His best known work includes the Disney animated movies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as Little Shop of Horrors, Enchanted, Tangled and most recently, Sister Act the Musical.
Topsy Turvy
Alan Menken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leave your loops and milking stools
Coop the hens and pen the mules
Come one, come all
Close the churches and the schools
It's the day for breaking rules
Come and join the feast of
Fools!
Once a year we throw a party here in town
Once a year we turn all Paris upside down
Every man's a king and every king's a clown
Once again it's topsy turvy day
It's the day the devil in us gets released
It's the day we mock the prig and shock the priest
Everything is topsy turvy at the feast of fools
Topsy turvy
Everything is upsy daysy
Topsy turvy
Everyone is acting crazy
Dross is gold and and weeds are a bouquet
That's the way on topsy turvy day
Topsy turvy
Beat the drums and blow the trumpets
Topsy turvy
Join the bums and thieves and strumpets
Streaming in from Chartres to Calais
Scurvy knaves are extra scurvy
On the sixth of January
All because it's topsy turvy day
Come one, come all
Hurry, hurry here's your chance
See the mystery and romance
Come one, come all
See the finest girl in France
Make an entrance to entrance
Dance, la Esmeralda
Dance!
Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for
Here it is, you know exactly what's in store
Now's the time we laugh until our sides get sore
Now's the time we crown the King of Fools
You all remember last year's king?
So make a face that's horrible and frightening
Make a face as gruesome as a gargoyle's wing
For the face that's ugliest will be the King of Fools
Why?
Topsy turvy!
Ugly folks, forget your shyness
Topsy turvy!
You could soon be called Your Highness
Put your foulest features on display
Be the king of topsy turvy day
Everybody!
Once a year we throw a party here in town
Hail to the king
Once a year we turn all Paris upside down
Oh, what a king!
Once a year the ugliest will wear a crown
Girls, give a kiss!
Once a year on topsy turvy day
We've never had a king like this
And it's the day we do the things that we deplore
On the other three hundred and sixty-four
Once a year we love to drop in
Where the beer is never stoppin'
For the chance to pop some popinjay
And pick a king who'll put the top
In Topsy Turvy
Topsy turvy
Mad and crazy, upsy daysy, Topsy Turvy Day!
The song Topsy Turvy is a playful and ironic anthem that celebrates the Feast of Fools in Paris, a traditional celebration that takes place once a year where everything is turned upside down, and the usual order of things is reversed. The lyrics urge people to leave their daily lives behind and forget about their duties, social norms, and obligations, to join the party, break every rule, and embody their wild and uninhibited selves. The song contrasts the ordinary and the extraordinary, the serious and the frivolous, urging people to embrace the absurd and to celebrate life's contradictions. It is also a critique of the rigid and oppressive social norms that curtail people's freedom and creativity.
The song was composed by Alan Menken for the Disney movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and it was featured during the film's opening sequence. The music is a mix of different styles, from Medieval chants to rock and roll, and it features complex rhythms, a large choral ensemble, and a catchy melody. The song's lyrics were written by Stephen Schwartz, who employed humor and irony to capture the festive and carnivalesque spirit of the Feast of Fools. The phrase "Topsy Turvy" is an idiomatic expression used to describe something that is turned upside down or chaotic, and it reflects the song's primary theme.
Line by Line Meaning
Come one, come all
Everyone is invited to this event
Leave your loops and milking stools
Forget your responsibilities
Coop the hens and pen the mules
Put your animals away
Close the churches and the schools
Ignore authority
It's the day for breaking rules
This is a day for wild behavior
Come and join the feast of Fools!
Everyone is welcome to indulge in reckless merrymaking
Once a year we throw a party here in town
This is a yearly event
Once a year we turn all Paris upside down
This is a wild and disruptive event
Every man's a king and every king's a clown
Everyone participates regardless of status
Once again it's topsy turvy day
The event is happening again
It's the day the devil in us gets released
People feel free to indulge their darker impulses
It's the day we mock the prig and shock the priest
Authority figures are subject to ridicule
Everything is topsy turvy at the feast of fools
Normality is flipped on its head
Topsy turvy
Everything is chaotic
Everything is upsy daysy
Everything is in disarray
Topsy turvy
Everything is jumbled
Everyone is acting crazy
People are behaving erratically
Dross is gold and and weeds are a bouquet
Ugly things are celebrated
That's the way on topsy turvy day
This is the norm during this event
Topsy turvy
More chaos
Beat the drums and blow the trumpets
Noisy celebrations
Join the bums and thieves and strumpets
Social norms are thrown out the window
Streaming in from Chartres to Calais
People from all over are coming to join the event
Scurvy knaves are extra scurvy
Even the most disreputable people are having fun
On the sixth of January
This event happens on a specific day
All because it's topsy turvy day
The reason for the day's wildness
Hurry, hurry here's your chance
Get in on the action
See the mystery and romance
Experience the unusual and exciting
See the finest girl in France
Marvel at beautiful things
Make an entrance to entrance
Arrive in style
Dance, la Esmeralda, Dance!
Enjoy the entertainment
Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for
The event is about to begin
Here it is, you know exactly what's in store
The event is predictable
Now's the time we laugh until our sides get sore
Let loose and enjoy yourself
Now's the time we crown the King of Fools
The event's highlight
You all remember last year's king?
Reflect on past events
So make a face that's horrible and frightening
Join in the competition for King of Fools
Make a face as gruesome as a gargoyle's wing
The uglier the better
For the face that's ugliest will be the King of Fools
The winner will be the most repulsive
Ugly folks, forget your shyness
Even the unattractive can win
You could soon be called Your Highness
An opportunity for social elevation
Put your foulest features on display
Embrace your ugliness
Be the king of topsy turvy day
Win the top prize
Once a year we love to drop in
People look forward to this event
Where the beer is never stoppin'
Drinking is a big part of the celebration
For the chance to pop some popinjay
To have a go at those in authority
And pick a king who'll put the top
To win the King of Fools competition
In Topsy Turvy
In this topsy-turvy event
Mad and crazy, upsy daysy, Topsy Turvy Day!
A fitting description of the event
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alan Menken, Stephen Laurence Schwartz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ravengirl0814
I wanna have an actual event like this in the Disney Parks.
Alexis Blake
Same
Matthew Flugstad
I think there was around the time the film was released, there's a video online
BambooShadow
I love how tight / correct the orchestra is playing the offbeats at 1:35 and onwards - great musicians!
cran08rb
The masterful mind of Alan maken to utilize sound and put them together
The Hourglass
Musically speaking, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a real treasure!
mwaters
Nasser Nasoon Everything speaking*
⛧ 𝔈𝔰𝔪𝔢𝔯𝔞𝔩𝔡𝔞 ⛧
It is a treasure in every ways
Patrick Giordan
Definitely a Disney film for adults, not children as much
Zink Hero of Youtube
Patrick Giordan Except for the Gargoyles