WHEN I MEET MACKAY

WRITTEN BY HARRY LAUDER & JOHN LAUDER

COMPOSED BY HARRY LAUDER

     I’ve just been blowing Mack away, he’s the best I’ve ever seen; 

I mean MacKay the first mate of the steamship “Fairy Queen”

Mack sails the world, he goes round three times a year; And

Every time his ship comes in I’m standing on the pier.

     Of course I know that you folks here have never seen MacKay; Well

Mack’s the sort o’ man I like, I do, I like MacKay.  When

Mack says, “Will ye have a_” well, I never argufy; I’d

rather have another than offend my friend MacKay.

     Since Mack and I were at the school we’ve always played the game; When

Mack began to court the lassies I just done the same.  We’ve

just been like two brothers just as humans ought to be, When

Mack would kiss a bonnie lass he just passed her on to me.

     I’m going to have a rummy time this nicht when I get hame;  I

know I’m sure to cop it- but, it has always been the same.  But

mind my wife’s an angel, or she will be by and by, But

I have my doubts because I know she doesn’t like MacKay

PATTER

     No, she doesn’t like MacKay, because the man takes a dram

And speaks the truth.  I can see my wife as plain as if she

Were here noo; she is watching me coming in, but I’ll stand

My ground.  I’ll say “Yes, I did, I met Mackay and we had

One—and then I stood one, and—no, we had not two two’s,

We had only one two.  And we’ll, yes, to my knowledge he

is, Mackay a gentleman.  What is a gentleman?

     Well—a gentleman is a friend who says “Certainly not,

This one is with me; I am not too near the fire; I’ll stand

As near the fire as I like; I’ll stand in the fire if I like.

     Yes, I know you were complaining of having sore feet,

The soles of your heels were sore. Yes, I know the cause of

Your sore feet; it’s jumping at concussions.  Yes, I’ll be up

When the lark is singing—and I’ll be singing like a lark.”

Chorus

When I meet MacKay and MacKay meets me,

I treat MacKay and then MacKay treats me.

I like MacKay, for MacKay’s true blue; it’s

Only when MacKay comes hame that I have one or two.

When I have one or two.