"I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day" (Roud 975) is a traditional Scottish or Irish music hall song[1] written from the point of view of a rich landowner telling the story of his day while buying drinks at a public house. According to Archie Fisher, the song is "an Irish narrative ballad that has been shortened to an Aberdeenshire drinking song".[1]
It is also known under the titles Jock Stuart, Jock Stewart[1] or Jock Steward.
Various versions of the song exist.[1] A "boastful Irish ditty" of that title is recorded as early as the 1880s.[2] It was also passed on from Frederick “Cauliflower” Crossman, who had worked with Cecil Sharp, to Crossman's granddaughter.[1] Its most famous version is Jeannie Robertson's from 1960. A recent popular version was recorded in 1985 by the Pogues, with bass player Cait O'Riordan on vocals. In both Robertson's and O'Riordan's versions, the song's first-person narrator is presented by a woman, despite the song's masculine narrative.[3]
lyrics
Me[C] name is Jock[G] Stewart I'm a[C] canny young [F]man,
And a[C] rambling young[G] fellow I have[C] be[G]en,
So be[C] easy and[G] free when your[Em] drinking with[F] me,
I'm a[C] man you dont[G] meet every[C] day.
[2]
I have acres of land,I have men at command,
I have always a shilling to spare,
So be easy and free when your drinking with me,
I'm a man you dont meet every day.
[3]
So come fill up your glasses,with brandt or wine,
And whatever the cost I will pay,
So be easy and free,when your drinking with me,
Im a man you dont meet every day
[4]
I took out my dog,and him I did shoot,
Down in the banks of the Tay,
So be easy and free when your drinking with me,
I'm a man you don't meet every day.
credits
from Slake Yer Drouth,
released December 30, 2020
Lead Vocals & Guitar: Alan Lumsden
Vocals & Guitar: Chippy MacFarlane
Bass: Dougie Mathieson
Fiddle & Vocals: Kevin O'Donnell
Whistle & Vocals: Steve Shields
Recorded & Mixed in Chambers Studio, Edinburgh, by Niall Sinclair
Remix and Master in Sunroom Studios, Kippen, By Alan Moffat
With much thanks to Dougie Mathieson for recording pretty awesome bass lines remotely from his home.
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