Baldwin was born in Evanston, Illinois, and graduated from Northwestern University's theatre program in 1997.
Baldwin has appeared in several Broadway productions, including her debut in The Full Monty (2000), Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002), and Wonderful Town (2003). She performs frequently in regional theater, including South Pacific as Nellie Forbush (receiving a Helen Hayes Award nomination) at Arena Stage in Washington, DC (2002); The Sound of Music as Maria (2005) and The Music Man as Marian Paroo (2009), both at The Muny, St. Louis, Missouri) and A Little Night Music as Countess Charlotte at Centre Stage, Baltimore, Maryland, in March 2008.
She played the role of Sharon in the 2009 Encores! staged concert production of Finian's Rainbow. The New York Times critic Charles Isherwood praised her performance, writing that she sang the role "beautifully... her rich, pure soprano riding the crests of the melodies with ease", most notably in the "famous wistful ballad 'How Are Things in Glocca Morra?'" and called her a "discovery". She is repeating the role as Sharon in the Broadway revial of Finian's Rainbow at the St. James Theatre beginning October 8, 2009.
Baldwin is working on her first solo album, Let's See What Happens, consisting of songs written by Burton Lane and E. Y. Harburg.
She married fellow actor Graham Rowat on October 2, 2005.
How Are Things in Glocca Morra?How Are Things in Glocca Morra?
Kate Baldwin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It well may be he's bringing me a cheering word.
I hear a breeze, a River Shanon breeze,
It well may be it's followed me across the seas.
Then tell me please
How are things in Glocca Morra?
Is that little brook still leaping there?
Through Killybegs, Kilkerry and Kildare?
How are things in Glocca Mora?
Is that willow tree still weeping there?
Does that lassie with the twinklin' eye
Come smilin' by and does she walk away,
Sad and dreamy there not to see me there?
So I ask each weepin' willow and each brook along the way,
And each lass that comes a-sighin' too ra lay
How are things in Glocca Morra this fine day?
Kate Baldwin's song "How Are Things In Glocca Morra?" speaks to the sense of longing for home and the hope of returning to a simpler way of life. The lyrics evoke imagery of Ireland - specifically its landscapes, flora, fauna, and community - as vivid memories for a person who has left the country, led elsewhere by circumstance or curiosity. The song's protagonist, upon hearing a bird and a breeze that remind them of home, asks after the state of Glocca Morra, a small town or village in Ireland, and all that they remember about it.
The lyrics of "How Are Things In Glocca Morra?" are poignant and full of symbolism. The bird and the breeze that the singer hears evoke a sense of hope, as though their homeland is reaching out to them across oceans and boundaries to offer comfort and connection. The names of the places mentioned - Donny cove, Killybegs, Kilkerry, and Kildare - are all real Irish towns with their own histories and stories. By mentioning them, the song creates a sense of place that is familiar and beloved by the singer. The willow tree and the lassie with the twinkling eye are also symbols of home, emphasizing the emotional ties that bind the singer to Glocca Morra.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear a bird, Londonderry bird,
I can hear a bird singing, it might be from Londonderry and it may bring me a message of hope.
It well may be he's bringing me a cheering word.
It's possible that the bird's song is meant to uplift my spirits.
I hear a breeze, a River Shanon breeze,
I can feel a breeze blowing, perhaps it originated from the River Shanon.
It well may be it's followed me across the seas.
It's possible that the same breeze has followed me across the ocean.
Then tell me please
So, please tell me
How are things in Glocca Morra?
How is the atmosphere in the town of Glocca Morra?
Is that little brook still leaping there?
Is that small stream still flowing energetically there?
Does it still run down to Donny cove?
Is it still flowing towards Donny cove?
Through Killybegs, Kilkerry and Kildare?
Does it flow through Killybegs, Kilkerry, and Kildare?
Is that willow tree still weeping there?
Is that willow tree still standing there and appearing to mourn?
Does that lassie with the twinklin' eye
Is the girl with the sparkling eyes
Come smilin' by and does she walk away,
Still walking by and then disappearing with a smile?
Sad and dreamy there not to see me there?
Is she appearing sad and lost in thought because she doesn't see me there?
So I ask each weepin' willow and each brook along the way,
Therefore, I ask each sorrowful willow tree and every stream that I cross,
And each lass that comes a-sighin' too ra lay
And every girl who comes sighing like the wind
How are things in Glocca Morra this fine day?
How is the atmosphere in Glocca Morra today?
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BURTON LANE, E. Y. HARBURG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind