The song originated in Ireland but gained widespread popularity through oral tradition and printed broadsides throughout the British Isles and later in Australia and North America. The narrative follows a classic pattern of seduction and betrayal, as the protagonist is framed for theft by the woman and subsequently transported to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), a common punishment during Britain’s colonial era. This transportation theme connects it to a broader category of Irish folk songs dealing with exile and colonial injustice.

The song experienced a significant revival during the Irish folk music renaissance of the 1960s, with notable recordings by groups like The Dubliners helping to cement its place in the modern Irish musical canon. Its enduring popularity speaks to both its memorable melody and its resonant themes of caution against temptation and the harsh realities of colonial-era justice.