Disney
Dave Tomlinson/Dick Van Dyke Lyrics
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Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee
A sweep is as lucky
As lucky can be
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Good luck will rub off when
I shakes 'ands with you
Or blow me a kiss
And that's lucky too
Now as the ladder of life
'As been strung
You may think a sweep's
On the bottommost rung
Though I spends me time
In the ashes and smoke
In this 'ole wide world
There's no 'appier bloke
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee
A sweep is as lucky
As lucky can be
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-oo
Good luck will rub off when
I shakes 'ands with you
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee
A sweep is as lucky
As lucky can be
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-oo
Good luck will rub off when
I shakes 'ands with you
I choose me bristles with pride
Yes, I do
A broom for the shaft
And a brush for the flume
Up where the smoke is
All billered and curled
'Tween pavement and stars
Is the chimney sweep world
When the's 'ardly no day
Nor 'ardly no night
There's things 'alf in shadow
And 'alf way in light
On the roof tops of London
Coo, what a sight
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee
When you're with a sweep
You're in glad company
No where is there
A more 'appier crew
Than them wot sings
Chim chim cher-ee
Chim cher-oo
Chim chim cher-ee
Chim chim cher-ee chim cher-oo
The song "Chim Chim Cher-ee" is a classic Disney tune from the 1964 movie Mary Poppins. It is performed in the movie by Dick Van Dyke, who plays the character of Bert, a chimney sweep. The song is upbeat and cheerful, with a catchy melody that makes it instantly recognizable.
The lyrics are about the life of a chimney sweep and the luck that comes with it. The chorus repeats the phrase "Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee" several times, which is meant to sound like the sound of a chimney sweep's brushes sweeping the inside of a chimney. The song talks about how lucky a chimney sweep is, despite the dirty and difficult work they do. They are able to see the world from the rooftops of London and experience the beauty of the city from a unique perspective.
The song's lyrics also mention the ladder of life, which is a metaphor for social class, and how a chimney sweep is often seen as being on the lowest rung. However, the song suggests that this is not necessarily true, as chimney sweeps are happy and content with their work and their lives.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the joy and optimism that can be found in even the most humble of occupations, and the positive impact that can come from seeing the world from a different perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
Chim chiminey
The sound made by the chimney sweep's broom
Chim chim cher-ee
A catchy tune that represents good luck
A sweep is as lucky
Being a chimney sweep is a lucky profession
As lucky can be
There is no luckier profession than being a chimney sweep
Good luck will rub off when
Good luck is contagious
I shakes 'ands with you
Touching the hands of a chimney sweep is good luck
Or blow me a kiss
Blowing a kiss to a chimney sweep brings good luck
And that's lucky too
Even simple actions can bring good luck
Now as the ladder of life
Commenting on the hierarchical structure of society
'As been strung
Society has erected this ladder
You may think a sweep's
Society may view a chimney sweep as
On the bottommost rung
As being at the lowest level of the social ladder
Though I spends me time
Even though the chimney sweep has a low status job
In the ashes and smoke
He spends his days in dirty, undesirable conditions
In this 'ole wide world
In the world at large
There's no 'appier bloke
The chimney sweep is still a happy and content person
I choose me bristles with pride
The chimney sweep takes pride in the tools of his trade
A broom for the shaft
A long-handled broom for reaching high chimneys
And a brush for the flume
A brush for cleaning out the soot and grime from chimneys
Up where the smoke is
In the high, billowing smoke from the chimneys
All billered and curled
The smoke is thick and swirling
'Tween pavement and stars
The chimney sweep works in the space between the streets and the sky
Is the chimney sweep world
The world of chimney sweeps is a unique one
When the's 'ardly no day
When there is barely any daylight
Nor 'ardly no night
And barely any nighttime
There's things 'alf in shadow
Half of things are in shadow
And 'alf way in light
And half are in light
On the roof tops of London
On the tops of London's buildings
Coo, what a sight
It's an amazing sight to behold
When you're with a sweep
Being with a chimney sweep
You're in glad company
Is being in the company of someone who brings good luck
No where is there
There is no place where
A more 'appier crew
A happier group of people
Than them wot sings
Those who sing
Chim chim cher-ee
That catchy tune that represents good luck
Chim cher-oo
Another catchy tune that represents good luck
Chim chim cher-ee
That catchy tune that represents good luck
Chim chim cher-ee chim cher-oo
The repetition of these phrases reinforces the good luck charm that they are believed to be.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: RICHARD M. SHERMAN, ROBERT B. SHERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alking7655
I can even pinpoint the moment on his face. The bit where Bert sings, "When your little tykes are crying, you haven't time to dry the tears; and see their grateful little faces smiling up at you, because their Dad, he always knows just what to do."
