The melody was first printed by George Petrie in the mid-19th century under the title The Bucks of Ahasnagh. It may be a variant of the 17th century lowland Scots tune named Rock and a Wee Pickle Tow, which was a women's spinning song.
| : | G | CD | GEm | AmD | |
| G | GD | GD | G | : | |
| Em | Em | D | D | ||
| G | CBm | GD | G | ||
| Em | Em | D | D | ||
| G | CBm | CD | G |