Paddy Whack

jig

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on October 10th 2001 by CreadurMawnOrganig.

This tune has been added to 32 tunebooks.

Also known as Paddy Wack, Paddywhack, Tommy Reck's.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• Dialogues / Agallaimh by Maire Ni Chathasaigh And Chris Newman
• Exile by The Glengarry Bhoys
• Live In Belfast by Paul Bradley, Pádraig Rynne And Paul Meehan
• Marching Out Of Time by The Fifes And Drums Of Colonial Williamsburg
• Out In The Night by Fisherstreet
• Strange But True... by Takuji Tamura And Yukio Kashiwagi
• The Piper's Apron by Tommy Keane

X: 1
T: Paddy Whack
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Gmaj
GAB c2e|dBG AFD|GBd efg|fd^c def|
~g3 afd|cde dBG|GAB ced|BGG G2D:|
|:GBd ~g3|edc BcA|GBd efg|fd^c def|
~g3 afd|cde dBG|GAB ced|BGG G2D:|

Here it is - that much maligned tune. I think it has been treated unfairly in the Discussions. Being bashed out insensitively by ignorant beginners (I do not mean to suggest that all beginners share these qualities) has no doubt earned it a bad reputation. But, treated with the respect that an old tune deserves, it could be a little gem.

# Posted on October 10th 2001 by CreadurMawnOrganig

Ah HA

Okay, so I guess I see why it could easily be misused -- I usually dislike tunes that have so little difference between the A & B parts. But good for a beginner, I'd think, because once you have the A part learned, two measures more and you have a real sense of accomplishment in learning an entire tune!

I'm trying to picture this tune played by an entire pipe band and failing.

Zina

# Posted on October 10th 2001 by Zina Lee

BTW

By the way, do you think the title of this tune is one of those tunes that slams the Irish, much like the Highlands dance "Irish" jig makes fun of them? Just curious!

zls

# Posted on October 10th 2001 by Zina Lee

That's an interesting one. I've come across a version of this tune in an old Northumbrian pipe collection, so it has certainly been popular in England at some time. I wonder if it was originally an Englishman's imitation of an Irish jig, or an Irish tune, given a sarcastic name by the English.

Whatever the case, Paddy Whack is the title given in O'Neill's - not to be confused with Paddy Mack, a hornpipe.

# Posted on October 11th 2001 by CreadurMawnOrganig

People think I hate this tune, I don't care about this tune one way ar another - what I said was that there was a kid who used to want me to play this tune so he could back it up on guitar. He'd pester everyone even if we already played it for him and I was accused of hating it.
It does have a vanilla melody & sounds more English trying to write Irish music akin to Tipperary Mary or MacNamera's Band. All I'm saying is that it's more suited on the highland pipes while drinking a green beer.

# Posted on February 14th 2002 by B Rad

An alternative version

A closely related version in A is as follows

Ace aga|fed cdB|Ace fga|gee efg|
aba aec|dfa ecA|ABc dBe|cAG A3:|
|:ece fdf|ecA B2c|Ace fga|gee efg|
aba aec|dfa ecA|ABc dBe|cAA A3:||

-m

# Posted on October 22nd 2002 by Trevor Jennings

Zina
At my age I'm more than happy to find tunes such as this that are repetitive! It saves wear and tear on the old brain cells.

-m

# Posted on October 22nd 2002 by Trevor Jennings

Version from Thompson's Compleat Collection of Country Dances c.1770

X: 1
T: Paddy Wack
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Gmaj
|:GBd gfg|edc BAG|GBd gfg|fdd d2 e/f/|
geg fdf|ece dBd|cBc ABc|BGG G3:|
|:BcB ccc|dcB A2 G|Bcd efg|fdd d2 e/f/|
geg fdf|ece dBd|cBc ABc|BGG G3:|

# Posted on July 27th 2008 by fynnjamin

You name the street and I'll name the bar and I'll walk right through hell just to buy you a jar.

The melody reminds me of a Pogues song. It being one of two Pogues songs that I like. But I only like it the way a friend of mine sings it. He puts a lot of life in to it. He also doesn't fake a brogue or try to sing like McGowen. He just sings it well.

# Posted on July 8th 2010 by shanty