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Roll Out the Barrel (or Beer Barrel Polka, or There's a Garden, What a Garden)

Important Note: Some beverages like cider and root beer used to be kept in barrels. But that also applies to some alcoholic beverages, like beer and rum, which explains why this song is also called the "Beer Barrel Polka". So remember that although this is a fun song to sing, excessive alcohol consumption is not good for your health and could lead to serious problems and addictions. In fact, addictions of all types can be very serious health concerns. Please visit:

The Cool Spot! the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's young teen's place for information on alcohol and resisting peer pressure;
NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse and NIDA's Mind Over Matter;
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Drug Pages;
Marijuana: Facts for Teens and Parents;
Tips 4 Kids, Prevent the Addiction;
FDA Kids;
Building Blocks for a Healthy Future! an early childhood substance abuse prevention program developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Original Czechoslovakian Lyrics by Wladimir A. Timm and Vasek Zeman; English Lyrics by Lew Brown, Music by Jaromir Vejvoda; Skoda Lasky International Copyright ©1934/1971. Beer Barrel Polka Copyright ©1939/1976 Shapiro Bernstein/MPL Communications.

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...

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, ring out a song of good cheer
Now's the time to roll the barrel, for the gang's all here

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When you encounter this image link to a non-NIEHS site

or the words "Non-NIEHS Link", it means that by following that link you will be leaving the NIEHS website. NIEHS is NOT responsible for non-NIEHS websites. Sites maintained by outside organizations may be changed without notice to NIEHS. Therefore, unless the link is to another U.S. government sponsored webpage, endorsement by NIEHS is not implied, and NIEHS does not guarantee their continuing safe content or privacy policies. So please ask your parent or guardian before continuing to any non-NIEHS website, and especially before providing any information via the internet or by e-mail. When last reviewed, the websites linked from the NIEHS Kids' Pages seemed suitable for you to visit, but that may have changed; if you have any difficulties or concerns with any linked materials, please let us know.