Annotation:I Have a Wife in Baltimore

Back to I Have a Wife in Baltimore

---

I HAVE A WIFE IN BALTIMORE. AKA – “I Have a Gal in Baltimore.” AKA and see "Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay," "Streamers on Her Hat." Old-Time, Song and Dance Tune (2/4 time). USA, southwestern Pa. F Major (Bayard): G Major (Kuntz). Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Kuntz): AB (Bayard). Bayard (1981) guesses that the tune is German, thought the only European source he cites is Vinko Zganec, Zbornik Jugoslovenskih Puckih Popievaka (p. 339, No. 627). The ditty was commercially recorded in America by the Georgia Crackers in 1927 as "I Got a Gal in Baltimore."

I got a gal in Baltimore,
Street car runs right by the door;
Hundred dollar carpet on the floor,
If that ain't enough I'll by some more. . . . [Kuntz]

Source for notated version: M. Rogers (Pa., 1930's) [Bayard].

Printed sources: Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 182, p. 139. Kuntz (Ragged but Right), 1987; p. 287.

Recorded sources:

---

Back to I Have a Wife in Baltimore