‘Jailbreak’ is a song by Thin Lizzy that originally appeared as the title track on their 1976 album Jailbreak. Along with ‘The Boys Are Back in Town’, it is one of their most popular songs, played frequently on classic rock radio. Similar to Thin Lizzy's hit ‘The Boys Are Back In Town,’ this song finds the band singing about the hell and unrest they are about to cause this particular evening. Both songs became staples of Classic Rock radio.
The song is typical of the band's music, with the dual lead guitar harmony and Brian Robertson's use of the wah-wah pedal. Phil Lynott's lyrics about a prison break are the typical personification of the "tough guys", also seen in ‘The Boys Are Back in Town’ and the regular concert closer and fan favourite "The Rocker". An alternate version of the song appeared on the bonus disc of the 2011 remastered deluxe edition of the Jailbreak album, featuring a short-spoken introduction and additional guitar parts throughout.
The Jailbreak album was almost a culmination of everything that came before, as Phil Lynott hit a peak as a songwriter just as guitarists Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson pioneered an intertwined, dual-lead guitar interplay that was one of the most distinctive sounds of '70s rock, and one of the most influential.
In December 2008, the song was named the 73rd best hard rock song of all time by VH1. ‘Jailbreak’ is used in the films Detroit Rock City, Joe Dirt, Bordello of Blood, and Gracie. and was also used in the Veronica Mars episode "Ahoy, Mateys!" and on the MTV show Jackass. On 3 February 2009, a live version of the song (from the Still Dangerous live album) was released as download content for the Rock Band series as part of a Thin Lizzy pack (which also contained versions of ‘The Boys Are Back in Town’ and ‘Cowboy Song’ from the same album).
Label – Vertigo
Songwriter – Phil Lynott
Producer – John Alcock
SONG LYRICS
Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreakSomewhere in this town
See me and the boys, we don't like it
So we're getting up and going down
Hiding low looking right to left
If you see us coming I think it's best
To move away do you hear what I say
From under my breath
Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak
Somewhere in the town
Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak
So don't you be around
Don't you be around
Tonight there's gonna be trouble
Some of us won't survive
See the boys and me mean business
Busting out dead or alive
I can hear the hound dogs on my trail
All hell breaks loose, alarm and sirens wail
Like the game if you lose
Go to jail
Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak
Somewhere in the town
Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak
So don't you be around
Tonight there's gonna be trouble
I'm gonna find myself in
Tonight there's gonna be trouble
So woman, stay with a friend
You know it's safer
Breakout
Tonight there's gonna be a breakout
Into the city zones
Don't you dare to try and stop us
No one could for long
Searchlight on my trail
Tonight's the night all systems fail
Hey you, good looking female
Come here
Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak
Somewhere in the town
Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak
So don't you be around
Tonight there's gonna be trouble
I'm gonna find myself in
Tonight there's gonna be trouble
So woman stay with a friend