Words are by the prolific Lady Nairne (1766-1845), who came of a Jacobite family, and so her songs about Royal Charlie & co. have the true patriotic ring. [Take a look at some of her other songs, where she tried to clean up what she considered in bad taste--rather pitiful efforts!--e.g. "Cauld Kail", a great drinking song (with a bawdy variant) was turned into a teetotal one.] Anyway: her song is not quite accurate. The Prince did get to Carlisle ha' (18 November 1745), preceded by one hundred pipers. But the river Esk was waded not in glory but in defeat,, when they returned to Scotland [a bit of wishful thinking and rewriting history]. As to the tune, its origin is as far as I know unknown, or dubious. It has been said to be a variant of the old tune "The White Cockade", brisked up into jig time.