Beer Barrel Polka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beer Barrel Polka, also known as Roll Out the Barrel, is a song which became popular world-wide during World War II. The music was originally composed by the Czech musician Jaromír Vejvoda in 1927. Eduard Ingriš wrote the first arrangement of the famous song, after Vejvoda came upon the melody and sought Ingris' help in refining it. At that time, it was played without lyrics as Modřanská polka (Polka of Modřany). Its first text was written by Václav Zeman in 1934 – Škoda lásky (Wasted Love).
The polka became famous around the world. In June 1939, Beer Barrel Polka, as recorded by Will Glahé, with English lyrics, 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 subsequents 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 played also by many others such as Andrews Sisters in 1939, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Benny Goodman, and Billie Holiday. It later became a signature song of Liberace's. Since the 1970s, it (usually the Frankie Yankovic version) has been played during the seventh inning stretch at Milwaukee Brewers baseball games.
During World War II, versions in many other languages were created and the song was popular among soldiers, regardless of their alliances. 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.
A former Foreign Minister of Germany Hans-Dietrich Genscher even made a bet that it was a German song. He lost.
Contents |
[edit] Original Czech lyrics & literal translation
|
Škoda lásky Kvetou růže, kdo ti za to může, Teče, voda, dokola se točí, Chorus: Škoda lásky, kterou jsem tobě dala, |
Wasted Love The roses bloom, who is responsible for it? The water is flowing, turns round and round Chorus: Wasted love, which I gave to you too. |
[edit] English version
Beer Barrel Polka
There's a garden, what a garden
Only happy faces bloom there
And there's never any room there
For a worry or a gloom there.
Oh there's music, and there's dancing,
And a lot of sweet romancing,
When they play the polka
They all get in the swing.
Every time they hear that oompahpah
Everybody feels so tralala
They want to throw their cares away
They all go lah-de-ah-de-ay.
Then they hear a rumble on the floor
It's the big surprise they're waiting for
And all the couples form a ring
For miles around you hear them sing:
Chorus:
Roll out the barrel, we'll have a barrel of fun
Roll out the barrel, we've got the blues on the run
Zing, boom, tararrel, sing out a song of good cheer
Now's the time to roll the barrel, for the gang's all here!
[edit] Names in other languages
- Czech: Škoda lásky
- Danish: Hvor er min Kone
- Dutch: Rats, kuch en bonen
- Finnish: Tonttujen joulupolkka
- French: Frida oum Papa
- German: Rosamunde
- Hungarian: Sej-haj Rozi
- Italian: Rosamunda
- Japanese: ビヤ樽ポルカ (Biya daru polka)
- Polish: Banda also "My młodzi, my młodzi, nam bimber nie zaszkodzi..." / Szkoda miłości
- Portuguese (Brazil): Barril de chope
- Spanish: Polka del Barril or Polca/Polka de la Cerveza, also "Barrilito" or "Barilito"
- Swedish: Ut i naturen
