Beer Barrel Polka

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"Škoda lásky"
Praha Zbraslav - Jaromir Vejvoda.jpg
Memorial plaque of the author with the song's name in Czech, German and English
Song
English title Beer Barrel Polka

Beer Barrel Polka, also known as The Barrel Polka and Roll Out the Barrel, is a song which became popular worldwide during World War II. The music was composed by the Czech musician Jaromír Vejvoda in 1927.[1] Eduard Ingriš wrote the first arrangement of the piece, after Vejvoda came upon the melody and sought Ingriš's help in refining it. At that time, it was played without lyrics as Modřanská polka ("Polka of Modřany"). Its first text was written later (in 1934) by Václav Zeman – with the title Škoda lásky[2] ("Wasted Love").

The polka became famous around the world. In June 1939, "Beer Barrel Polka", as recorded by Will Glahé, was #1 on the Hit Parade. This version was distributed by Shapiro Bernstein. Glahé's earlier 1934 recording sold many copies in its German version Rosamunde (it is possible the reason for the rapid spread was due to the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany, and subsequent emigration of thousands of Czechs to other parts of the world, bringing this catchy tune with them). The authors of the English lyrics were Lew Brown and Wladimir Timm. Meanwhile, the song was recorded and played by many others such as Andrews Sisters in 1939, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Benny Goodman, Bobby Vinton, Billie Holiday, and Joe Patek who sold over a million copies of his album "Beer Barrel Polka."[3]

During World War II, versions in many other languages were created and the song was popular among soldiers, regardless of their allegiances. It was claimed many times that the song was written in the country where it had just become a hit. Its actual composer was not widely known until after the war.

Popular culture

  • The song became a signature song of well-known entertainer Liberace.
  • Since the 1970s, it (usually the Frankie Yankovic version) has been played during the seventh inning stretch at Milwaukee Brewers baseball games, as well as becoming one of the state of Wisconsin's unofficial state songs as it is also played at numerous University of Wisconsin sporting events, as well as Green Bay Packers home games, and Milwaukee Panthers basketball games, including after every home win.
  • The Australian Rugby League Football Club, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks has a club song known as 'Sharks Forever' which is sung to the tune of Beer Barrel Polka.
  • Brave Combo and Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra made their own compositions of "Beer Barrel Polka".
  • The song is a standard for the accordion rock band Those Darn Accordions, who released a studio version in 1992 on their album Vongole Fisarmonica.
  • Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman features a recording of a young girl whistling this song.
  • Chico Marx of the Marx Brothers plays a variation of this song in the movie At the Circus and A Night in Casablanca.
  • The Wiggles sang this song on their album and video Sailing Around the World.
  • In the Disney movie The North Avenue Irregulars, a scene features a tape recorder playing The Andrews Sisters' version of the song while Patsy Kelly, Barbara Harris, and Virginia Capers sing along with it.
  • It is sung in the final scene of the Rumpole of the Bailey television episode, "Rumpole and the Alternative Society" (1977).
  • Played occasionally as a "tuning" in between songs performed by the Grateful Dead, w/first performance on Feb. 9, 1973 & last performance ???
  • It was played by Amanda McBroom as Eleanor Carlyle on piano at officers' club in M*A*S*H season 9 episode 20 (second part of "That's Show Biz") after she says that "Even Dvorak and Brahms wrote folk dances" to Major Winchester.
  • At San Jose Giants home games, a batter from the opposing team is designated the "beer batter." If the San Jose pitcher strikes out that batter, beer is half price in the beer only lines for the 15 minutes immediately following the strike out. The beer batter promotion is in effect only for the first six innings of the game. The PA system plays Beer Barrel Polka whenever the beer batter comes to the plate and after every strike during the beer batter's at-bat (through the first six innings). After the sixth inning, the beer batter becomes the apple juice batter and if he strikes out, fans get half-priced Martinelli's apple juice.
  • In the Family Matters episode, "Chick-a-Boom", Steve Urkel's creates a powder that explodes up when the song "Roll out the Barrel" is played.
  • In the Hogan's Heroes season 5 episode Bombsight, Colonel Hogan convinces the Luftwaffe that he knows the details of the Norden Bombsight and has pro-Nazi leanings. To firm up the subterfuge, Colonel Hogan describes a vacuum cleaner named "The Norden" in front of a wiretap with the crew singing "Beer Barrel Polka" loudly, interrupting lines of dialog. Commandant Klink believes the performance because the various details not covered up by singing appear to describe a bombsight.
  • In France, Olympique de Marseille( OM ) supporters sings this polka, during soccer matchs in stade Velodrome( Marseille), with French lyrics " ce soir on vous met, ce soir on vous met le feu".

Bobby Vinton Version

  • Bobby Vinton recorded "Beer Barrel Polka" in 1975. The song was released as the follow up single to his multi million selling "My Melody of Love"and scored as a Billboard and Cashbox Top 40 hit. The success of the single, which was particularly popular on Jukeboxes led to its inclusion on Vinton's Heart of Hearts album in 1975 as well.

Other Versions

  • In an episode of Mr. Bean: The Animated Series, the Queen of England sings a portion of the song with a piano accompaniment.
  • In an episode of The Critic, a trained bear plays the song for Jay Sherman, the critic, trying to stay a part of his show.
  • An instrumental version is featured in the 1941 film Meet John Doe.
  • Elton John was known to play this particular song at the Northwood Hills Pub, along with "King of the Road."
  • In an episode of Hogan's Heroes, "Papa Schultz - Top Hat, White Tie, and Bomb Sight", the prisoners sing part of this song.
  • In 2005 the tune of 'Beer Barrel Polka" became the main inspiration for the theme tune for Marvel Comics's The Fantastic Four movie and can be heard throughout.
  • The Wiggles performed "The Barrel Polka" in their 2005 video, Sailing Around the World.
  • In the 1946 movie The Captive Heart, the song was sung by the POWs to drown out the camp speakers and by the repatriated troops as they arrive home.
  • Berl Olswanger recorded an instrumental version on the album Berl Olswanger at the Piano (1953)

Names in other languages

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ Greene, Victor. A Passion for Polka: Old-Time Ethnic Music in America. University of California Press, 1992, p. 131.
  2. ↑ Greene 1992, p. 131.
  3. ↑ https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fpa99
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