"Roly Poly" is a humorous Western swing
standardIn music, a standard is a tune or song of established popularity.-See also:* Blues standard* Jazz standard* Pop standard* Great American Songbook-Further reading:* Greatest Rock Standards, published by Hal Leonard ISBN 0793588391...
written by
Fred RoseFred Rose was an American Hall of Fame songwriter and music publishing executive.-Biography:Born in Evansville, Indiana, Fred Rose started playing piano and singing as a small boy. In his teens, he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he worked in bars busking for tips, and finally vaudeville...
in 1946. In the song,
Roly Poly is a very active boy who eats continuously to keep his strength up. Each verse ends with:
- Roly Poly, daddy's little fatty,
- Bet he's gonna be a man someday.
"Roly Poly" was first recorded by
Bob Wills and His Texas PlayboysJames Robert Wills , better known as Bob Wills, was an American Western Swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader, considered by music authorities as the co-founder of Western Swing and universally known as the pioneering King of Western Swing.Bob Wills' name will forever be associated with...
in 1946, staying on the charts for 18 weeks and reaching #3. It has been recorded by many Western swing bands since.
Chuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
's "Roly Poly" is a different song.
Asleep at the WheelAsleep at the Wheel is a American country music group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, but based in Austin, Texas. Altogether, they have won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception. In their career, they have released more than twenty studio albums, and have charted more than twenty...
featuring the
Dixie ChicksThe Dixie Chicks are an American country band which has also successfully crossed over into other genres. The band is composed of founding members Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines...
covered the song in 2000. The version was not a single, but charted as an album cut peaking at #65.
The Little WilliesThe Little Willies is a band formed in 2003. It features Norah Jones on piano and vocals, Richard Julian on vocals, Jim Campilongo on guitar, Lee Alexander on bass, and Dan Rieser on drums....
covered the song on their 2006
self-titledThe Little Willies is the self-titled debut album from Rock music and Country singers The Little Willies. The album was released after band member Norah Jones had achieved international stardom as a solo artist....
album.