In Heaven There Is No Beer

"In Heaven There Is No Beer" is a polka song about the existential pleasures of beer drinking. The title of the song implies a reason for drinking beer while you are still alive. The song in German is "Im Himmel gibt's kein Bier", in Spanish, "En El Cielo No Hay Cerveza".^[1] It was originally composed as a movie score for the film Die Fischerin vom Bodensee, 1956, by Ernst Neubach and Ralph Maria Siegel.^[2] The English lyrics are credited to Art Walunas.

"Im Himmel gibt's kein Bier"
Song
Language	German
English title	"In Heaven There Is No Beer"
Published	1956
Genre	Drinking song
Composer(s)	Ralph Maria Siegel
Lyricist(s)	Ernst Neubach

Atongo Zimba recorded a version^[3] as well as Clean Living.^[4] The song was the inspiration for the title of the 1984 film and 1985 Sundance Film Festival winner, In Heaven There Is No Beer?,^[5] which also featured the song "Who Stole the Kishka?".^[6]

A version of the song by the Amherst, Massachusetts, band Clean Living became a hit in 1972 (US Billboard #49, Cash Box #34;^[7] Canada #51).^[8][9]

The song first appeared at the University of Iowa in the 1960’s and has been a tradition ever since. Known in Iowa City as the “Hawkeye Victory Polka”, the Hawkeye Marching Band plays this tune at sporting events following a Hawkeye win.

The song is also used by the University of Wyoming band, playing during breaks in sporting events known as "The Beer Song."

The song is also played by North Dakota State University's Gold Star Marching Band following a Bison win in football games.