Whiskey Before Breakfast

reel

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on March 18th 2002 by bsykes62.

This tune has been added to 527 tunebooks.

Also known as The Scottsman, Spirits In The Morning, Whiskey 'Fore Breakfast, Whiskey For Breakfast, Whisky Before Breakfast.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• A Celtic Heritage by Marcille Wallis
• Black Mountain Harmonica by Tony Eyers
• D Is For Dulcimer by Glenn Morgan
• Dawson's Tumble by Trish Clair-Peck
• Fianchetto by Queen's Gambit
• Just Me And A Fiddle by The Flyin' Fiddler Wayne Cantwell
• Sea Changes Of The Toucan Pirates by Toucan Pirates
• Shatter The Calm by Dan Beimborn
• The Living Wood by Maire Ni Chathasaigh And Chris Newman
• Wire Work by Joel McDermott

X: 1
T: Whiskey Before Breakfast
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
| A,DFG A2 A2 | ABAG FEDF | G2 BG F2 AF | EDEF EDCB, |
| A,DFG A2 A2 | ABAG FEDF | G2 BG F2 AF | EDEF D4 :|
|: A d2 A d2 d2 | cded cB A2 | B e2 B e2 ef | gfed cABc |
| d2 fd c2 ec | BABc BAFA | G2 BG F2 AF | EDEF D4 :|

Whiskey before breakfast

This tune has become a real staple of the Canadian prairie repertoire and is a core tune in the Metis fiddle culture of the northwest. It was made popular in Canada in the 1950s and 60s via the recordings of Andy DeJarlis, a Metis fiddler who enjoyed a recording an broadcasting carreer in Canada.
I think this tune shares a lot of genetic material with "Speed The Plow" and "Roxburgh Castle". I wonder which came first. Yeah, I know...who cares?
Ian

# Posted on March 24th 2002 by Ian

Yet another version of Whiskey.....

Hi Folks!

Here is a nice variation on the piece. Jeremy said he could not list it and suggested I post it as a comment:

|: D2 G2 GA B2|c2 d2 dc BA|G2 c2 cc B2|1 BB AB AG _GE :|2 BB AG _G2 =G2
|:g2 gg g2 gg|gf e2 d3 z| a2 aa a3a |b c'b a2 g2 z|g2 bg f2 af|e2 ge d2
z2|c2 ec B2
dB|AG _G2 =G2 :|

Enjoy,

Doc Lawlor

# Posted on August 4th 2002 by Doc Lawlor

Yet another variation,

A,B,DE D2FG|AFBF A2EF|G2BG F2AF|1 EDEF EDB,A,:|2 EDEF D4|
|:F2d2 d2Bc|dcdA BAFA|e4 e2ef|gfed cABc|
d2fd c2ec|BABd BAFD|G2BG F2AF|EDEF D2z2:||

also enjoy!

trevor

# Posted on December 2nd 2002 by Trevor Jennings

Whiskey Before Breakfast

Here'a varaition for the first two bars of the second part.
A2 B2 d2 cd|efed cBAc|. David Meredith

# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd

Set

Deby Benton Grosjean plays this in a set with North Carolina Breakdown

# Posted on August 21st 2005 by irishimp

How to play this on a D pennywhistle?

I'm flumoxed regarding playing this tune on a standard D whistle - AFAIK, such whistles only go down to low D, and this tune *starts* on low A! I know it's possible, as I've heard whistle players do this tune many a time - but I can't get the hearing of it to come out right... Suggestions appreciated...

# Posted on January 21st 2006 by JesseW

Whiskey Before Breakfast, whisle friendly

Jesse, that low A, start isn't "required." Most people start on D. Try this on for size:

X: 1
T: Whiskey Before Breakfast
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: D
DEFG AFDF|ABAG FEDF|GABG FGAF|EDEF GFEG|
DEFG AFDF|ABAG FEDF|GABG FGAF|1 EDEF D2 FE:|2 EDEF D3 A||
FABc d2 dc|defg afdf|edef gfef|gfed cABc|
defd cdec|BABc dAFA|GABG FGAF|1 EDEF D3 A :|2 EDEF D2 FE||

And mind that there are lots of opportunities for rolls or crans in here.

# Posted on January 21st 2006 by Will Harmon

Or play it in D on a low A whistle.

# Posted on January 21st 2006 by Will Harmon

Another name

I learned that if you play this tune in church you call it "Spirits in the Morning"

# Posted on August 27th 2006 by fiddlertracy