It's the sudden realisation that he can't blame anyone else anymore, it is a case of he has finally awakened to how his children have needed him, yet he neglected to see it.
To draw an even longer bow perhaps, he realised that the advertisement the kids wrote was meant for him and Winifred (him in particular) and that he should have listened.
A 'job description' for him, of which he gave no regard because he didn't see any initial gain or importance.
However, hindsight is bittersweet.
@FantasiusTriton1993
You got to grind, grind, grind
at that grindstone
though childhood slips
like sand through a sieve.
And all too soon they've up and grown,
and then they've flown,
and it's too late
for you to give
Just that spoonful of sugar
to help the medicine
go down.
The medicine
go do-own.
Medicine
go down.
Those are probably my favorite words from any Disney movie ever!
@alking7655
Absolutely love this scene. Bert shows George that he should take time to appreciate the small joys of life, yet through its simplicity, it is deeply profound.
"A spoonful of sugar, that is all it takes. It changes bread and water into tea and cakes." - Take some time to picture a happy thought when at your lowest.
"A spoonful of sugar goes a long long way, have yourself a healthy helping every day."
- A metaphor for how showing a little bit of kindness and compassion can make someone else feel better and furthermore makes you feel good.
But the one that is most profound and helps George realise that she was coming to help him.
"You've got to grind, grind, grind at that grindstone, though childhood slips like sand, through a sieve. And all too soon they've up and grown and then they've flown, and it's too late for you to give."
Yes, money is important, but the joy of your children as children is fleeting and much more precious, and it will be a major change if you don't prepare for it. Treasure it while you can.
@aminsadeghpour1549
good point:
Mr Banks should imagine this:
if he's not there for the kids when they're young pretty soon they will be grown up and on with their lives and they will not want a relationship with him.
like Burt said:
"all too soon they've up and grown, and then they've flown, and it's too late for you to give.
@aminsadeghpour1549
I have several thoughts here:
I honestly don't think Mr. Banks MEANT to be a bad father. I think deep down he loved his children.
I think he made a mistake that some father's make. They think working and supporting the family is important.
I think Mr. Banks was a little misguided. he had the right idea but it was kind of in the wrong direction. Sure, it's important to support your family but you also have to find the balance between supporting your family and having time for the kids when they are young.
I think this scene was the logical conclusion to Mr. Banks understanding that his children need his love. I think at the end when Mr. Banks got his job back he shortened his hours or even took some days off to be with the kids.
@violinguy9869
A man has dreams of walking with giants
To carve his niche in the edifice of time
Before the mortar of his zeal
Has a chance to congeal
The cup is dashed from his lips
The flame is snuffed aborning
He's brought to rack and ruin in his prime
My world was calm, well ordered, exemplary
Then came this person, with chaos in her wake
And now my life's ambitions go with one fell blow
It's quite a bitter pill to take
A spoonful of sugar that is all it takes
It changes bread and water into tea and cakes
A spoonful of sugar goes a long, long way
'Ave yourself a 'ealthy 'elpin' ev'ry day
You're a man of 'igh position
Esteemed by your peers
And when your little tykes are cryin'
You 'aven't time to dry their tears
And see them grateful little faces
Smilin' up at you
Because their dad, 'e always knows
Just what to do
You've got to grind, grind, grind
At that grindstone
Though child'ood slips like sand through a sieve
And all too soon they've up grown
And then they've flown
And it's too late for you to give
Just that spoonful of sugar
To 'elp the medicine go down
The medicine go down, the medicine go down.
@lordalessan
What I absolutely love about Bert is that not only does he make the dad realize how he needs to spend more time with his children, he also talks to the children about how they need to be more kinder and understanding towards their father, who really has no one to lean on when he is stressed at his job. Bert never took sides.
@benitahiestermann1186
Agreed👏👏Bert is an incredible character
@operation1968
That's a good point. I like that
@paulieboy6644
One of the most compassionate characters in any movie. Recognizes that we’re all trying our best, most of us just need to change our perspective
@HolyKhaaaaan
He took the best side: he's on the side of the family working together and having patience with each other.
@expletivedeleted7853
Only Dick Van Dyke could play such an amazing person! Interestingly he still sings and dances to this day, pushing nearly 100 also! His kindness and good nature have given him good health all these years!
@scottishjedi1522
Say what you want about the terrible accent, but Dick Van Dyke still gave a fantastic performance. So full of warmth and charm.
@HolyKhaaaaan
I'm flabbergasted he managed to do it drunk. At the movie premiere he said he didn't remember any of it.
He really is an amazing actor.
@theself5738
His accent is part of the joy!!
@nicholas104
I really feel like people are a bit too harsh on him. He put on a fun performance.