The words of this song was set to a poem by Robert Tannerhill from Scotland but the tune was first written in 1957 as being an original tune. I have heard that many folk songs from other countries like the USA were written before 1957 share similar tunes to Frances McPeake's 1957 song which is the song we know today. I have sung this song the Wild Mountain Thyme written in 1957 so many times and still like singing the song. If anyone who is writing about the earlier songs like Braes of Balquidder or some of the others that use similar tunes of the the 1950s folk revival song please send them to me from Joe.