Kevin Kling's Minnesota State Fair Polka

Fairgoers
Fairgoers gather for the daily afternoon parade at the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on August 25, 2011.
MPR Photo/Nikki Tundel

Minnesota storyteller, playwright and humorist Kevin Kling recently signed on for a three-year stint as artist-in-residence at Minnesota Public Radio — just in time for the Minnesota State Fair. Here's his "State Fair Polka." (.mp3 download)

Lyrics by Kevin Kling, Music by Simone Perrin

Let's go to the Midway, see the man who barks,

Get up high on the Ferris wheel, so we can see where we parked.

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Get me to the Midway, get me there real quick!

You're slicker than that big old slide. You got my heart on a stick.

Black velvet tiger in an Elvis frame,

A Grateful Dead lighter from a giant crane.

Oh, I'll win you something if it takes all my money,

'Cause you're sweeter than a blue ribbon, honey!

(Instrumental: Eight bars)

We'll mingle with our people, 'til we find a thrill

On the deep-fried cheese curds, on Machinery Hill.

You like the chickens. I like the goats.

We both like the turkeys with those red things on their throats.

Black velvet tiger in an Elvis frame,

A Grateful Dead lighter from a giant crane.

Oh, I'll win you something if it takes all my money,

'Cause you're sweeter than a blue ribbon, honey!

Oh yes, you're sweeter than a blue ribbon honey!