The Beer Barrel Polka

This song came up on the show tonight, and I thought it was a good message to pass along.

Chico Marx didn't write this song, and probably didn't perform the most popular version.

Wikipedia says:

The music was composed by the Czech musician Jaromír Vejvoda in 1927. 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 ("Wasted Love").

Liberace, Bobby Vinton and the Wiggles have all had success with it.

But I picked Chico's version above all others.

Chico Marx wasn't known as a musician.  He was part of a comedy team with his brothers, and that's how he's remembered.  But he (and the others) were gifted singers and musicians.

The video below is a clip from the Marx Brothers' movie "A Night In Casablanca".  And while "The Beer Barrel Polka" encourages us to have fun, this video shows a little more.

I think the message here is to have fun doing something you love to do.  Maybe you can't do that for a career (at least not at the moment), but don't deny yourself that joy.

So here's a smile for you from Chico, and I hope you make some time to have some fun doing what you love!

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