The Gaelic title of this tune translates as The Ferryboat to Ireland. The title may refer to the Ulster-Scots migration to Ireland starting in the early 17th century. This tune was included in a book of the band music of the 78th regiment, which was raised by General Fraser of Lovat in the year 1757, to be sent to North America to participate in the siege of Louisbourg, the battle at the Plains of Abraham, and capture of Montreal.
The Northumbrian composer and fiddler James Hill (1811–1853) is sometimes credited as author of this tune, but this is disputed. The tune is probably named for Thomas Paine's 1791 book The Rights of Man, which sold a phenomenal 200,000 copies in England at the time. It was controversial because of its support of the revolution, was banned by Royal proclamation, and often burned along with effigies of its author. However, the book continued to circulate widely, particularly in oppressed areas like Scotland and Ireland. The tune is usually played as a hornpipe, but it may be played more like a reel, as was done after the tune Crossing to Ireland by legendary Cape Breton fiddler Winston "Scotty" Fitzgerald (1914-1987), on this Classic Cuts album.