I'm a canny gaun man (any Scotsman?)

[Kareltje]

Totally off topic:
one of my other occupations is singing shanties and pub songs. One of them is Jack Steward:
Oh me name is Jack Steward,
I'm a canny gaun man,
and a roving young fellow I've been.

I could find the meaning of canny. But I could not find the meaning of the word gaun.
I guess it is Scottish, as he is walking along the banks of the Tay.

So if anyone knows: please let me know.

[dieselduo]

It's an easy going wary man in Gaelic

[dieselduo]

In his younger days he wasn't as cautious

[Twisted Brick]

From the Dictionars o the Scots Leid (Scottish National Dictionary) 1700-

It appears the term gaun or gon, literally means to go by the footpath, or in today's slang, to go for it.

Perhaps, according to Jack Steward, being a canny gaun might mean a heads up, or savvy traveler.

[Kareltje]

Thank you.
A version of the song:


It seems in some contradiction with canny as I found it in Webster's: 1. cautious, wary. 2. thrifty. 3. shrewd.

The feeling is round or complete, although the words still fail to exactly describe the man. Other than canny gaun.

[Kareltje]

Thanks. It comes together.
I hesitate to sing the song as I do really doubt if I like the person. He is very pleased with himself and even thinks we should be pleased with him. On the other hand: he pays for our drinks.

[Twisted Brick]

I hesitate to sing the song as I do really doubt if I like the person.

+1

I would be wary of any man who shoots his dog, even if he buys me liquor.

[Kareltje]

I hesitate to sing the song as I do really doubt if I like the person.

+1

I would be wary of any man who shoots his dog, even if he buys me liquor.

I do totally agree with you, but I don't think he shoots his dog, he just takes his dog and his gun with him to go hunting. The dog will be fetching his prey, I guess. Along the banks of the Tay, so I guess he shoots ducks.

But I feel like he is very pleased with himself and even thinks that we should be very pleased with him. And I do not like that kind of people.

[Setsumi]

I hesitate to sing the song as I do really doubt if I like the person.

+1

I would be wary of any man who shoots his dog, even if he buys me liquor.

I do totally agree with you, but I don't think he shoots his dog, he just takes his dog and his gun with him to go hunting. The dog will be fetching his prey, I guess. Along the banks of the Tay, so I guess he shoots ducks.

But I feel like he is very pleased with himself and even thinks that we should be very pleased with him. And I do not like that kind of people.

Ja, i think you are correct. The shoot and dog refers to hunting or shoot with his dog. BUT WHAT is i do not need to ... everyday in tract posted?

Edit, dont bother it is in the title.

[Setsumi]

Thanks. It comes together.
I hesitate to sing the song as I do really doubt if I like the person. He is very pleased with himself and even thinks we should be pleased with him. On the other hand: he pays for our drinks.

After listening again to the trac, i think i would identify with this fellow even if he sound boastfull. He admits that he was a rascal in his youth. He has land, he has men he looks after and a shiling to spare on his fellow men. He likes to shoot (with) his dog (hunt the county). And he will buy you a drink, but not every day (man you will not meet everyday)... now if i had farming land and a shillinf to spare i could be jack steward.

[Twisted Brick]

I do totally agree with you, but I don't think he shoots his dog, he just takes his dog and his gun with him to go hunting. The dog will be fetching his prey, I guess. Along the banks of the Tay, so I guess he shoots ducks.

But I feel like he is very pleased with himself and even thinks that we should be very pleased with him. And I do not like that kind of people.

Duh! I shouldn't take lyrics so literally, even if they are made to fit the tune! For some reason I got the impression he was so pleased with himself he couldn't be bothered to care.

[jonnys_spirit]

*** Cares enough to review and discuss on a home distilling forum..

Ahem...

I'll ask my step mother - She might know?

It's not a bad thing!

EDIT:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_a_M ... _Every_Day

[jonnys_spirit]

1960 Jeannie Robertson recording:

[Kareltje]

One of my cosingers send me this link, in which the song is cited several times:

https://thejohnfleming.wordpress.com/20 ... i-in-1969/

Don't know if it is true, but it might be a great movie!

As far as I know the Tay is a scottish river, by the way.
It is nice to get al the interesting information, by the way. Thank you all.

Jeannie Robertson indeed sings: "and my dog I did shot". At 1.51-1.53

[Yummyrum]

When I was bought up in New Zealand , we often referred to the Canny Scots .( There were a lot there , also part of my heritage) .
In my mind , it always meant shrewd , or careful with their money .

LOL , I can hear Salty saying “ arr Yummy , that’s why you're a wee scabby bastard with moths in ya sporran (wallet) “

[Saltbush Bill]

Aye Laddie that I can and I'm the same way inclined meself ....
The meaning was the same here.

[Rum Agol]

canny - shrewd, careful
gaun -going

put together in the context of the song I would say it means easy going.

There are a few different versions of this song, in Jeannie Robertsons and The Pogues version he shoots the dog in others he goes shooting with the dog. Like many old folk songs the lyrics vary over time and regions. I like to think he's shot the dog by accident and was drowning his sorrows in the pub.

[Kareltje]

But if gaun indeed also means shrewd, than it all the more strange that he offers to pay whatever the costs are. Can not imagine a Scotsman doing that easily.

[Rum Agol]

But if gaun indeed also means shrewd, than it all the more strange that he offers to pay whatever the costs are. Can not imagine a Scotsman doing that easily.

Canny means shrewd Kareltje - as for buying everyone a drink I guess it would depend on how drunk he was

[Twisted Brick]

I like to think he's shot the dog by accident and was drowning his sorrows in the pub.

Either that or he was terminal and his compassionate owner put him out of his misery.

[Kareltje]

But if gaun indeed also means shrewd, than it all the more strange that he offers to pay whatever the costs are. Can not imagine a Scotsman doing that easily.

Canny means shrewd Kareltje - as for buying everyone a drink I guess it would depend on how drunk he was

I sit corrected.

[Rum Agol]

But if gaun indeed also means shrewd, than it all the more strange that he offers to pay whatever the costs are. Can not imagine a Scotsman doing that easily.

Canny means shrewd Kareltje - as for buying everyone a drink I guess it would depend on how drunk he was

I sit corrected.

nae worries mate - keep up the singing

[Kareltje]

And chunder in the old pacific sea.