The Art Of: Jimmy Pol and His Iconic Fight Song

Along with those iconic Steeler chants “Here we go, Steelers, here we go!” and one that I’m sure we all sang last season after that victory against the Jets “I got a feelin’, Pittsburgh’s goin to the Super Bowl, uhuh!” we have the Iconic Steelers fight song, the Steelers Polka by our favorite Polka star: Jimmy Pol.

Born Jimmy Psihoulis, Jimmy Pol immigrated to the United States as a young man. Unfortunately, there isn’t much information out there on Jimmy, and after contacting his record label and requesting an interview or contact information numorous times, it seems this guy really doesn’t want to be found. He has apparently retired to Florida.

His record executive (funny to call it that, since his record label was a small Polka label called Peppermint Records) from Youngstown, OH let me know that Jimmy is off the radar. Yes, that’s right, Jimmy recorded all of the different versions of his famed song in OH.

Those guys just can’t catch a break.

Between 1970 and and the mid-1980’s, Jimmy pol recorded around 10 different versions of this song, with lyrics to accompany new players, famous plays and more. Below you will find the lyrics to my favorite version from 1978. I recently went on line and finally bought some of these original fight songs myself on vinal. I’m a huge fan of vinal as I am an avid Jazz record collector, and as it turns out, record players are pretty cheap. So you know, go buy one. If for no other reason than to experience this fight song how it was meant to be experienced.

It’s even more fun to have 200 other Steeler fans there, singing and clapping along week in and week out, which is how I hear it every week with the Steeler Fans of Minnesota. My suggestion: print out the lyrics and have your friends over for a game. Play it after every score. You won’t be sorry.

Polka runs deep in Pittsburgh, stemming from a large Polish population, and Jimmy really capitalized on that. His raw polka sound, formulaic but unique, was a signature sound in Polka and garnered National attention from the Nation of Steelers fans. Jimmy actually stole the song from the already popular Pennsylvania Polka, changed the words and a bit of the melody and wala, you have a hit fight song.

If you have any more info on Jimmy that I wasn’t able to find, be it legend or fact, please leave your comments below. I’d love to develop Jimmy wiki page to give him a little more recognition for his work.

Check out the lyrics below, and some videos to hear the great Jimmy Pol and his iconic Steelers Fight Song.

Stiller Fight Song (1978 version)
Da-Da-Da-Da-Ta-Da – Charge!
We’re from the town with that great football team, We cheer the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chuck Noll and all his friends are all on the field. Go out and get them Steelers.
Bradshaw, and Rocky, and Franco and Lynn, We love you Pittsburgh Steelers.
It’s been many years in coming, just keep that Steelers machinery humming
Defense, Defense, make them scramble, intercept that ball.
Defense, Defense, keeps the Steelers always best of all!
Mean Joe, Mean Joe, do your thing against the other team,
He starts from year to year, we’re so glad he’s playing here,
Now join with me, and sing the Steelers cheer-eer-EER!
We’re from the town with that great football team, We cheer the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Winning’s a habit, not only a dream, Go out and get them Steelers!
Gerela’s Gorillas are here for the show, and so is Franco’s Army,
It’s been many years in coming, just keep that Steelers machinery humming.
Offense, Offense, take that football whole way up the field!
Offense, Offense, let’s score and score and never ever yield!
Franco, Franco, can you believe we have a running game?
The Steelers are so great, and so hard to overrate,
Good things, will come, to those who work and wait. Charge!

1978: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTVW_P0wou4

1979: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29uuzYQM_Mg&feature=related

1973: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDemGylLyH0&feature=related