Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States. He is the head of the film music division at DreamWorks studios and works with other composers through the company that he founded, Remote Control Productions, formerly known as Media Ventures. His studio in Santa Monica, California has an extensive range of computer equipment and keyboards, allowing demo versions of film scores to be created quickly.
Zimmer's works are notable for integrating electronic music sounds with traditional orchestral arrangements. He has received four Grammy Awards, three Classical BRIT Awards, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award. He was also named on the list of Top 100 Living Geniuses, published by The Daily Telegraph.
Zimmer was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany on 12th September 1957, and moved to London as a teenager. While he lived in London, Zimmer wrote advertising jingles for Air-Edel Associates. Zimmer began his musical career playing keyboards and synthesisers. In 1980 he worked with The Buggles, a New Wave band formed in 1977 with Trevor Horn, Geoff Downes, and Bruce Woolley, appearing briefly in the video for "Video Killed the Radio Star" (1979).
In the 1980s, Zimmer worked with film composer Stanley Myers, a prolific film composer who composed scores for over sixty films. Zimmer and Myers co-founded the London-based Lillie Yard recording studio. Together, Myers and Zimmer worked on fusing the traditional orchestral sound with state-of-the-art electronics. Some of their first movies with this new sound include "Moonlighting" (1982), "Success is the Best Revenge" (1984), "Insignificance" (1985), and "My Beautiful Launderette" (1985). In 1986, Zimmer joined David Byrne and Ryuichi Sakamoto on their Oscar-winning score for "The Last Emperor" (1988).
Soon afterwards, Zimmer began working on his own solo projects. During his solo career years, Zimmer experimented and combined the use of old and new musical technologies. His first solo score was for Chris Menges’s film "A World Apart" (1988). However, the turning point in his career came later that year when he was asked to compose a score for Barry Levinson’s film "Rain Man" (1988). In the score, Zimmer uses synthesizers mixed with steel drums. The score was nominated for an Academy Award in 1989. A year later Zimmer was asked to compose a score for Bruce Beresford's "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989), which won a Grammy Award 1991.
In 1994, Zimmer won his biggest commercial hit for Disney’s "The Lion King" (1994). He wanted to go to South Africa himself to record the soundtrack, but couldn't because he had a police record there for making subversive films. "The Lion King" soundtrack won numerous awards, including an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and two Grammys. It was then adapted for the Broadway musical version, which won the Tony for Best Musical in 1998.
Since the success of "The Lion King", Zimmer has written numerous film scores. His hundredth composition was for "The Last Samurai" (2003), for which he won both a Golden Globe and a Broadcast Film Critics nomination in 2004. After composing over a hundred film scores, Zimmer finally performed live for the first time in concert with a hundred-piece orchestra and a hundred-person choir at the twenty-seventh Annual Flanders International Film Festival.
He has received numerous honours and awards, including: Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in Film Composition from the National Board of Review, Frederick Loewe Award in 2003 at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, ASCAP’s Henry Mancini Award for Lifetime Achievement, and BMI's prestigious Richard Kirk Award for lifetime achievement in 1996. Today, Zimmer is considered to be the father of integrating the electronic musical world with traditional orchestral arrangements.
Zimmer's first wife was a model, Vicki Carolin, with whom he has a daughter, model Zoe Zimmer. Zimmer lives in Los Angeles with his second wife Suzanne Zimmer with whom he has an additional three children.
Quattro grammy, tre golden globe, due oscar; le sue colonne sonore sono tra le più amate della storia del cinema!
Dune, Spider-Man 2, Il Cavaliere Oscuro, Interstellar, Il Codice Da Vinci, Pearl Harbor, Il Gladiatore, Mission Impossible, Inception, Pirati dei Caraibi, Spirit, Wonder Woman, Madagascar – tutti i più grandi successi di Hans Zimmer – verranno eseguiti dalla famosa orchestra sinfonica di Kiev, Lords Of The Sound, riconosciuta in tutta Europa per la sua professionalità e bravura.
Nella sua carriera Hans Zimmer ha vinto quattro Grammy, due Oscar alla migliore colonna sonora su dodici candidature, tre Golden Globe e un Brit Award: è uno dei compositori contemporanei più influenti che ha trovato la sua fama dopo l’uscita del film cult “Rain Man”.
“Quando ho ideato la musica per Rain Man, ho continuato a pensare: non cercare di soffocare i personaggi. Non venire in primo piano. Raymond, il personaggio principale, non capisce davvero dove si trova. Vede il mondo in modo diverso da noi… Perché non creare “musica del mondo” per un mondo che esiste solo nella sua testa?” ricorda il compositore.
