Though found in England, this song appears to have been most popular in Scotland, the USA and Canada. Laws M13, as previously stated; Steve Roud's Folk Song Index assigns it Roud number 406.

Ewan MacColl, for one, considered that this was originally a Scottish song. In Travellers' Songs from England and Scotland (1977), he and Peggy Seeger printed two Aberdeenshire sets, noted from Jock Higgins and Maggie McPhee. The Scots versions tend to be called The Lass of Bennachie (not to be confused with The Back of Bennachie, often called Gin I Were Where Gaudie Rins or similar, which is a completely different song); they fall into three groups. MacColl & Seeger specify:

"(1) The Lass o' Bennachie, a stilted and rather lengthy piece in which the girl is bound in prison by her father but upon gaining her freedom she follows her love to Germany and then returns home again with him. The style of the story is similar to that of Jack Munro (Laws N7) but it lacks the disguise motif.

(2) The Lass o' Bennachie, our song, in which the most prominent opening stanza is:

'Twas at the back o' Bennochie
Where swiftly flies the swallow,
'Twas at the back o' Bennochie
Where first I chose my marrow.

... This version does not state explicitly the difference in the social status of the lovers. It is by far the most popular of the three songs.

(3) The Lass o' Bennachie, a lyric song of five to six stanzas, beginning with the above-quoted stanza then proceeding to describe the girl, the parting and the love-vows."

John Ord's Bothy Songs and Ballads (1930) includes examples of all three, together with the following note:

"There are three versions of The Lass o' Bennochie, and the stories told in each are somewhat different. The following particulars regarding the ballad appeared in The Huntly Express of 27th. December, 1879:

Miss Erskine, daughter of the Laird of Pittodrie, who had accompanied her uncle, Lord Forbes, to Fort Augustus, of which he was governor, about the year 1765, met with an officer, a Lieutenant Knight, with whom she fell in love. As she was an only child and an heiress, her parents were much opposed to her marrying one whom they considered much beneath her in rank. Perseverance was, however, rewarded in this case, and they were married in 1770. Their descendants are known as the Knight-Erskines of Pittodrie.

The estate of Pittodrie is at the foot of the Hill of Bennochie."

MacColl & Seeger add that Miss Erskine was born in 1747, and give Knights first name as William, though they give him the rank of Ensign. They also admit that [Gavin] Greig pointed out that the historical records contradict the details in the song, but comment it is possible that the song has combined with, and borrowed from, other existing pieces.

There is a broadside example at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

Faithful lover ("I never knew what sorrow was ...") Printer and date unknown.

MacColl & Seeger also refer to a 17th century broadside by Martin Parker, entitled The Lovers Joy and Griefe, with the refrain but locks and bolts do hinder. Another printing of this can be seen at the Bodleian:

The lovers joy and grief, or, A young-mans relation, in a pittiful fashion. Printed between 1674 and 1679 for F. Cole [sic], T. Vere, J. Wright, and J. Clarke of London.

It may be that the later song derives the phrase Locks and bolts do hinder from the earlier broadside, but they do not seem otherwise to be related.

There is an Appalachian set in the DT: LOCKS AND BOLTS

There are four American examples at the Max Hunter Folk Song Collection:

Locks And Bolts As sung by Harrison Burnett, Fayetteville, Arkansas on August 18, 1960

They'll Fight For Each Other As sung by Mr. Fred High in High, Arkansas on February 11, 1959

I Dream't Of My True Love Last Night As sung by Mr. William Edens, Mont Ne, Arkansas on August 17, 1960

Rainbow Willow As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on May 26, 1969