According to Roxburghe Ballads Vol. 6, the Ramsey Vol. 2 date is 1725. On pages 193-215 are similar songs "Go from my window, go" and "Who is at my window, who?" both dating back to the 1500s. Another old song "Widow, are you waking?" has vanished but Ramsey printed a new version in the same 1725 edition that begins:
"O, wha's that at my chamber-door?" "Fair widow, are you waukin'?"