Da quel film e quella prima candidatura all’Oscar i migliori registi di Hollywood si sono messi in fila per lavorare con lui. La sua musica ha impressionato così tanto la Disney che gli ha commissionato la colonna sonora per il cartone animato “Il Re Leone”: il tema musicale del cartone animato ha portato al compositore tre dei premi più prestigiosi: “Oscar”, “Golden Globe” e “Grammy”.
Nella sua carriera Zimmer ha continuato ad essere premiato per i suoi lavori, diventando davvero il numero uno a Hollywood, tanto che ormai una cerimonia degli Oscar è rara senza una sua candidatura: anche nel 2022 ha vinto con il film Dune.
La straordinaria bravura dell’orchestra Lords of the Sound e le migliori composizioni di Hans Zimmer, faranno vivere al pubblico sensazioni indimenticabili, in un’atmosfera fiabesca e piena di bellezza.
Un concerto sinfonico, che riproporrà quelle che sono tra le colonne sonore più amate della storia del cinema, impreziosito dalla presenza di una rock band e una stupefacente produzione visual con luci e effetti speciali, potenti parti vocali di solisti e coristi e soprattutto un’energia inarrestabile che conquisterà il pubblico in sala.
Shiver My Timbers
Hans Zimmer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo ho heave ho
There are men whose hearts are as black as coal
Yo ho heave ho
Inkspots: And they sailed their ship cross the ocean blue
A blood-thirsty captain and a cut-throat crew
Alligator: It's as dark a tale as was ever told
Of the lust for treasure and the love of gold
Yo ho heave ho
There are hungers as strong as the wind and tides
Yo ho heave ho
Possums: And those buccaneers drowned their sins in rum
Monkey: The devil himself would have to call them scum
Crabs: Every man aboard would have killed his mate
For a bag of guineas or a piece of eight
Alligator: A piece of eight
Octopus: A piece of eight
Mosquitos: Five, six, seven, eight
Stone Faces: Hulla wacka ulla wacka something not right
Many wicked icky things gonna happen tonight
Hulla wacka ulla wacka sailor man beware
Crabs: When there's money in de ground dere's murder in de air
Totems: Murder in de air
Stone Faces: One more time now
Pirates: Shiver my timbers, shiver my bones
Yo ho heave ho
There are secrets that sleep with old Davy Jones
Yo ho heave ho
Snakes: When the mainsail's set and the anchor's weighed
There's no turning back from any course that's laid
Skulls: And when greed and villainy sail the sea
You can bet your boots there'll be treachery
Pirates: Shiver my timbers, shiver my sails
Dead mean tell no tales
The lyrics of Hans Zimmer's song Shiver my Timbers tell the story of a group of pirates who set sail on the ocean, led by a blood-thirsty captain and his cut-throat crew whose hearts are as black as coal. The tale is dark and revolves around the greed for treasure and love of gold, which consumed these buccaneers. They would drown their sins in rum, and even the devil himself would call them scum. Each man aboard would kill his mate for a bag of guineas or piece of eight (a silver coin worth eight reals). The pirates are portrayed as hungry for riches, ruthless, and disloyal. However, the pirate's tale comes with a warning that secrets sleep with old Davy Jones and when greed and villainy sail the sea, you can bet your boots there'll be treachery.
The lyrics of the song capture the fear and tension that one might experience on the high-seas, where dangers are lurking at every corner. The shivering timbers, souls, and bones suggest the danger and instability of the pirate ship as it navigates through the ocean. Interestingly, the song captures different animal sounds, from inkspots to possums, crabs, and mosquitos, giving the imagery of an adventure through a rich and diverse ecosystem.
Line by Line Meaning
Shiver my timbers, shiver my soul
Expressing surprise or shock about something, typically related to danger or fear.
Yo ho heave ho
A nautical chant used by pirates to keep time while performing manual labor.
There are men whose hearts are as black as coal
Referring to the cruel and heartless nature of some individuals.
Inkspots: And they sailed their ship cross the ocean blue
Describing how the black-hearted men sailed across the sea.
A blood-thirsty captain and a cut-throat crew
Illustrating the violent and ruthless nature of the men aboard the ship.
It's as dark a tale as was ever told
Emphasizing the grim and sinister nature of the story being told.
Of the lust for treasure and the love of gold
Stating the motivations behind the actions of the men aboard the ship.
Shiver my timbers, shiver my sides
Expressing the artist's continued shock and fear.
There are hungers as strong as the wind and tides
Referring to the powerful desires that drive some individuals, often leading to questionable or dangerous behavior.
And those buccaneers drowned their sins in rum
Indicating that the pirates drank to forget their misdeeds and guilt.
The devil himself would have to call them scum
Highlighting the extreme wickedness of the pirates.
Every man aboard would have killed his mate
Stating how far the pirates were willing to go to get their hands on treasure.
For a bag of guineas or a piece of eight
Referring to the currency used by pirates and the lengths they would go to acquire it.
