“Duncan” (often referred to as “I’d love to have a beer with Duncan”, after a line in the song) was written by Pat Alexander (born in Sydney, NSW, in 1937), and performed by Slim Dusty (David Gordon Kirkpatrick), whose recording of it reached #1 on the singles charts in 1980. The song has since been performed by various artists.
The background to the song was from a time when Pat Alexander was selling insurance. Pat had met Duncan Urquhart, the owner of a heat-treatment factory in St Peters (Sydney, NSW) and was trying to sell him an insurance policy (although, as it turned out, he didn’t buy one); Duncan had suggested that they discuss the matter over a beer at the local pub (the Town and Country Hotel in St. Peters), where they met several times, and Pat thought up the song whilst driving home from one of those meetings.
Duncan, sung by Slim Dusty
(video with Pat Alexander and Duncan Urquhart)
Duncan, sung by Pat Alexander
Duncan, sung by Raymond Crooke
Duncan, sung by Adam Harvey and Beccy Cole
References and further information:
Pat Alexander. Pat Alexander, Mushroom Music Publishing (accessed 28 September 2012)
Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Chart Positions Pre 1989 Part 3, Australian-Charts.com (accessed 28 September 2012)
Jonathan Chancellor. Town and Country Hotel of Slim Dusty song Duncan fame listed, Property Observer, 27 April 2012 (accessed 28 September 2012)
The Institute of Australian Culture
I love to have a beer with Duncan