I Belong to Glasgow
Will Fyffe Lyrics


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I belong to Glasgow
Dear old Glasgow town
Well what's the matter with Glasgow
For it's goin' 'roon and 'roon
I'm only a common old working chap
As anyone here can see
But when I get a couple of drinks on a Saturday
Glasgow belongs to me

Me and a few o' my cronies
One or two pals o' my ain
We went into a hotel and we did very well
Then we came out once again
Then we went in tae another
And that's the reason I'm fu'
We had six deoch and dorus and then sang a Listen, I'll sing it to you

There's nothing in being teetotal
And saving a shilling or two
If your money you spend you got nothing to lend
Well that's all the better for you
There's nae harm in taking a droppie
It ends all your trouble and strife




It gives you a feeling that when you get home
You don't give a hang for your wife

Overall Meaning

Will Fyffe's song, "I Belong to Glasgow" is a lively Scottish tune that celebrates the city of Glasgow and its drinking culture. It features a working-class man who proudly claims that he belongs to this city and its people. The singer believes that there's nothing wrong with the city, in fact, it's always alive and spirited. The tune goes on to describe a night of drinking and revelry, which is a common occurrence in Glasgow. The singer and his friends go from one pub to the other, getting drunk and singing songs at the top of their lungs.


The song highlights the city's love for alcohol as well as its working-class culture. The singer is proud of being a common, working-class man, and has no shame in enjoying a few drinks after a long week of work. The song also emphasizes the importance of socializing and friendship in Glasgow, as the singer spends his night drinking with his cronies and pals. This line of the song, "Glasgow belongs to me," is the most powerful, as it shows how much the city means to him.


Overall, "I Belong to Glasgow" is a joyful celebration of the city's spirit, working-class values, and hardy alcohol culture. It reflects the pride and sense of identity that people have for their hometown, and the camaraderie that comes from sharing a few drinks with friends.


Line by Line Meaning

I belong to Glasgow
I am deeply connected to the city of Glasgow


Dear old Glasgow town
I have fond memories of Glasgow


Well what's the matter with Glasgow
I do not understand why anyone would not love Glasgow


For it's goin' 'roon and 'roon
Glasgow is a vibrant and lively city


I'm only a common old working chap
I am a regular, ordinary person


As anyone here can see
My appearance and demeanor are not flashy or exceptional


But when I get a couple of drinks on a Saturday
However, when I have a few drinks on a Saturday


Glasgow belongs to me
I feel like Glasgow is mine to enjoy and celebrate


Me and a few o' my cronies
My close friends and I


One or two pals o' my ain
One or two friends who are close to me


We went into a hotel and we did very well
We had a good time at a hotel


Then we came out once again
We left the hotel


Then we went in tae another
We went to another establishment


And that's the reason I'm fu'
As a result, I am intoxicated


We had six deoch and dorus and then sang a Listen, I'll sing it to you
We had six drinks and then sang a song


There's nothing in being teetotal
There is no inherent benefit to being abstinent from alcohol


And saving a shilling or two
And trying to save money by not drinking


If your money you spend you got nothing to lend
If you spend your money, you will not have anything to lend to others


Well that's all the better for you
But this is not a concern because having money to lend is not important


There's nae harm in taking a droppie
There is no harm in having a drink


It ends all your trouble and strife
Drinking can alleviate stress and problems


It gives you a feeling that when you get home
Drinking can give you a sense of confidence


You don't give a hang for your wife
To the point where you do not care about your spouse's opinions or feelings




Contributed by Ethan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@alanoneill3065

Heres tae Will....
His singer-songwriter skills are still well-known today, particularly his composition "I Belong to Glasgow".[1] This song has been covered by Danny Kaye, Eartha Kitt, Gracie Fields and Kirk Douglas:

"If your money, you spend,
You've nothing to lend,
Isn't that all the better for you"
As a result of this song, Fyffe became forever associated with Glasgow, but he was born 70 mile away

Wiki

@nadiamurchie1949

will fyffe and harry lauder are forgotten epics now, people sing their songs still here in scotland but most folk have no idea where they came from or even bother to google the origin. im sure one of them or both went platinum, i didnt google to educate myself there.

@Lily-ky8ew

우리나라 코메디언들도 대부분 다방면으로 예술적 재능이 뛰어난데 예전에도 그랬나봐요. 노래, 연기, 춤, 말솜씨도 좋으며 머리도 좋더라구요.

@saltburner2

This is one of the last 78s to be deleted in the UK - it was still available in the mid 50s.

@vintagesounds3878

It says a lot for the popularity of this recording that it had such a long catalogue life.

@fontybits

I was actually given a an old wind-up gramophone player and a pile of 78's by my dad's friend who was the head man at the Paisley Cleansing Department yard, back in the late 50's. I was 9. He had a brand new Citroën DS 19, and drove us home.
Among the records was I Belong To Glasgow, and on the 'B' side was I'm 94 today.

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