Swiss Family Treehouse music

What is the organ song called?

In 1976 I asked the man who worked at Disneyland's Swiss Family Treehouse for many years (Mark Lenihan) the name of the song played on the treehouse organ. He told me he gets asked that a lot, so he inquired years ago and learned it was just called "The Swiss Polka." The song was presumably written for the 1960 Disney film "Swiss Family Robinson," but although another song is named in the opening credits of that film ("My Heart Was an Island"), the title of the treehouse organ song is never listed in any of the credits.

However, the new customizable Disneyland Forever CDs that are sold by The Disney Company call this song "Swisskapolka." (These CDs are terrific, by the way, and can be customized and ordered on-line at The Mouse Shoppe.) There are also lyrics to this polka! The lyrics suggest that the "-ka" in "Swisska-" is just a nonsense syllable to fit rhythmically with "polka." At any rate, I'll use this more official title when describing this song.

"Swisskapolka" lyrics

These lyrics appear on the Disneyland Music Website, but the author's e-mail address is defunct so I don't know the origin of the sheet music mentioned there. The music author is N. "Buddy" Baker, and lyrics are by Bob Jackman. Note that the lyrics cover parts A and B, but not parts C and D. I placed the chords myself.

G........................................................D7...........
'Round and 'round the world we go, the world we go, with heel and toe,

....................................................G....
'Round and 'round and to and fro, it's swisskapolka time.

......................................................D7.........
Take a partner by the hand, she'll understand, she'll understand,

.................................................G....
When you hear that happy band, it's swisskapolka time.

D......................A7...................................D............
Find out what a little dance can do, for that pretty little gal with you,

.......................A7........................D.........
She'll be happy as the melody, dancing busy as a bumblebee.

...G................................................D7...........
So up and down and all around, the world we go with heel and toe,

.................................................G....
Back and forth and to and fro, it's swisskapolka time.

How to play "Swisskapolka"

Want to play "Swisskapolka" on your keyboard instrument at home?
Here are (or soon will be) three Klavar transcriptions from which to chose:
(You'll need both files per version you want.)

1. Pedal organ version
   Exact, but you'll need organ pedals that play notes.
   file #1, file #2
2. Conventional keyboard version
   Not exact, but the closest version playable without pedals.
   The chords are a bit tricky and inconsistent, though.
   file #1, file #2
3. Simplified version
   Not exact, simplified bass line, no harmonies in melody.
   Still sounds great, the easiest, the most logical, my favorite.
   file #1, file #2

Trivia

• "Swisskapolka" originates from the 1960 Disney film "Swiss Family Robinson" and is played three times during the film: (1) when the mother plays it as dance music on their treehouse organ after Roberta tries on her new dress, (2) a string and horn version as background music during the animal races, (3) a string and horn version as background music while throwing coconut bombs.
• Alternative music is played in the Treehouse for Christmas, no doubt to match the Christmas scene in the original movie "Swiss Family Robinson," where they play "Oh Christmas Tree" on their treehouse organ while waiting for the older boys to return from their long exploratory trip. This alternative music is also available on the Disneyland Forever series of CDs. It is called "Christmas Medley" and consists of three Christmas song fragments:
  "Deck the Halls," "Oh Christmas Tree," and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."
  The organ used has a slightly different than the organ used on "Swisskapolka."
• Yet another piece of music comes from the film: "My Heart Was an Island," by Terry Gilkyson, played the day after mother accepts treehouse. I have never heard this obscure song anywhere other than in the film.
• At a distance from the Treehouse, all that can be heard is the bass line of the organ. This is partly because low notes carry farther than high notes (that's why you hear mostly the booming bass of your next door neighbor's music system), and partly because the low notes are being played on organ pedals, not on the keyboard itself . After my 1968 trip to Disneyland, I was unable to recall the melody of the Treehouse song, but I could remember the incessant bass line, and that alone brought back plenty of memories of that attraction, which later became my favorite of any attraction in the park.

Updated: February 8, 2002