"Im Himmel gibt's kein Bier" | |
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Song | |
Language | German |
English title | "In Heaven There Is No Beer" |
Published | 1956 |
Genre | Drinking song |
Composer(s) | Ralph Maria Siegel |
Lyricist(s) | Ernst Neubach |
"In Heaven There Is No Beer" is a song about the existential pleasures of beer drinking. The title of the song states a reason for drinking beer while you are still alive. The song in German is "Im Himmel gibt's kein Bier", in Spanish, "En El Cielo No Hay Cerveza". [1] It was originally composed as a movie score for the film Die Fischerin vom Bodensee, 1956, by Ernst Neubach and Ralph Maria Siegel. [2] The English lyrics are credited to Art Walunas.
Atongo Zimba recorded a version [3] as well as Clean Living. [4] The song was the inspiration for the title of the 1984 film and 1985 Sundance Film Festival winner, In Heaven There Is No Beer?, [5] which also featured the song " Who Stole the Kishka?". [6]
A version of the song by the Amherst, Massachusetts, band Clean Living became a hit in 1972 (US Billboard #49, Cash Box #34; [7] Canada #51). [8] [9]
The song first appeared at the University of Iowa in the 1960’s and has been a tradition ever since. Known in Iowa City as the “Hawkeye Victory Polka”, the Hawkeye Marching Band plays this tune at sporting events following a Hawkeye win.