A  
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain  
 
 A                  A7      D        A            
Tonight as I sit here alone in my cell 
                              E7  
I know that she's waiting in vain 
     A            A7            D      A    
I'm hoping and praying someday to return 
        E7                         A  
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain 

  C                 C7         F        C   
I travelled from Texas to old Louisanne 
                                    G7  
Through valleys over mountains and plains 
      C              C7        F       C     
Both footsore and weary I rested awhile 
        G7                         C               
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain 
 
                   C7            F     C    
The fairest young maiden that I ever saw 
                            G7  
Passed by as it started to rain 
    C              C7          F            C  
We both found a shelter beneath the same tree 
        G7                         C  
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain 
 
                 C7          F     C  
We hid from the shower an hour or so 
                            G7   
She asked me how long I'd remain 
   C               C7              F       C      
I told her that I'd spend the rest of my days 
        G7                         C  
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain 
 
                 C7              F    C  
I just couldn't tell her that I ran away 
                           G7     
From a jail on the West Texas plain 
   C              C7              F       C     
I prayed in my heart I would never be found 
        G7                         C   
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain 
 
                C7            F         C                  
Then one day a man put his hand on my arm 
                          G7  
And said I must go west again 
   C                C7        F       C    
I left her alone without saying goodbye 
        G7                         C  
On the banks of the old Pontchartrain 
 
                  C7      F         C            
Tonight as I sit here alone in my cell 
                              G7  
I know that she's waiting in vain 
     C            C7            F      C    
I'm hoping and praying someday to return 
        G7                         C  
To the banks of the old Pontchartrain