Who Stole the Kishka?

Song

"Who Stole the Kishka?"
Song
Genre	Polka
Composer(s)	Walter Dana
Lyricist(s)	Walt Solek

Audio sample
file help

Who Stole the Kishka?, originally spelled "Who Stole the Keeshka?" is a polka song written by Walter Dana (music)^[1] and Walter Solek (lyrics).^[2]^[3]^[4] It was recorded and performed by various bands. One popular version was familiar to American radio audiences from a 1963 recording by Grammy award-winning polka artist Frankie Yankovic.^[3]^[4]^[5] It is an homage to kiszka, also known as kaszanka.^[3]^[4]

According to an obituary for Walt Solek, who wrote and recorded the song, "Keeshka always gets the crowd going at a Polkaholics show as it has since it was recorded in the 1950s with English lyrics!"^[6]

The song ends with the pleading refrain "but please bring back my kishka".

References

^ Martin, Douglas (March 13, 2000). "Walter Dana, Polka Promoter, Dies at 96". The New York Times (March 13). Retrieved 2008-12-24.
^ "Programmer's Potpouri". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1973-03-31. p. 52.
^ ^a ^b ^c O’Boyle, Bill (December 28, 2019). "Beyond the Byline: Who really did steal the kishka?". Times Leader.
^ ^a ^b ^c Wex, Michael (April 12, 2016). Rhapsody in Schmaltz: Yiddish Food and Why We Can't Stop Eating It (ebook). St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 139. ISBN 9781466882652.
^ Worthington, Rogers (November 9, 1992). "NOW WE MAY NEVER KNOW 'WHO STOLE THE KISHKA'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^ It's no joke, Notice of Walter Solek's passing on Extreme Polka website ^{[dead link]}