In Fuld's 'The Book of World Famous Music' he says the song first appeared in the 1883 edition of Harvard's 'Student Songs', and is not in the 1880 or 1881 edition. No author credited. Book compiled and edited by William H. Hills and copyrighted May 14, 1883, by Moses King.

Fuld - 'is believed to be American in origin, perhaps Negro or minstrel'.