Jack Broke Da Prison Door

reel

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on December 26th 2002 by lazyhound.

This tune has been added to 49 tunebooks.

Also known as Destructive Jack, Jack Broke Down The Prison Door, Jack Broke The Prison Door, Jock Broke Da Prison Door, John Broke The Prison Door.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• 1982 by Willie Hunter And Violet Tulloch
• Coppers And Brass by Dick Gaughan
• From Shetland by Trevor Hunter
• Gaughan by Dick Gaughan
• La Harpe Irlandaise - The Irish Harp by Katrien Delavier
• Quiet Days by Battlefield Band
• Silver Apples Of The Moon by Ceoltoiri
• Tasty Touches CD 1 by Martin Donohoe
• The Silver Bow: The Fiddle Music Of Shetland by Tom Anderson And Aly Bain
• Tracks North (Music From Shetland) CD 1 Traditional Imprints by Various Artists

X: 1
T: Jack Broke Da Prison Door
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
G2BG BdBG|ABAB dBAB|G2BG BdBG|ABAG {EF}E2D2:|
|:g2gd edBd|g2gd ea{b}af|g2gd edBG|ABAG {EF}E2D2:||

A lively little Shetland tune, also known as "Jack Broke Down the Prison Door". If there are further parts C and/or D, I haven't come across them. If anyone does, perhaps they would like to post them as a comment.

# Posted on December 26th 2002 by lazyhound

I have heard this played at plenty sessions, but only ever heard 2 parts. I play it exactly as posted, but with a 'c' instead of 'A', 1st note 2nd bar. I've associated it with "John Spence Of Uyeasound" and "Sleep Soond Ida Moarnin'".

# Posted on December 26th 2002 by Dow

Piece of Shetland!

From the book: "Hand me doon da fiddle" (Tom Anderson, Pam Swing).

Dis een wis made up be an auld fiddler named Jack Goudie frae da Ness. Some said dat he'd hed a dunt on his head whin he wis young dat gave him queer turns. He wis a very good fiddler an made up loks o' tuns. Wan night in Lerook wi a dram in him he got a queer turn an the poliss lockit him up ida auld prison. He waited til dey wir sleepin an dan he brook doon da prison door an made fir hame as fast as he could. Da poliss wir awaur it he wis gaen, bit tocht it better to let be fir let be, so dey didna geng efter him. Whin Jack got hame he took his fiddle an made up dis tun an caaed him, "Jack Broke da Prison Door". If da listens to da first twartre notes du can hear hit sayin dat.

# Posted on December 27th 2002 by Kenn

Thanks, Kenn. I'd often wondered who this Jack character was, who crops up in the titles of a number of Shetland tunes.

# Posted on December 27th 2002 by OrganicPeatCreature

Reminds of the Boys of the Lough. They often played the short reels to increase the excitement and pump you up for a big finishing tune. I have used the technique with good success. I always viewed these as a break from the more intricate fingerings of the tunes on either side. You kind of do your talking with the bow on this one.

Mark

# Posted on December 31st 2002 by Mark Cordova