John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer (18 November 1909 – 25 June 1976) is regarded … Read Full Bio ↴John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer (18 November 1909 – 25 June 1976) is regarded as one of America's greatest songwriters. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others. From the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s, many of the songs Mercer wrote and performed were among the most popular hits of the time. He wrote the lyrics to more than fifteen hundred songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows. He received nineteen Academy Award nominations, and won four. Mercer was also a co-founder of Capitol Records.

Strip Polka
Johnny Mercer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This is the strip polka
I adore this ?

There's a burlesque theater where the gang loves to go
To see queenie the cutie of the burlesque show
And the thrill of the evening is when out queenie skips
And the band plays the polka while she strips

"Take it off, take it off", cries a voice from the rear
"Take it off, take it off", soon it's all you can hear
But she's always a lady even in pantomime
So she stops and always just in time

She's as fresh and as wholesome as the flowers in May
And she hopes to retire to the farm someday
But you can't buy a farm until you're up in the chips
So the band plays the polka while she strips

"Take it off, take it off", all the customers shout
"Down in front, down in front", while the band beats it out
But she's always a lady even in pantomime
So she stops and always just in time

Queenie, queen of them all
Queenie, someday you'll fall
Someday church bells will chime
In strip polka time

Oh, she hates corny waltzes and she hates the gavotte
And there's one big advantage if the music's hot
It's a fast moving exit just in case something rips
So the band plays the polka while she strips

Drop around, take it in, it's the best in the west
"Take it off, take it off, take it off", you can yell like the rest
Take her out when it's over, she's a peach when she's dressed
But she stops and always just in time, time, time

Queenie, queen of them all
Queenie, someday you'll fall

Someday church bells will chime
In strip polka time

Overall Meaning

Johnny Mercer's "Strip Polka" is a song about a burlesque show that centers around Queenie, the show's leading lady, who always performs to the lively polka beats. The singer of the song is one of the regulars at the burlesque theater, who is in awe of Queenie's grace and poise, even as she strips on stage. The song describes Queenie as "fresh and wholesome as the flowers in May," who dreams of someday retiring to a farm, but cannot do so until she has enough money. Queenie's polite demeanor and ladylike qualities are maintained, even in the midst of the audience's lustful cries to take it all off, and she always stops at just the right time.

The song is a vivid portrayal of the environment and culture of burlesque shows during that period. The lyrics present a humorous portrayal of the atmosphere, capturing the energy and excitement of the audience, their reactions, and the emphasis on the sexuality of the performers. Queenie, the singer, is portrayed as a sympathetic character, someone who is using her talents to make a living and cope with the hardships of life. The song is also a reminder of the changing times and social norms of the era, with burlesque and vaudeville giving way to more sanitized and family-friendly forms of entertainment.

Line by Line Meaning

This is the strip polka
Introducing the strip polka

There's a burlesque theater where the gang loves to go
A location frequented by a group of people for entertainment

To see queenie the cutie of the burlesque show
The main attraction at the theater is Queenie, a charming performer

And the thrill of the evening is when out queenie skips
The highlight of the night is when Queenie takes the stage

And the band plays the polka while she strips
Queenie performs a striptease to the accompaniment of lively music

"Take it off, take it off", cries a voice from the rear
An enthusiastic audience member urges Queenie to remove more clothing

"Take it off, take it off", soon it's all you can hear
The chant to take off clothes becomes louder and dominant

But she's always a lady even in pantomime
Queenie maintains her composure and remains classy despite the suggestive performance

So she stops and always just in time
Queenie stops her striptease gracefully to maintain her decency

She's as fresh and as wholesome as the flowers in May
Queenie has an aura of purity and innocence like the spring flowers

And she hopes to retire to the farm someday
Queenie has aspirations to leave the burlesque life behind and lead a simple life

But you can't buy a farm until you're up in the chips
Financial security is necessary for fulfilling her dreams of acquiring a farm

So the band plays the polka while she strips
Queenie continues to strip to the upbeat polka tune

"Take it off, take it off", all the customers shout
The frenzied audience calls out to Queenie to take off more clothes

"Down in front, down in front", while the band beats it out
Others demand better visibility and the band keeps playing

But she's always a lady even in pantomime
Queenie retains her elegance even during a suggestive performance

So she stops and always just in time
Queenie concludes her act at the opportune moment to preserve her grace

Queenie, queen of them all
Addressing Queenie as the star of the show

Queenie, someday you'll fall
A foreshadowing of Queenie's eventual decline

Someday church bells will chime
The prediction of Queenie's demise

In strip polka time
Her downfall will happen during this type of performance

Oh, she hates corny waltzes and she hates the gavotte
Queenie dislikes dull and old-fashioned musical genres

And there's one big advantage if the music's hot
Choosing an energetic musical style has its benefits

It's a fast moving exit just in case something rips
The energetic music allows for a swift exit in case of a clothing malfunction

So the band plays the polka while she strips
The polka music continues as Queenie removes additional clothing

Drop around, take it in, it's the best in the west
Inviting others to visit the theater for entertainment

"Take it off, take it off, take it off", you can yell like the rest
Encouraging the audience to join in the customary chant

Take her out when it's over, she's a peach when she's dressed
Complimenting Queenie's appearance when fully clothed and urging others to ask her out

But she stops and always just in time, time, time
Queenie ends her act gracefully and precisely

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY MERCER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@nickbarnett3242

I know a few quennies

@ryanhoward3383

2y↑1

Private Snafu sang this song.

@jameslembcke7078

4y↑1

Please explain why Phil Silvers is on this song.

@jlassie

4y↑3

He makes an uncredited appearance at the beginning and then right before Johnny's vocal. They're making fun of sweet bands like Kay Kyser who routinely used 'singing song titles', where the bandleader announced the name of the song and singer. Most likely, Phil ad-libbed the silly name he uses for Johnny.

@jlassie

4y↑2

Numerous other spoofs of sweet bands are included, such as the 'wah-wah' trumpet of Clyde McCoy at the beginning, the syrupy saxophones of Guy Lombardo, and the triple-tonguing trumpets of Horace Heidt.

@jameslembcke7078

4y↑3

@@jlassie Thank you! I have a Mercer hits CD(from Capitol Records of course) and the first song is this. Were Phil Silvers and Johnny Mercer friends, and if so, how did they meet?