This sentimental piece is old and goes back to the 18th century at least. An early broadside with the words can be found here http://ballads.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/static/images/sheets/10000/07053.gif.
As a folksong, it has only been collected in England and rarely at that, but George Maynard in Sussex and Frank Hinchcliffe in Yorkshire both knew the song.
Notes by Gwilym Davies 8 April 2016