with a zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, HOI! HOI! HOI!
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In the words of T. Rex, “a-one, and a-two, and a-buckle my shoe!” Here’s the “First Round Polka” — another tune first played with Maryland’s “Paint Branch Ramblers,” but really needing Rob Henn’s trombone to make it fly. As you might guess, this was written as a partner song for the “Last Call Waltz” to be found elsewhere in this songbook. I reveal my secret yodeling syllables in the lyrics, so, good night, and good luck.

Here’s a good live version with the full Orchestra from July 2010, at Mike ‘n Molly’s in Champaign, IL. You’ll hear Kip Rainey on the electric mandolin, and you’ll hear Rob Henn tell the people of Illinois that “they don’t know from polka.”

And when I was writing this song, I was smart enough to record myself doing the yodel part very slowly, so I’d remember how to re-create each syllable and glottal break in the future. If you want to learn how to yodel, here’s a good place to start.