Richie Story

Richie Story (Roud 97, Child 232), also called The Earl of Weymss, is an English-language folk song existing in several variants.

[1] According to Francis James Child, the ballad is based on historical events that happened around 1673.

Falling in love with an apparently poor suitor is common in ballads -- The Beggar-Laddie, Dugall Quin, Lizie Lindsay, Glasgow Peggie—but he generally proves a rich man after all; often this is after she regrets the poverty they travel in.

This ballad usually shows a rare actual rejection of wealth for true love.

A similar motif is found in the ballad Tom Potts.