[Verse 1]
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 Pontchartrain
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

[Chorus]
Dorraine, my Dorraine
My dark-haired little angel
My belle of Pontchartrain

[Verse 2]
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 marrying me for money?"
And it took just one quick look to tell it hurt my dear Dorraine

[Verse 3]
She jumped and stood above me and she cried, "Why you don't love me!
I'm rowing home across the lake you won't see me again"
I called and called some more, but she rowed fast from the shore
And the clouds brought by a wind began to rain on Pontchartrain

[Chorus]
Dorraine, I called Dorraine
Come back, my little angel
My belle of Pontchartrain
[Verse 3]
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 water and the rain on Pontchartrain

[Verse 4]
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 and rain on Pontchartrain

[Verse 5]
Now I come day after day to where my sweetheart rowed away
And I gaze across the water of the rainy Pontchartrain
Just one thing and nothing more ever floated back to shore
It was this flower I hold, it is the one I pinned on my Dorraine

[Chorus]
Dorraine, my Dorraine
My dark haired little angel
My belle of Pontchartrain