Beer Barrel Polka (Roll out the Barrel)

by Will Glahe – Key of A

Depending on the version you hear, this rollicking polka tune is either about recalling a lost love or getting your pals together and getting smashed. It was adapted from an instrumental folk tune written by Czech composers JaromÃr Vejvoda and Eduard Ingris in 1927. The instrumental version circulated as Modranska polka (“Polka of Modrany”) â€“ named for the village in Prague, until 1934 when Vaclav Zeman added lyrics and renamed the tune “Skoda Lasky,” meaning “Wasted Love.”

German accordionist Will Glahe recorded a popular cover titled “Rosamunde” in 1936; three years later, it topped the US Hit Parade as “Beer Barrel Polka” and became a popular jukebox spin throughout World War II, especially after it was covered by the Andrews Sisters.

The vocal trio sang English lyrics from Lew Brown (“Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me)”) and Wladimir Timm about a garden party that livens up when the beer starts flowing. Their version was a #4 hit and spawned a polka craze throughout the country.

SHEET MUSIC

a bit simplified – less jazzy

[D] [G7] [C]

There’s a [C] garden, what a garden, only happy faces [G7] bloom there
And there’s never any room there, for a worry, or a [C] gloom there
Oh there’s music, and there’s dancing, and a lot of sweet ro-[G7]mancing
When they play the polka, they all get in the [C] swing

Every [G7] time they hear that Oom-Pa-Pa
Every-[C]body feels so Tra-La-La
They want to [G7] throw their cares away
They all go Lah-dee-ahh-Dee-[C]aay

Then they [G7] hear a rumble on the floor
It’s the [C] big surprise they’re waiting for
And all the [G7] couples form a ring
For miles around you’ll hear them [C] sing

[C] Roll out the barrel, we’ll have a barrel of [G7] fun
Roll out the barrel, we’ve got the blues on the [C] run
Zing! Boom! Tararrel!, [C7] ring out a song of good [F] cheer
[Dm] Now’s the time to [D7] roll the [C] barrel,
[A7] for the [D7] gang’s [G7] all [C] here

Every [G7] time they hear that Oom-Pa-Pa
Every-[C]body feels so Tra-La-La
They want to [G7] throw their cares away
They all go Lah-dee-ahh-Dee-[C]aay

Then they [G7] hear a rumble on the floor
It’s the [C] big surprise they’re waiting for
And all the [G7] couples form a ring
For miles around you’ll hear them [C] sing

[A7] for the [D7] gang’s [G7] all [C] here !!!