Prospector Polka
Riders in the Sky Lyrics
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And he loves to dance the polka cowboy style
Snowy beard and turned up hat, taps his toe this way and that
Keeping time to happy music all the while
To stake a claim and mine that yella gold
With a shovel and a pick and a happy polka kick
He's the best at finding nuggets so I'm told
He's Pete, the Old Prospector, a happy little elf
And when he hears a squeezebox play he just can't help himself
With a pickax for a partner he dances o'er the plains
He pans for gold and polkas up and down the rolling range
With his bag of mining tools and the big ole long-eared mule
He's off at dawn upon his golden quest
If you see him say "Hello" Pete's a fellow you should know
He's a polka dancin' champion of the West
He's Pete, the Old Prospector, a happy little elf
And when he hears a squeezebox play he just can't help himself
With a pickax for a partner he dances o'er the plains
He pans for gold and polkas up and down the rolling range
He's Pete the Old Prospector, champion of the rolling range
The song "Prospector Polka" by Riders In The Sky is a tribute to a cheerful gold miner named Pete, who spends his days searching for gold in the wild, wild West. Pete dances the polka cowboy style, tapping his toe and keeping time to happy music as he pans for gold and polkas up and down the rolling range.
The lyrics describe Pete as a happy little elf with a snowy beard, a turned-up hat, and a bag of mining tools. He came West when he was just a lad to stake a claim and mine for gold, and he's been at it ever since. With a pickax for a partner, he dances over the plains, searching for nuggets and enjoying life to the fullest.
The song is an ode to the joy of living a simple life and following one's dreams, no matter how unconventional they may seem. It celebrates the spirit of the West and the resilience of those who have always dared to chase their dreams, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a little guy I know, who spends all day just huntin' gold
The song introduces Pete, an old prospector who spends his days looking for gold.
And he loves to dance the polka cowboy style
Pete has a passion for dancing the polka, and he incorporates cowboy style into his moves.
Snowy beard and turned up hat, taps his toe this way and that
Pete has distinctive physical features, including a snowy beard and a hat turned up. He showcases his love of music through his rhythmic toe-tapping.
Keeping time to happy music all the while
Pete remains upbeat and happy while he dances, letting the joy of the music consume him.
He was born in Pennsylvania but came West when just a lad
Pete was born in Pennsylvania, but he moved to the West when he was young to pursue his dream of finding gold.
To stake a claim and mine that yella gold
Pete is a gold miner who is committed to finding the valuable mineral.
With a shovel and a pick and a happy polka kick
Pete uses his mining tools to search for gold and also incorporates his love for the polka dance into his everyday life.
He's the best at finding nuggets so I'm told
Pete is reputed to be the best at finding gold nuggets among all the prospectors in the West.
He's Pete, the Old Prospector, a happy little elf
Pete is an old prospector who is full of joy and happiness. He is also called an 'elf' due to his small stature.
And when he hears a squeezebox play he just can't help himself
Pete is so fond of polka music that when he hears a squeezebox play, he cannot resist moving his feet to the rhythm.
With a pickax for a partner he dances o'er the plains
Pete pairs his mining tools, like pickaxes, with his love for dancing to move across the terrain he searches for gold on.
He pans for gold and polkas up and down the rolling range
Pete uses a gold pan to search for the mineral and also shows off his dancing skills by polkaing along the rolling range.
With his bag of mining tools and the big ole long-eared mule
Pete carries his necessary mining tools in a bag and travels on a mule across the West.
He's off at dawn upon his golden quest
Pete starts his day at the break of dawn, ready to embark on his mission of finding gold.
If you see him say 'Hello' Pete's a fellow you should know
Pete is a friendly, social person who loves to meet new folks. If you come across him, greeting him with a hello is a must.
He's a polka dancin' champion of the West
Pete, with his love for polka, is a celebrated champion of the West.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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