"Too Fat Polka" is a

novelty song A novelty song is a type of song built upon some form of novel concept, such as a gimmick, a piece of humor, or a sample of popular culture. Novelty songs partially overlap with comedy songs, which are more explicitly based on humor, and w ...

by Ross MacLean and Arthur Richardson. The song is known for its recurrent chorus, "I don't want her, you can have her, she's too fat for me." A 1947 recording by

Arthur Godfrey Arthur Morton Godfrey (August 31, 1903 – March 16, 1983) was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer. At the peak of his success, in the early to mid-1950s, Godfrey was heard on radio and seen on television up to six days ...

, with orchestra under the direction of

Archie Bleyer Archibald Martin Bleyer (June 12, 1909 – March 20, 1989) was an American song arranger, bandleader, and record company executive. Early life Bleyer was born in the Corona section of the New York City borough of Queens. His father was a well-k ...

, reached No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' charts. In 1947–8 recordings were also made by

Alain Romans Alain Romans (1905, Poland – 1988) was a French jazz composer. He studied in Leipzig, Berlin, and Paris. His teachers included Vincent d'Indy. He later worked with Josephine Baker and Django Reinhardt. Romans wrote music for 12 films. The mo ...

The Andrews Sisters The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews (1911–1967), soprano Maxene Anglyn Andrews (1916–1995), and mezzo ...

Blue Barron Blue Barron (November 19, 1913 – July 16, 2005), born Harry Freidman, was an American orchestra leader in the 1940s and early 1950s during the Big Band era. His band's more subdued tone was referred to as "Sweet" music to distinguish it from ...

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

Louis Prima Louis Leo Prima (; December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an American trumpeter, singer, entertainer, and bandleader. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he ...

Lulu Belle and Scotty Myrtle Eleanor Cooper (December 24, 1913 – February 8, 1999) and Scott Greene Wiseman (November 8, 1909 – January 31, 1981), known professionally as Lulu Belle and Scotty, were one of the major country music acts of the 1930s and 1940s, dubb ...

Slim Bryant Thomas Hoyt Bryant (December 7, 1908 – May 28, 2010) known professionally as Slim Bryant, was an American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Atlanta, Georgia. He was one of the last country musician's who had started ...

The Starlighters The Starlighters were an American singing group of the mid-20th century of the late 1940s and 1950s. The group was formed in 1946, the members being Pauline Byrns (1917–1990), Vince Degen, ony Paris, Howard Hudson, and a young Andy William ...

Two Ton Baker Richard Evans "Two Ton" Baker (May 2, 1916 – May 4, 1975) was an American singer and entertainer who was a prominent Chicago radio and television personality for three decades; the 1940s to the 1960s. He gained some national exposure in the Un ...

, and

Vic Lewis Victor Lewis MBE (29 July 1919 – 9 February 2009) was a British jazz guitarist and bandleader. He also enjoyed success as an artists' agent and manager. Performing career He was born in London, England to a family of jewellers. Lewis beg ...

, among others. Recordings also appeared in Polish, Norwegian, and Danish. The song was a hit for accordionist

Frankie Yankovic Frank John Yankovic (July 28, 1915 – October 14, 1998) was an American accordion player and polka musician. Known as "America's Polka King", Yankovic was considered the premier artist to play in the Slovenian style during his long career. He ...

, appearing on ''Friendly Tavern Polkas'' (1960) and subsequent albums. A cover was allegedly recorded by

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...

during the ''

Young Americans ''Young Americans'' is the ninth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 7March 1975 through RCA Records. A departure from the glam rock style of previous albums, the record showcased Bowie's interest in soul and R&B. ...

'' sessions.

Other recordings

* Frank Curylo ZA TŁUSTA DLA MNIE (Too Fat Polka). by: FRANK CURYLO; J. Lazarz Orchestra; MacLean; * Charles Magnante – ''Charles Magnante's Polka Party'' (1955) *

Herb Shriner Herbert Arthur "Herb" Shriner (May 29, 1918 – April 23, 1970) was an American humorist, radio personality, actor, and television host. Shriner was known for his homespun monologues, usually about his home state of Indiana. He was frequently co ...

– ''Polka Dot Party'' (1959) * Joe "Fingers" Carr and Ira Ironstrings – ''Together for the Last Time'' (1960) * Kenny Bass – ''The Top Million Polka Sellers'' (1962) * Lou Monte – ''The Mixed-Up Bull from Palermo'' (1964) * The Buffalo Bills – ''Shut The Door! (They're Comin' Through The Window)'' (1965) * Whoopee John – ''All-Time Old-Time Polkas, Waltzes, Schottisches'' * Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers – ''Polkas!'' *

James Last James Last (, ; born Hans Last; 17 April 1929 – 9 June 2015) was a German composer and big band leader of the James Last Orchestra. Initially a jazz bassist, his trademark "happy music" made his numerous albums best-sellers in Germany and ...

– ''Polka-Party'' (1971) *

Will Glahé Will Glahé (February 12, 1902 – November 21, 1989) was a German accordionist, composer, and bandleader. Glahé was born at Elberfeld, Germany. In the 1930s, he was, along with Heinz Munsonius and Albert Vossen, one of the most successful a ...

– '' The Polka King, Vol. 2'' (1975) *

Bobby Vinton Stanley Robert Vinton (born April 16, 1935) is an American singer and actor, who hosted his own self-titled TV show in the late 1970s. As a teen idol, he became known as "The Polish Prince", as his music paid tribute to his Polish heritage. One ...

– '' Party Music – 20 Hits'' (1976), '' Polka Album'' (1981) * Byron Melcher – ''Happiness Is...'' *

Those Darn Accordions Those Darn Accordions, commonly abbreviated as TDA, are an American accordion band from San Francisco, California, originally formed in 1989 by Linda "Big Lou" Seekins. Boasting several accordionists whose numbers have fluctuated over the years ...

– ''

Vongole Fisarmonica ''Vongole Fisarmonica'' is the debut album by American accordion band Those Darn Accordions, released in 1992 by Globe Records. The album was originally released only on cassette tape before later being made available for digital download on iTun ...

'' (1992) s "Too Smart Polka"*

"Weird Al" Yankovic Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic ( ; born October 23, 1959) is an American comedy musician, writer, and actor. He is best known for writing and performing Comedy music, comedy songs that often Parody music, parody specific songs by contempo ...

– ''

Mandatory Fun ''Mandatory Fun'' is the fourteenth and possible final studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. The self-produced album was released by RCA Records in the United States on July 15, 2014. Yankovic had previously released '' ...

'' (2014) n medley "Now That's What I Call Polka!"

References

{{Authority control Polkas Novelty songs American songs Works about obesity