“The Little Ballad Girl” was submitted for copyright entry on November 17, 1860, and copyright deposit on December 11, 1860, by Daughaday & Hammond of Philadelphia.

The song was originally published in Clark’s School Visitor in December, 1860, and then reissued in sheet music format. When the song was published by John Church Jr. around 1865, the title was changed to “’Tis My Father’s Song.”