The Britches Full of Stitches✧
A bright little polka. Give repeated notes a lift with cuts and taps.
Sheet music
Tap a staff note or finger tab to hear it.
A · first time
A · second time
B · first time
B · second time
D whistle · G major · 2/4 · 120 BPM · + upper octave
A · first time
A · second time
B · first time
B · second time
About this tune
The Britches Full of Stitches is a polka associated with Sliabh Luachra, the region around the Cork–Kerry border. Polkas and slides are central to the area’s dance tradition.
Short, recurring phrases and dotted figures give this tune its buoyant character. Its two contrasting strains keep returning to a compact, memorable closing idea.
Performances
Watch musicians play this tune on tin whistle. Keys and arrangements may differ from the tabs above.
Britches Full of Stitches — whistle duet
Anne McKennon
A tin whistle duet play-along in D, with melody and harmony heard in turn.
Watch on YouTube — Britches Full of Stitches — whistle duet by Anne McKennon (opens in a new tab) ↗