It is generally believed that the modern version of this song was written by Dr. Henry Carey, although some paragraphs that appeared in the history of the version also appeared in the modern version, which led to some confusion.

It is believed that the first performance of this song took place at a banquet in 1740, when Carey sang this song to congratulate Admiral edward vernon on seizing the port of Pietro from the Spanish.

Traditionally, the first public singing of this song is believed to have taken place in 1745. In the era of King George II of England, Charles Edward Stuart, the leader of the James II Party who demanded the British throne (that is, the eldest grandson of James II, the "little prince of the North", had many supporters in Scotland, so he had the last words to support Scotland) returned to England and sought to restore the Stuart dynasty. After the rebels won a battle, people sang this song to support the king.