Burton Lane (February 2, 1912 – January 5, 1997) was an American composer a… Read Full Bio ↴Burton Lane (February 2, 1912 – January 5, 1997) was an American composer and lyricist. His most popular and successful work is the musical Finian's Rainbow, "the score for which Lane will always be most remembered."

I Hear Music
Burton Lane Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I hear music, mighty fine music
The murmur of a morning breeze up there
The rattle of the milkman on the stair

Sure that's music, mighty fine music
The singing of a sparrow in the sky
The perking of the coffee right nearby

That's my favorite melody
You, my angel, phoning me

I hear music, mighty fine music
And anytime I think my world is wrong
I get me out of bed and sing this song

That's my favorite melody
You, my angel, phoning me

I hear music, mighty fine music

And anytime I think my world is wrong
I get me out of bed and sing this crazy song

Overall Meaning

In Burton Lane's "I Hear Music", the singer expresses their love and appreciation for the sounds that surround them, finding even the most mundane noises to be musical. The first stanza describes the beauty in seemingly insignificant sounds, such as the rustling of leaves or the footsteps of the milkman on the stairs. The second stanza focuses on the singer's personal favorite melody - the sound of their lover's voice on the phone.

The final stanza reveals the true power of music for the singer. Despite any troubles in the world or in their own life, the act of singing this "crazy song" brings them joy and helps to lift their spirits. The lyrics suggest that music can be found in even the most unexpected places and that it has the ability to transform our perspectives and attitudes towards life.

Overall, the song could be seen as an ode to the little things in life and the power of music to connect us to the world around us.

Line by Line Meaning

I hear music, mighty fine music
The singer can hear pleasant sounds, possibly referring to literal music or just the sounds of daily life.

The murmur of a morning breeze up there
The soft sound of wind blowing in the morning, possibly coming from outside the singer's window or door.

The rattle of the milkman on the stair
The sound of the milkman's delivery equipment clinking/clattering as he ascends the stairs to deliver milk to the singer's home.

Sure that's music, mighty fine music
The sounds mentioned above are confirmed to be music by the artist.

The singing of a sparrow in the sky
The sound of a bird singing high up in the air, possibly outside the artist's window or in the surrounding environment.

The perking of the coffee right nearby
The sounds of coffee brewing in close proximity to the singer, possibly in their own kitchen.

That's my favorite melody
The collective sounds mentioned previously are the singer's favorite type of music.

You, my angel, phoning me
The sound of the artist's loved one's voice over the phone is also a beloved 'melody' to the artist.

And anytime I think my world is wrong
Whenever the artist is feeling down or upset about their life, they have a solution.

I get me out of bed and sing this song
The artist chooses to physically get out of bed and sing this particular tune to lift their spirits and improve their mood.

And anytime I think my world is wrong
The singer reiterates how they feel in certain situations and how they handle it.

I get me out of bed and sing this crazy song
The artist emphasizes that the song they sing to make themselves feel better is an upbeat and possibly silly/crazy tune that they enjoy.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BURTON LANE, FRANK LOESSER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS