The Lakes of Ponchartrain - Final - Dulcimer Duet

Описание: Rick and Cindy have chosen "The Lakes of Ponchartrain" as the latest dry run they are trying. This one is new to Cindy, but Rick has known this as one of his favorites for many years. He first heard this at a live concert at the Laurel Theater in Knoxville in the 80's, when he and his wife Cathy attended. The group they saw was Trapezoid, featuring Lorraine Duisit, vocals, mandola, bowed psaltery, and guitar; Freyda Epstein, vocals, violin and viola; Ralph Gordon, vocals, cello and bass; and Paul Reisler, hammered dulcimer and guitar. This song can still be found on their album "Now and Then". A beautiful duet sung by Lorraine and Freyda.

Cindy found a dulcimer tab by Burt Kahn on dulcimertab.com Late in the video, Rick points out what a great job she does sight-reading these songs she had never even heard before. Rick plays by ear and makes up his part as they go through the "Dry Run", working toward the final "Acceptable" version.

This is their "Final Cut" of the song.

"The Lakes of Pontchartrain" is a 19th-century American folk ballad with uncertain origins, likely stemming from Irish settlers in Louisiana or soldiers from the War of 1812. It was popularized in the 1970s by artists like Paul Brady and Planxty. The tune is believed to be heavily influenced by or adapted from the traditional Irish air "The Lily of the West".

"The Lakes of Pontchartrain" (Roud 1836) is a folk ballad from the United States about a man who is given shelter by a Louisiana Creole woman. He falls in love with her and asks her to marry him, but she is already promised to a sailor and declines. It is a tale of unrequited love.

It was 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 Pontchartrain

I climbed on board of a railroad car all in the morning sun
And I rode the rods till evening then I laid me down again
All strangers were no friends to me till a dark girl towards me came
And I fell in love with a Creole girl on the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I said "My pretty Creole girl my 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 is very plain"
We never turn a stranger out on the Lakes of Pontchartrain

She took me to her mama's house and treated me right well
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell
To try to paint her beauty there I'm sure would be in vain
So handsome was my Creole girl by the Lakes of Pontchartrain

I asked her would she 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 returned to his Creole girl by the lakes of Pontchartrain

So fare thee well my Creole girl I'll ne'er see no more
I'll ne'er forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore
And at each social gathering a foaming glass I'll drain
And I'll drink a health to my Creole girl on the Lakes of Pontchartrain