“Beer Barrel Polka” is a perfect blend of disco, polka and pop music.

Here are some fun facts about Polish Prince of America Bobby Vinton and his song.

Fun Facts

• The music was composed in 1927 by Czech songwriter Jaromír Vejvoda.
• Also known as “Roll out the Barrel” and “The Barrel Polka,” versions of the song were popular internationally during World War II.
• On May 9, 1945, Victory in Europe Day, Humphrey Lyttelton performed the song in celebration outside Buckingham Palace.
• The song has been recorded in at least 20 languages.
• Bobby Vinton’s version reached 33 on the Billboard charts in 1975.
• In 1962, Vinton got his break into stardom after appearing on the show TV Talent Scouts.
• After his initial recordings flopped, Vinton self-promoted his single “Roses Are Red (My Love)” by hiring a young woman to deliver the record and a dozen roses to local DJs.
• Vinton’s most popular songs include “Blue Velvet” and “My Melody of Love.”
• From 1962 to 1972, Vinton beat Elvis and Frank Sinatra as the male singer with the most number 1 hits.
• Because of this, Billboard Magazine named Vinton “the all-time most successful love singer of the ‘Rock-Era.'”
• “Beer Barrel Polka” has been performed by:
  • Elton John
  • Liberace
  • The Andrew Sisters
  • Don Reno and Red Smiley
  • Merle Travis
  • Frankie Yankovic
• The song remains popular in sports, used during home games for:
  • Milwaukee Brewers
  • Green Bay Packers
  • San Jose Giants

Lyrics

(LyricFind)

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 oom-pa-pa

Everybody feels so tra-la-la

They want to throw their cares away

They all go lah-de-ah-de-ay

Then they hear a rumble on the floor, the floor

It’s the big surprise they’re waiting for

And all the couples form a ring

For miles around you’ll hear them sing…

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, ring out a song of good cheer

Now’s the time to roll the barrel, for the gang’s all here

Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da

Then they hear a rumble on the floor-or-or-or

It’s the big surprise they’re waiting for

And all the couples they form a ring

For miles around you’ll hear them sing

Drree mopado theedo da-da-da-da