As I walked by the lake one
day by chance my Dorraine passed my way
Then she and I walked hand in hand
on the banks of Ponchartrain
I pinned a flower on her heart,
I swore we'd never be apart
She vowed her love forever and as
I kissed her did the same
We sat down on the dock and with
our hearts and fingers locked
We laughed and talked and joked about
when our names are the same
And joking I said honey are you
And it took just one quick look to tell
She jumped and stood above me and
she cried why you don't love me
I'm rowing home across the lake
I called and called some more but
she rowed fast from the shore
And the clouds brought by a wind began
The storm should make her learn
that she should make a swift return
But as the rain fell harder
I lost sight of my Dorraine
As panic gripped my heart I drew
the oars and made my start
To look for her on raging waters
and the rain on Ponchartrain
At darkness I still called but no
one heard my cries at all
And when the daybreak came then others
helped me look for my Dorraine
But there was not a thing afloat
except the oars from her rowboat
For all was lost upon the choppy waves
an d rain on Ponchartrain
Now I come day after day to where
And I gaze across the water
of the rainy Ponchartrain
Just one thing and nothing more
ever floated back to shore
Was this flower I hold it is the one I pinned on
