so what did we decide? why is his moeny no good? I sing a variation of this version and use a DADF#AD tuning (D major).

The story in all the versions I've seen seem to report a real experience of an almost romance - I find it hard to believe the original version was not written by someone who had this experience. The other circumstances change a bit. It seems possible it's a story from just after the US Civil War; my money's no good, and I curse all foreign money - a Confederate soldier would have felt the US currency to be foreign, perhaps, but he also would have found his confederate currency worthless for some time, even if he had any - and it is likely that following the CW he would have need of renewing his fortune. I am just convinced the song describes this era accurately. BUT, the main issue of the song, of course is the relationship ... so what matter when ... or even where?

Any more thoughts on the song?