Chappell (1859) notes the tune appeared shortly after the island of Jamaica was appropriated from the Spanish in 1655. The Playford tune takes its name from a ballad entitled: "Joy after Sorrow, Being the Sea-mans return from Jamaica; Or, the lovely Lasses late Lamentation for the long absence of her dearest beloved Friend". The melody (as "Jameko") first appears in The Dancing Master's 1670 4th edition and all subsequent editions, through 1728. The 19th century antiquarian William Chappell thought the title was probably from an original song that had been lost, although he did find the melody to be the vehicle to a number of songs set to the tune. It was also printed in Walsh's Compleat Country Dancing Master, editions of 1718, 1731 and 1754, Chappell's Popular Music of the Olden Time, vol. 2, (1859), Karpeles & Schofield's A Selection of 100 English Folk Dance Airs (1951) and Sharp's Country Dance Tunes (1909). It was recorded on The English Country Dancing Master, vol 2 by The Telemann Society.