It (C)was one (Em)fine March (F)morning I (C)bid New (G)Orleans ad(c)ieu
And I (C)took the (Em)road to (F)Jackson town, my (C)fortune to re(F)new.
I (C)cursed all (Em)foreign (F)money, no (C)credit could I (F)gain,
Which (C)filled me (Em)heart with (F)longing for the (C)lakes of (G)Ponchar(C)train.

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 my 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 in the wood."
"You're welcome here, kind stranger, from such sad thoughts refrain
For me Mammy welcomes strangers by the lakes of Ponchartrain

one vers sax solo

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 her beauty, Im 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

So fare thee well, me Creole girl, I never may see you more.
I'll neer 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

(G)Oh now I got me a big fat heart
(Oh Lord a big fat heart)
Now I got me a big fat heart
(Big (D)fat (G)heart)
I say, I say now I got me a big fat heart
(Oh Lord a big fat heart)
Oh now I got me a big fat heart
(Big (D)fat (G)heart)

(G)Gonna spread this heart around the world
(Oh Lord around the world)
I wanna spread this heart around the world
(Big (D)fat (G)heart)
Yeah spread this heart around the world
(Oh Lord around the world)
Gonna spread this heart around the world
(Big (D)fat (G)heart)

Well the River Jordan's both long and deep
(Oh Lord long and deep)
I said the River Jordan's both long and deep
(Big (D)fat (G)heart)
No no, the River Jordan's both long and deep
(Oh Lord long and deep)
Oh the River Jordan's both long and deep
(Big (D)fat (G)heart)

Now everybody...

Now I got me a big fat heart
(Oh Lord a big fat heart)
Now I got me a big fat heart
(Big (D)fat (G)heart)
I wanna thank you people for the love you show
(Oh Lord the love you show)
I wanna thank you people for the love you show
(Big (D)fat (G)heart)
Oh yeah I thank you people for the love you show
(Oh Lord the love you show)
I wanna thank you people for the love you show
(Big (D)fat (G)heart)

It feels like...

Now I got me a big fat heart
(Oh Lord a big fat heart)
Now I got me a big fat heart
Big (D)fat (G)heart

D G (8x)

(D)And your (G)feet are covered in dust
(D)And your (G)eyes are welling up in tears
(D)Something (G)from you has been lifted
(D)You haven't (G)felt as ?????? as this in years

(D)And the (G)air from the hills
(D)Reminds (G)the body that the soul is still flying
(D)And the (G)air from the hills
(D)Reminds the (G)body that the soul is still flying

(F)And as you pass (C)by
(F)I caught a sparkle (C)in your e(DG 4x))ye

And you are still singing songs
Still inspiring generations
And your vision is still strong
You never fail to break expectations

And the air from the hills
May it flow gently through you
So we breathe in our fill
And we glide on a ?trail?
And we raise a glass to you

And as you pass by
Caught a sparkle in your eye

(D G 8x)