Plains of Baltimore, The

DESCRIPTION: As the singer prepares to leave (Ireland?), his rich sweetheart promises to go with him and takes some of her father's money with her. They leave Ireland for America and settle down happily. Her father promises a reward when their first son is born
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1934 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: emigration father love elopement
FOUND IN: US(MA) Ireland Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Warner-TraditionalAmericanFolkSongsFromAnneAndFrankWarnerColl 5, "Plains of Baltimore" (1 text, 1 tune)
Henry/Huntingdon/Herrmann-SamHenrysSongsOfThePeople H553, p. 482, "Jamie, Lovely Jamie" (1 text, 1 tune)
Creighton-FolksongsFromSouthernNewBrunswick 38, "There Was a Wealthy Farmer" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST Wa005 (Full)
Roud #7457
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Bonny Labouring Boy" [Laws M14]
NOTES [68 words]: Creighton-FolksongsFromSouthernNewBrunswick has the money sewn into her dress: "This lovely maid was gaily decked most wondrous to behold, And in her dress a fortune sewed, five hundred pounds in gold." - BS
This is fairly typical of the versions, though the amount varies, as does the place of departure. The ending, in which the father forgives and offers more money once the son is born, seems fixed. - RBW
File: Wa005

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