Lyr Req: Jock the Can (Battlefield Band)

Subject: Lyr Req: Jock the Can -Battlefield Band
From: GUEST,Paul - Carlton
Date: 06 Nov 14 - 04:11 PM

I can't find my copy of "Celtic Hotel" which has the lyrics on the inner sleeve. Can anyone tell me the words to the second verse, the one that starts "Jock the Can would sing ye an old song."

Thanks very much for any help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock the Can -Battlefield Band
From: GUEST,#
Date: 06 Nov 14 - 04:36 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goX1E1ZDlbE

You'll find it in there I hope.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock the Can -Battlefield Band
From: GUEST,Paul - Carlton
Date: 06 Nov 14 - 04:44 PM

Thanks, I've got the song (I downloaded the album because I'd only got the Vinyl) but I can't make out some of the dialect words. My provisional attempt was

Jock the Can would sing ye an old song
And when he'd done he'd fee his hand
He would stand, just waiting for something
Like a drink or a cobber or two in his hand
Cos them that ignored old John
And gathered and tasted to hell
And some took him in for a bit of a meal
Sit doon by the fire John
For you're just an old man that's wandered and gone
Aye, you carry the can and you're wandered and gone

The bits I can't decipher are

he'd fee his hand

or a cobber or two in his hand

And gathered and tasted to hell

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock the Can -Battlefield Band
From: GUEST,#
Date: 06 Nov 14 - 06:40 PM

Sorry, Paul. I thought the song would stir your memory, but this is different. Hang tough. I don't doubt someone will come across this thread and reveal the lyrics that are difficult to make out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock the Can -Battlefield Band
From: GUEST,#
Date: 06 Nov 14 - 06:43 PM

cobber might be copper (pennies ha'pennies and farthings) ??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock the Can -Battlefield Band
From: Songbird
Date: 07 Nov 14 - 02:32 AM

it is "copper"

he'd gie ye his hand (give)

There's them that ignored old John
And other yins chased him tae hell (other ones)


I am familiar with the character....

Subject: Lyr Add: JOCK THE CAN (Battlefield Band)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 04:02 PM

I think we ought to have the whole song here. This is how I hear it:


JOCK THE CAN
Written by Alan Reid
As sung by The Battlefield Band on "Celtic Hotel" and "Recollection"

1. Now the wind is howlin' along the shore,
And there's an old man that shuffles along:
Jock the Can, him that knocks on the old wives' doors,
And he tells them he'll gie them a song.
Noo Jock was a fine young lad
Before he went tae the war,
But when he came back frae the fightin',
He wisnae the same lad.
Noo he's just an old man that's wandert an' gone.
Aye, he carries the can and he's wandert an' gone.

2. Jock the Can would sing ye an old song,
And when he'd done, he'd reveal his hand.
He would stand, just waitin' for somethin'
Like a drink or a copper or two in his hand.
There's them that ignored old John,
And other yins chased him tae hell.
And some took him in for a bit o' a meal:
"Sit doon by the fire, John,
For you're just an old man that's wandert an' gone.
Aye, you carry the can and you're wandert an' gone."

3. Noo the children they all laughed at John,
For they thought him a silly old man,
And they knew he was diff'rent frae other folk:
He'd nothin' at a' except for his can.
Sometimes he'd a drink in him,
And he staggered aboot in the rain,
And people would say: "What a hell o' a shame!
He's naebody tae help him,
But he's just an old man that's wandert an' gone.
Aye he carries the can and he's wandert an' gone."

4. In the parish there's still a few old yins
Can remember Jock the Can,
And they smile when they talk o' the old days,
And that daft old chiel o' a man.
But they say it's a' diff'rent now;
Ev'rybody's the same,
And they tell you they think it's a hell o' a shame
There's naebody like him now:
Him that carried the can, he's dead and he's gone.
Old Jock the Can, him and his kind they are gone.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jock the Can (Battlefield Band)
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 06:09 PM

Jim's almost got the second verse right (above), except it's:

Jock the Can would sing ye an auld song
And when he'd done he'd gie ye his can


Also, in verse 4 it should be 'and that daft auld shell o' a man'.


As requested, I got these from the Celtic Hotel sleeve notes.

Well done though!

Gail