The Banks Of The Old Pontchartrain.

                Hank Williams
                   1948

  (C)           (C7)     (F)       (C)
I traveled from Texas to old Louisian',
                                     (G7)
Through valleys, o'er mountains and plain.
     (C)         (C7)       (F)       (C)
Both footsore and weary, I rested a while
       (G7)                        (C)
On the banks of the Old Pontchar-train.



                   (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 Pontchar-train.


             (C7)              (F)            (C)
I ventured a smile, but she thought I was bold.
                         (G7)
I hastened to try and explain,
    (C)         (C7)           (F)         (C)
But somehow I knew I would linger a while
       (G7)                        (C)
On the banks of the Old Pontchar-train.


                (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 I'd spend the rest of my life
       (G7)                        (C)
On the banks of the Old Pontchar-train.


                (C7)           (F)        (C)
As time drifted by, we fell deeper in love,
                                 (G7)
A love that could just bring her pain.
  (C)              (C7)         (F)           (C)
I knew that one day I would leave her alone
        (G7)                       (C)
On the banks of the Old Pontchar-train.


                (C7)            (F)      (C)
I just couldn't tell her that I ran away
                           (G7)
From jail on an old Texas plain.
  (C)             (C7)            (F)        (C)
I prayed in my heart I would never be found
        (G7)                       (C)
On the banks of the Old Pontchar-train.


Then one day a man put his hand on my arm
And said I must go west again.
I left her alone without saying goodbye,
On the banks of the Old Pontchartrain.


Tonight as I sit here alone in my cell,
I know that she's waiting in vain.
I'm hoping and praying someday to return
To the banks of the Old Pontchartrain.