The tune and the chorus are very widespread and popular for little country comic ditties. It has even become hybridised in some areas with the 16th century Brian O'Lynn. This type of song more often appears in local dialect collections and tends to have been largely overlooked by the folk song collectors.

I can take it back a little further. Pitts issued at least 2 different slips with it on before he moved premises in 1819. I'd be surprised if it wasn't at least 18thc. When he printed it on a broadside at his new premises at number 6 (1819-1844) he changed the title to 'Dumble Dum Deary'