The Best Polka Songs

Updated on April 16, 2022 | Written by Matthew Campbell

If you want people to have fun and fill up the dance floor at your wedding reception, then why not give polka a shot? It’s a fun way to honor your Eastern European heritage.

Why Would I Play Polka At My Wedding?

If you have Eastern European roots, most probably your family loves polka! So why not slip in a few songs and allow everyone else to enjoy? Weddings are about celebrating families and culture.

Polka is fun! You can’t help but laugh and smile while you dance. By far, the most popular polka song is “Beer Barrel Polka” by Frankie Yankovic. We bet you’ll start singing along when you hear the chorus. This is a fun song for a wedding reception. Why not a polka cover of “Closing Time” by The Chardon Polka Band to end out the evening?

Table of Contents:

• Polka Wedding Songs
• Polka Wedding Songs Spotify Playlist
• Top Polka Albums
• Top Polka Artists
• Questions about Polka Music

Polka Music

Did we include your favorite polka song? If not, feel free to let us know in the comments.

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Modern Polka Songs

Closing Time – The Chardon Polka Band
2020, Oh No! Not Again!

So, gather up your jackets, move it to the exits
I hope you have found a friend
Closing time, every new beginning
Comes from some other beginning’s end

The Pineapple Song – Freeze Dried
2018

Woman Is Smarter – Freeze Dried
2018

Ranking Full Stop – The Beat
2016

Too Much Pressure – The Selecter
2016

Bridal Dance / Pani Mloda Polka – The Buffalo Touch
2012

Alice (Who the Hell Is Alice?) – The Buffalo Touch
2012

Two Sisters Polka – The Chardon Polka Band
2011

Lovely Girl (Live) – Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
2001

White Table (Live) – Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push
2001

Oj Dana / Red Rose Polka – John Gora & Gorale
1997

Tears of a Clown – The Beat
1979

On My Radio – The Selector
1979

Be sure to check out the upcoming Ocean Beach Park Polka Days in London, CT. Visit their website for more details.

Classic Polka Songs

Accordion Man Polka – Myron Floren
2008, Dance Little Bird

Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie – Frankie Yankovic
2002, Button Box Favorites

Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie
Who’s not ready? Holler I!
Let’s all play hide and seek

Beer Barrel Polka – Bobby Vinton
1975, Greatest Polka Hits Of All Time

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

Black Jack Polka – Jimmy Sturr Orchestra
2008 , Great Polkas With The Jimmy Sturr Orchestra

Blue Skirt Waltz – Jimmy Sturr
2006, The Greatest Hits of Polka

You filled me with strange delight
and softly you strolled away
I dream of that night with you
lady when first we met

Broken Reed Polka – Frankie Yankovic
1997, Greatest Hits

Clarinet Polka – Jimmy Dorsey
1992, 16 Most Requested Polkas

Dance, Dance, Dance – Frankie Yankovic/Walter Ostanek
1999, One Last Time

Dance, Dance, Dance
Life can be happy and gay

Doghouse Polka – Babe Wagner
1992, 16 Most Requested Polkas

Edelweiss – Whoopee John
2011, Album 40 Greatest Hits

Good Time Polka – Walter Ostanek & His Band
2002, Good Time Polkas and Waltzes

It’s good time polka all day long
So get ready, get set because
You’re about to get a good time polka tonight

Happy Valley Polka – Frankie Gee Orchestra
1993, 25 Polka Greats

Hawaiian Polka – Father Frank Perkovich and Joe Cvek
2008, Songs and Hymns From the Original Polka Mass

Heel and Toe Polka – Six Fat Dutchmen
2006, Greatest Hits Volume 2

Helena Polka – Jimmy Dorsey
1992, 16 Most Requested Polkas

Hey, Hey Farmer Gray – Walt Solek
1992, 16 Most Requested Polkas

I got married and divorced after quite a fuss
‘Cause my wife refused to let her mother live with us

Hoop-Dee-Doo – Frankie Yankovic
1987, Frankie Yankovic & His Yanks’ Greatest Hits

I hear a polka and my troubles are through
Hoop-De-Do, Hoop-De-De
This kind of music is like heaven to me

Hop-Scotch Polka – Bob Crosby
1992, 16 Most Requested Polkas

It’s up and down and then you wave your knees
Your head goes boppin’ in the morning breeze
To the Hop Scotch Polka

I Don’t Want To Go Home Polka – Walt Solek
2010, 50 Polka Hits

No No No, We don’t want to go home
Till the bottle goes dry

In Heaven There Is No Beer – Frankie Yankovic
Originally composed by Ernst Neubach and Ralph Maria Siegel in 1956.

