Oh my name is Jock Stewart
I'm a canny gun man
And a roving young fellow I've been
So be easy and free
when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet every day
I have acres of land
I have men at command
I have always a shilling to spare
So be easy and free
when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet every day
So come fill up your glasses
of brandy and wine
Whatever it costs I will pay
So be easy and free
when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet every day
Well I took out my dog
and him I did shoot
All down in the county Kildare
So be easy and free
when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet every day
---
These are the lyrics as they appear on the Rum, Sodomy, & The Lash insert.
Now, my name is Jock Stewart
I'm a canny gaun man,
And a roving young fellow, I've been.
So be easy and free
When you're drinkin wi' me.
I'm a man you don't meet every day.
I have acres of land;
I have men at command;
I have always a shilling to spare.
Now, I took out my gun,
With my dog I did shoot,
All down by the River Kildare
I'm a piper by trade
And a roving young blade
And many a tune I do play
Let us catch well the hours
And the minutes that fly
And we'll share them together this day
So, come fill up your glasses
Of brandy and wine,
And whatever the cost, I will pay.
The song is an Irish narrative ballad that has been shortened to an Aberdeenshire drinking song. It is essentially Jeannie Robertson's version, slightly modified by Archie Fisher in the third verse so the dog doesn't get shot. It is alternatively claimed by the Singing Stewarts to have been written for Bell's father.