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A Punch In The Dark reel

By Gerry O’Connor

Also known as Punch In The Dark, The Punch In The Dark.

There are 16 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

A Punch In The Dark has been added to 13 tune sets.

A Punch In The Dark has been added to 292 tunebooks.

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Four settings

1
X: 1
T: A Punch In The Dark
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Bdor
|:B3d cBdc|BdcA F3A|BdcB dcBd|caag afec|
dcBd cBdc|BdcA F3E|C3F EFAB|1 cdec decd:|2 cdec defg||
|:a2ag aece|~a3e gabg|a2ag aece|dB~B2 defg|
a2ag aece|~a3e gabg|a2ge (3fga ec|1 dcBc defg:|2 decd Bdcd||
2
X: 2
T: A Punch In The Dark
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
|:A3c BAcB|AcBG E3G|AcBA cBAc|Bggf gedB|
cBAc BAcB|AcBG E3D|B3E DEGA|BcdB cdBc:|
|:g2 gf gdBd|g3d fgaf|g2 gf gdBd|cA A2 cdef|
g2 gf gdBd|g3d fgaf|g2 fd (3efg dB|1 cBAB cdef:|2 cdBc AcBc||
# Added by JACKB .
3
X: 3
T: A Punch In The Dark
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Bdor
|:a3g aece|acea gabg|a3g aece|fAed cAAc|
eaag aece|acea gabg|afge faec|1 dcBc defg:|2 d2cA Bcdc||
|:B3d cBdc|BdcA F3A|BABd cBAB|caag afec|
BABd cBdc|BdcA FAGB|AE~E2 ABce|1 faec dcBA:|2 faec defg||
4
X: 4
T: A Punch In The Dark
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Bdor
|:~B3d cBdc|BdcA FEFB|dcBd cBdB|caag afec|
~B3d cBdc|BdcA EFAF|D~E3 ABcA|1 caag afec:|2 caag aece||
|:~a3g aece|acea gbbg|a2ag aece|dcBd cAcd|
eaag aece|acea gbbg|~a3g aece|1 dcBd cAce:|2 dcBd cBdc||

Ten comments

This is a slightly unusual version of the tune, based on Karen Tweed’s setting, but I much prefer it to Sean Smyth’s setting, which is probably more like the original, written by Gerry O’Connor. I’ve transcribed this version not only because I think it’s more interesting, but also because you’ll find a more standard session setting elsewhere on the net. Having said that, this one does not clash with the standard so you can get away with it no probs at sessions.

I’m sure this doesn’t really matter, but “The Punch In The Dark” sounds really silly. I’m sure Gerry O’Connor entitled it just “Punch In The Dark”, or if you really think there has to be an article: “A Punch In The Dark”.

Another thing about this tune that springs to mind - the A part has a syncopated riff a bit similar to the B part of “The Up Downey Reel”, but I think this tune is much meatier, so if I had to play one of the 2 tunes, I’d go for this one every time.

True, a meatier tune, but without the beautiful combination of sillyness and darkness you get from UpDowny

This is on the first track of Wild Geese - In Full Flight, from about 1982. Gerry must have been very young then.

A Dorian

X: 1
T: A Punch In The Dark
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Ador
|:A3c BAcB | AcBG E3G | AcBA cBAc | Bggf gedB |
cBAc BAcB | AcBG E3D | B3E DEGA | BcdB cdBc :||
|:g2 gf gdBd | g3d fgaf | g2 gf gdBd | cA A2 cdef |
g2 gf gdBd | g3d fgaf | g2 fd (3efg dB | 1 cBAB cdef :|2 cdBc AcBc ||

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