A                                  D
As I walked by the lake one day by chance my Dorraine passed my way
A                                         B7              A
Then she and I walked hand in hand on the banks of Ponchartrain
A                                 D
I pinned a flower on her heart, I swore we'd never be apart
A                                   E                  A
She vowed her love forever and as I kissed her did the same


[Chorus]
A            D         A
Dorraine, my Dorraine, my dark haired little angel
   E               A
My belle of Ponchartrain


[Verse 2]
A                           D
We sat down on the dock and with our hearts and fingers locked
A                                          B7                A
We laughed and talked and joked about when our names are the same
A                               D
And joking I said honey are you marrying me for money
A                                          E                A
And it took just one quick look to tell it hurt my dear Dorraine
A                                     D
She jumped and stood above me and she cried why you don't love me
A                               B7               E
I'm rowing home across the lake you won't see me again
A                                     D
I called and called some more but she rowed fast from the shore
A                                         E              A
And the clouds brought by a wind began to rain on Ponchartrain


[Chorus]
A            D         A
Dorraine, my Dorraine, my dark haired little angel
   E               A
My belle of Ponchartrain


[Verse 3]
A                                    D
The storm should make her learn that she should make a swift return
A                           B7                 E
But as the rain fell harder I lost sight of my Dorraine
A                                    D
As panic gripped my heart I drew the oars and made my start
A                                    E                  A
To look for her on raging waters and the rain on Ponchartrain
A                              D
At darkness I still called but no one heard my cries at all
A                                      B7                    E
And when the daybreak came then others helped me look for my Dorraine
A                                D
But there was not a thing afloat except the oars from her rowboat
A                                          E              A
For all was lost upon the choppy waves and rain on Ponchartrain
A                           D
Now I come day after day to where my sweetheart rowed away
A                           B7                  E
And I gaze across the water of the rainy Ponchartrain
A                               D
Just one thing and nothing more ever floated back to shore
A                                E                  A
Was this flower I hold it is the one I pinned on my Dorraine


[Chorus]
A            D         A
Dorraine, my Dorraine, my dark haired little angel
   E               A
My belle of Ponchartrain