I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day

The Pogues

About I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day

"I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day" (Roud 975) is a traditional Scottish or Irish music hall song 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". It is also known under the titles Jock Stuart, Jock Stewart or Jock Steward. Various versions of the song exist. A "boastful Irish ditty" of that title is recorded as early as the 1880s. It was also passed on from Frederick “Cauliflower” Crossman, who had worked with Cecil Sharp, to Crossman's granddaughter. 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. 


Year:
2006
2:54
83 
#2

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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

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

So come fill up you 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

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The Pogues

The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every December. The group has yet to record any new music and, according to Spider Stacy on Pogues.com, has no inclination to do so. more »

2 fans

Written by: DP, James Fearnley, Jem Finer, Shane Patrick Lysaght Macgowan, Cait O'Riordan, Andrew David Ranken, Peter Spider Stacey

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Origin
"I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day" is a traditional Irish folk song that was given new life by The Pogues when they recorded it for their 1985 album, 'Rum Sodomy & the Lash'.
Band History
The Pogues are an iconic Celtic punk band from London, famously known for their provocative yet poetic music that blends traditional Irish instruments with punk rock sensibilities.
Female Lead
Unlike most songs by The Pogues, which are typically sung by frontman Shane MacGowan, "I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day" features bassist Cait O'Riordan on lead vocals.
Musical Arrangement
The Pogues' take on the song infuses their signature sound, featuring traditional Irish instruments like the tin whistle, accordion, and banjo.
Lyrical Interpretation
"I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day" narrates a confident proclamation delivered by a man who boasts about his wealth and adventurous lifestyle, but in The Pogues' version, the lyrics become more poignant, delivered from a woman's perspective.
Song Popularity
While not as commercially successful as their hit "Fairytale of New York", "I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day" has a cult following and is loved for its raw emotion and the unique voice Cait brings to the song.
Band Dynamics
Cait O'Riordan left The Pogues shortly after the release of 'Rum Sodomy & the Lash'. However, her singular vocal performance on "I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day" remains a defining moment of her time with the band.
Reception
Critics and fans alike praised the band's rendition of the song, especially for Cait O'Riordan's unique voice, which added a new dimension to The Pogues' sound.
Legacy
The song remains an integral part of The Pogues' discography and is a testament to the band's ability to reinvent traditional Irish folk songs with their unique punk twist.
Cover Versions
Many other artists have covered "I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day", but The Pogues' rendition is perhaps the most famous and most frequently performed live by the band.

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