My Name Is Jock Stewart (2023)
Genre: Traditional Folk (Cover)
Sometimes songs take repeated listening to fully appreciate; others you fall in love with immediately for their catchy melody or turn of phase. This one has both. The melody is so sweet it can be rendered beautifully with as simple an instrument as a tin whistle and the lyrics draw you in too. Who is this “canny gaun” man and who wouldn’t want to meet a guy “you don’t meet everyday”?
As with most traditional folk songs, the exact origins cannot be fully known, although I pulled it out of an anthology of Scottish folk tunes and hints lean in that direction. Stewart is a Scottish name and “Jock” is a commonplace nickname for John. The Scots, who’ve written some of the sweetest melodies in the world, could easily lay claim to this gem as well.
The Scottish surname Steward, Stuart or Steward—all have been associated with this tune—comes from the Old English word “stigweard” where stig = household and weard = guardian, historically referring to a person in charge of a household, so that tracks with the lyrics.
It’s been in the public domain since the 1880s, but it was made famous by Scottish folk-singer, Jeannie Robertson in the 1960s, then covered by Archie Fisher (Scottish), The Dubliners (Irish), The McCalmans (Scottish), the Tannahill Weavers (Scottish) and The Pogues (Anglo-Irish). Some claim it was an Irish narrative ballad contracted to a Scottish drinking song and, just to be different, the Irish version goes by the name: “A Man You Don’t Meet Everyday.” So, it was probably a blend from the beginning.
Either way it’s a good guess it’s Gaelic, so what better month than March to throw my own version into the mix, when everyone (even those neither Catholic nor Irish) celebrate the revered Scottish/Irish Saint.
When we were still in lockdown during the pandemic, this is one of the first “covers” I worked on while I was trying to master the craft of mixing with Logic Pro and trying out all the various plugins that are available to home recording nerds like me. The vocals and tin whistle (played on the MIDI keyboard) are me. The “band” is from Band In A Box since “real” musicians weren’t available at the time. I’ve cleaned up the mix slightly since then, but this 2025 version remains pretty much as I worked it out back then.
As far as I know, the song does not refer to any actual, historical character, although some have speculated. And there is some controversy over the fourth verse. Was he out with his dog hunting? Or did he take his dog out to shoot it? The lyrics are of someone who seems pretty full of himself, but there are additional verses where good ol’ Jock seems to be reflective and slightly morose (maybe after a few rounds of “brandy and wine”). None of these were rabbit holes I cared to go down.
Finally, here’s a fun thing to do at home. My family is big on musical get togethers, which, hearkening back to earlier times, we call “Hootenannies.” (Think Carter family, but without the twang.) It’s an opportunity for anyone to play (or try) an instrument and sing the lead or take a harmonious, supporting role. This song has a nice variation which you can use to get the kids involved:
My name it is [name of child]
I’m a handsome young lad [lass],
And I’m happy to call you my friend,
So count one, two, three, [NOTE: It’s a waltz in 3/4 time]
And come singing [dancing, waltzing] with me,
And together we’ll sing without end.