Both the tune and early lyrics for "Rosin the Bow" are traditional. In 1838, the variation "Old Rosin the Beau" was published by Ld. Meignen & Co. in Philadelphia. Several US presidential campaign used songs set to this tune including William Henry Harrison ("The Hero of Tippecanoe"), Henry Clay ("Harry, the Honest and True") and Abraham Lincoln ( "Lincoln and Liberty"). The tune is used in "Acres of Clams" (aka "Old Settler's Song") and "Down in the Willow Garden" (aka "Rose Connelly"). The melody was also used in several Irish rebel songs including "The Boys of Kilmichael", "The Men of the West", and "The Soldiers of Cumann na mBan". It was recorded by Tommy Makem, A.L. Lloyd and Gordon Bok. I learned it from Gordon Bok's first album.