The song was adapted by Gaughan from a traditional song attributed to
James Hogg. The historic version of the song can be found in The
Jacobite Relics of Scotland by James Hogg, published in 1819. Quoting a local Borders press article on the festival of the same name,
Lori Watson notes that: "I've heard Dick himself acknowledge, 'when I came across it, it didn't have his name on it but Hogg's fingerprints are all over it'". Gaughan changed some lyrics and replaced the tune but the song's message is essentially the same. Gaughan himself says he is the composer, stating "So far as I am aware, I actually composed it and am highly flattered by the presumption that it is traditional, with people claiming to have known it for several decades, if not centuries...if someone can provide a printed or recorded source to prove the existence of this tune prior to 1979 then I'd be delighted to acknowledge that I unconsciously used a traditional tune." == Original Song Text==