MacLean began his career playing with the Tannahill Weavers in 1976. In the early '80s, he was briefly part of Silly Wizard. His solo career started in 1981. His first release was in 1983 with the album "Craigie Dhu", although he had already recorded other albums, such as "Snaigow" and "Fiddle", which were not released till much later. Perhaps his best-known track is "Caledonia", used for a Scottish Tourist Board advert, and very evocative of Scotland. Also well-known is "The Gael", from his 1990 album The Search, which was adapted by Trevor Jones as the main theme to the 1992 film Last of the Mohicans. MacLean's lyrics are fervently pro-Scottish; a recurring theme is the Highland Clearances. He also campaigns for the Aborigines and the native Americans.
MacLean lives in Dunkeld in Perthshire. The popular music bar in The Taybank Hotel, which displays MacLean ephemera and is a popular venue for folk music enthusiasts.
In 2011, MacLean was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
More info: www.dougiemaclean.com
Shame
Dougie MacLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've loaded your ambitions upon the children of this land
And shame, shame, on your great eternal plan
It's your own diseased direction you'll get there any way you can
But we can see you now
You can't fool all the people
And we don't believe you now
Shame, shame, you see our lives a market place
We're all consumer units in your greedy little race
And shame, shame, on your vision of our life
Your friends are carved with conquest upon the handle of your knife
But we can see you now
You can't fool all the people
And we don't believe you now
You can't fool all the people all the time
Shame, shame, on your cool stock city guile
You're pressed into your business suit and you're polished to your smile
And shame, shame, on your brute dishonesty
You manipulate the numbers but don't intend to set them free
But we can see you now
You can't fool all the people
And we don't believe you now
You can't fool all the people all the time
Dougie MacLean's song "Shame" is a powerful commentary on the corrupting influence of power, greed, and ambition on the lives of ordinary people. The opening lines, "Shame, shame, on you ruthless self-made man / You've loaded your ambitions upon the children of this land," condemn those who seek success at any cost, even if it means exploiting the vulnerable and powerless. MacLean goes on to indict those who treat human lives as mere commodities, "We're all consumer units in your greedy little race," and those who use dishonesty and manipulation to advance their own interests.
The repeated refrain, "But we can see you now / You can't fool all the people / And we don't believe you now / You can't fool all the people all the time," emphasizes the idea that the truth will eventually come to light, and that those in power can only suppress it for so long. MacLean's lyrics suggest that those who seek to dominate and control others will ultimately fail in their ambitions, as they cannot deceive everyone forever.
Overall, "Shame" is a powerful critique of the abuses of power and the devastating impact they can have on ordinary people. Dougie MacLean uses his lyrics to call attention to the need for greater accountability and transparency in our society, and to remind us that we all have a responsibility to speak out against injustice and corruption wherever we see it.
Line by Line Meaning
Shame, shame, on you ruthless self made man
I condemn you, you heartless man who achieved success on your own, without concern for others.
You've loaded your ambitions upon the children of this land
You have imposed your desires upon the innocent children of this country, subjecting them to your plans.
And shame, shame, on your great eternal plan
And I condemn your ultimate goals, which will only result in your own destruction.
It's your own diseased direction you'll get there any way you can
You will reach your destination regardless of the means, even if they lead to your own ruin.
But we can see you now
We are aware of your actions and your true intentions.
You can't fool all the people
Not everyone can be deceived by you.
And we don't believe you now
We do not trust you anymore.
You can't fool all the people all the time
It is impossible for you to deceive everyone all the time.
Shame, shame, you see our lives a market place
You perceive our existence as merely a place for you to sell your goods and make money.
We're all consumer units in your greedy little race
We are all just part of your competition to satisfy your selfish desires.
And shame, shame, on your vision of our life
And I condemn your perception of what our purpose in life should be.
Your friends are carved with conquest upon the handle of your knife
Your associates are only valuable to you to the extent that they help you achieve your goals, which often involve exploiting others.
Shame, shame, on your cool stock city guile
I condemn your calculating and cunning tactics to succeed in the city's financial market.
You're pressed into your business suit and you're polished to your smile
Your appearance is immaculate, but it only hides the greed and ruthlessness within you.
And shame, shame, on your brute dishonesty
Also, I condemn your crude and deceitful behavior.
You manipulate the numbers but don't intend to set them free
You use your skills to manipulate and control statistics, not to help others.
Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.