One part roaring sea shanty, one part haunting Irish melody, and a solid ch… Read Full Bio ↴One part roaring sea shanty, one part haunting Irish melody, and a solid chaser of gut-crunching street punk. This ragtag group of drunken misfits stays true to the ancient ballads and bawlers that once drove sailors around the world, all the while smashing out modern punk with a fury and intensity that is unmatched anywhere.

Formed in 2006 over pints of cheap beer at East Vancouver’s notoriously violent Ivanhoe Hotel, The Dreadnoughts cut their teeth in the roughest dive bars in the city. They started by opening for (and earning the praise of) celtic-punk grandfathers The Real McKenzies, and since then have never looked back. Hauling a fiddle, an accordion, a mandolin, a tin whistle, guitars and drums into every venue that would have them, they quickly became known for their powerful, chaotic live performances. In three short years they have slowly but surely joined the ranks of Canada’s punk rock heroes.

Polka Never Dies
The Dreadnoughts Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Your eyes were filled with stars
So you picked up a guitar
And how the people gave
The attention that you crave
Tonight, the stage is yours
But the world has watched you rise
And fall a thousand times before
Polka never dies

So when your face is gone
The dance will carry on
And you'll rot down in your grave
With the souls you couldn't save
Tonight, the stage was yours
How they loved your moans and sighs
But oh, the reaper loved you more
Polka never dies

Come all you indie hipster darlings
And new pop country starlings,
To the main street legion hall
Look into my crystal ball

Emo, screamo, POLKA NEVER DIES
Last call, Dance hall, POLKA NEVER DIES

You'll be the first against the wall
You'll be the first against the wall

Overall Meaning

The Dreadnoughts's song "Polka Never Dies" is an energetic and lively tribute to the lasting power of polka music. In the first two verses of the song, the lyrics describe a musician who picks up a guitar and captures the attention of the crowd with their performance. However, despite rising and falling a thousand times before, the enduring sound of polka music lives on.

The chorus of the song reinforces the message that polka music is here to stay, even after the musicians and performers are gone. The lyrics suggest that the dance and the music will carry on, outlasting the performers who originally created it. The final verse includes a call-out to other genres of music, encouraging indie hipsters, new pop country stars, and other musicians to recognize that polka music is still relevant and important.

Overall, the lyrics of "Polka Never Dies" celebrate the heritage and spirit of polka music, and encourage listeners to continue to appreciate and embrace the unique sound and style of the genre.

Line by Line Meaning

Your eyes were filled with stars
You had a dream in your eyes

So you picked up a guitar
You pursued your dream of becoming a musician

And how the people gave
And you received the attention and applause from the audience

The attention that you crave
The attention that was your ultimate goal

Tonight, the stage is yours
In this moment, you're on top of the world

But the world has watched you rise
People have seen you succeed before

And fall a thousand times before
And also seen you fail several times

Polka never dies
But polka music never loses its popularity

So when your face is gone
When you're no longer famous

The dance will carry on
Polka music will still be popular

And you'll rot down in your grave
You'll ultimately be forgotten when you die