This song, almost always called “Old Dan Tucker” is widely known in the USA and serves purpose as a banjo tune, a folk dance and a general singalong song.  Versions abound and more verses get added, even bawdy ones.  It is attributed to the blackface minstrel music composer Dan Emmett.  It popularised by the Virginia Minstrels in 1843.  The fact that it has turned up in English folk tradition, with Dan becoming Ann, is almost certainly due to the visits to England of blackfaced minstrels in the 19th century.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 7 April 2016