That’s why we drink it here
And when we’re gone from here
All our friends will be drinking all that beer

Jenny Lind Polka – Six Fat Dutchmen
1997, Polka’s They Don’t Get No Better

Julida Polka – Fat Louie Szykowski & The Big Polka Band
2012, Polka Polka Polka – 50 All Time Favorites

She only wants me when I got money
When I have no money she is disgusted

Just Because – Frankie Yankovic
1987, Frankie Yankovic & His Yanks’ Greatest Hits

You’ve caused me to lose all my women
And now, now you say we are through
Well, I’m telling you
Baby, I was through with you

Let’s Have A Party – Frankie Yankovic
2003, Toe Tappin’ Happy Polkas

Let’s have a party, a party tonight
We’ll bring the music for your delight
Roll out the barrels, spread out some cheer
We’ll play a polka for everybody’s ears

Licorice Stick Polka – Jimmy Dorsey
1992, 16 Most Requested Polkas

Lucille – Myron Floren
1997, Polka’s They Don’t Get No Better

Mini Skirt Polka – Gene Wisniewski
2010, 50 Polka Hits

Her name is Mini she’s skinny
And what a flirt Tthe boys love her so

Mountaineer Polka – Happy Louie & His Polka Band
2010, 50 Polka Hits

On Your Toes – Babe Wagner
1992, 16 Most Requested Polkas

Orange Blossom Special – Osborne Brothers
2008, Hillbilly Fever

Peanuts Polka – Larry Chesky and His Orchestra
2008, Larry Chesky Big Band Polkas

Pennsylvania Polka – Frankie Yankovic
1987, Frankie Yankovic & His Yanks’ Greatest Hits

While they’re dancing
Everybody’s cares are quickly gone
Sweet romancing
This goes on and on until the dawn

Ping Pong Polka – Whoopee John
1997, Polka’s They Don’t Get No Better

Roll Out the Barrel – Myron Floren
1997, Polka’s They Don’t Get No Better

Schatzie – Whoopee John
2011, 40 Greatest Hits

Tennessee Waltz – Six Fat Dutchmen
2006, Greatest Hits Volume 2

The Bird Dance – The Emeralds
2009, Bird Dance

Tic Toc Polka – Die-Hard Polka Band
2013, Polka, Polka, Polka

Too Fat Polka – Frankie Yankovic
1997, The World’s Greatest Polka Package

Try the rye or the kaiser
They’re on special tonight
If you want, you can have an appetizer
You might like our silami and the liver’s alright
And they really go well with the rye or the kaiser

Top of the Hill Polka – Nancy Hlad
2002, Deeper Polka: More Dance Music from the Midwest

Watch Your Step Polka – K. D. Lang
1987, Angel with A Lariat

What Do I Care? – Walt Solek
1992, 16 Most Requested Polkas

What if she’s funny,
Wishing Well Polka – Johnny Menko
1993, 25 Polka Greats

Check Out These Top Polka Albums

Greatest Polka Hits – Frankie Yankovic

16 Most Requested Polkas

The Best of Lawrence Welk

The Greatest Hits of Polka

World’s Greatest Polkas

Popular Polka Artists

• Frankie Yankovic
• Jimmy Sturr
• Jimmy Dorsey
• Walt Solek
• Gene Wisniewski
• Eddie Blazonczyk
• Walter Ostanek
• “Weird Al” Yankovic
• Eddie Korosa

Similar Song Lists

• Quickstep songs
• Nightclub Two-Step songs
• Foxtrot songs

The History of Polka Music

When you think of Polka you probably think of the baseline and accordion and maybe the fun dance. You may think of Oktoberfest even! Polka is a Czech folk dance and is spread across the entire region. It’s popular anywhere you see Eastern European cultures, like Germans and their Oktoberfest. Polka is even an influence on Mariachi music.

There are different styles of Polka depending on ethnic influences. The main emphasis in many polka songs is the use of one musical instrument – the accordion. Along with the accordion, polka songs can be accompanied by fiddles, clarinets, and a rhythm section.

Considered America’s Polka King, Frankie Yankovic, helped popularize polka music in America while releasing more than 200 polka singles. Frankie Yankovic obtained the title of America’s Polka King after beating Duke Ellington in a battle of the bands at the Milwaukee Arena. In 1986 he was awarded the first-ever Grammy in the Best Polka Recording category. Frankie was so popular, he could probably have every song on our list. When playing a polka song at a wedding, you cannot go wrong with Frankie Yankovic.

Polka music made its way into America with immigrants from Eastern Europe. However, the popularity of Polka music has significantly decreased with minimal Polka albums becoming mainstream after 2009. Alex Meixner is a Grammy Nominated accordionist who has helped rock-out polka. If you are interested in other Polka music or want to learn more about the Polka community, visit the International Polka Association’s website and the Cleveland Polka Association’s website.

Why Not Have a Quick Polka Dance Lesson?

If you can do the Texas Two-Step, you can probably do the Polka! It’s a popular dance based upon 2/4 timing. It has a half step which is where the “pulka” comes in. You can do the polka to any 2/4 song — like most country music.

One of the most popular versions of the polka is the “heel and toe and away we go” due to its ease of execution. Nowadays polka dances can be included in the categories of ballroom as well as country and western.

If you are interested in purchasing a good polka CD for weddings, we recommend a CD named “Polka Hits The Casuals Way.” The disc offers 10 Karaoke-style hits which include Let’s Have a Party/E-I, E-I-O, Just Because, In Heaven There Is No Beer, Who Stole The Kishka, Too Fat Polka, Roll Out The Barrel, Blue Skirt Waltz, Pennsylvania Polka, The Bird Dance, and Grab Your Balls We’re Going, Bowling. If you want to purchase the disc, please contact Ray Zalokar of www.247Polkaheaven.com. You can also email Ray 247polka[at]247polkaheaven[dot]com for more information.

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