A piece of eight
Repeating the phrase used earlier, further emphasizing the importance of this currency to the pirates.
Five, six, seven, eight
Continuing the count used in the earlier portion of the song, further setting the rhythm and tempo of the piece.
Hulla wacka ulla wacka something not right
Adding a sense of foreboding to the song, hinting that things will soon take a turn for the worse.
Many wicked icky things gonna happen tonight
Further indicating that something sinister is about to occur.
Hulla wacka ulla wacka sailor man beware
Issuing a warning to sailors and other potential victims of pirate attacks.
When there's money in de ground dere's murder in de air
Implying that greed often leads to violence and bloodshed.
Murder in de air
Repeating the warning given earlier, further emphasizing its importance.
Shiver my timbers, shiver my bones
Repeating the initial line of the song, underscoring the continued shock and fear experienced by the artist.
There are secrets that sleep with old Davy Jones
Referring to the idea that death and tragedy at sea result in spirits and secrets being claimed by the ocean and its mythical figurehead.
When the mainsail's set and the anchor's weighed
Describing a ship as it prepares to set sail.
There's no turning back from any course that's laid
Suggesting that once a decision is made and a course is set, there can be no turning back or changing direction.
And when greed and villainy sail the sea
Referring to the corruption and wickedness that can occur on the ocean.
You can bet your boots there'll be treachery
Assuming that betrayal and deceit are likely to occur in such an environment.
Shiver my timbers, shiver my sails
Continuing to express the singer's fear and trepidation.
Dead mean tell no tales
A common phrase associated with piracy and suggesting that the dead are unable to reveal the secrets of the living.
Contributed by Nathan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
thesalanian
Seriously, some of these lyrics are legit total fire.
Shiver My Timbers, Shiver My Soul
Yo Ho Heave Ho
There are men who's hearts as black as coal
Yo Ho Heave Ho.
Really powerful opening, the mood is impeccable. I just love how the first statement isn't about treasure, or the sea. It's about the evil of man and his willingness to eat himself.
It's a dark a tale as was ever told
Of a lust for treasure and a love of gold...
I love this line, because it's basically saying that this is just one of a million stories just like it. But this one is the best.
Shiver My Timbers, Shiver my sides
Yo ho heave ho
There are hungers as strong as the winds and tides
Yo ho heave ho
I freaking love this line, again, I just love the fact that it's just telling you matter-of-fact that men can be evil, and not just evil, but powerful.
And those buccaneers drowned their sins in rum,
The devil himself would have to call'em scum!
Every man aboard would have killed his mate,
for a bag of ginnies or a piece-of-eight.
Just gorgeous imagery, the sight of these miserable salty pirates quietly murmuring, brutal bloody souls begrudgingly working with each other each with the intention of betraying everyone around him.
Sailormen beware,
when there's money in the ground,
there's murder in the air.
Again, I just love the simplicity of this line, heralding what's about to come.
When the main sail's in and the anchors weighed
there's no turning back from any course that's laid,
and when greed and villainy sail the sea,
you can bet your boots there'll be treachery.
And at last, we have a final warning about the inevitable destiny of those who live by the sword. There's no turning back.
Shiver my timbers, shiver my sails,
dead men tell no tails.
and then we switch to Flint's pov, like he himself is relishing in his own deeds, such a scoundrel.
Mikl Pickle
Shiver my timbers, shiver my soul
Yo oh heave ho
There are men whose hearts as as black as coal
Yo oh heave ho
And they sailed their ship cross the ocean blue
A blood-thirsty captain and a cut-throat crew
It's as dark a tale as was ever told
Of the lust for treasure and the love of gold
Shiver my timbers, shiver my sides
Yo oh heave ho
There are hungers as strong as the wind and tides
Yo oh heave ho
And those buccaneers drowned their sins in rum
The devil himself would have to call them scum
Every man aboard would have killed his mate
For a bag of guineas or a piece of eight
A piece of eight
A piece of eight
Five, six, seven, eight
Hulla wacka ulla wacka something not right
Many wicked icky things gonna happen tonight
Hulla wacka ulla wacka sailor man beware
When de money in the ground dere's murder in de air
Murder in de air
One more time now
Shiver my timbers, shiver my bones
Yo oh heave ho
There are secrets that sleep with old Davy Jones
Yo oh heave ho
When the mainsail's set and the anchor's weighed
There's no turning back from any course that's laid
And when greed and villainy sail the sea
You can bet your boots there'll be treachery
Shiver my timbers, shiver my sails
Dead men tell no tales
Mike Dubo
Especially with how some of their villains get bumped off:
Evil Queen gets crushed by a boulder.
Maleficent gets stabbed in the heart.
Ratigan falls from Big Ben's tower.
Gaston falls from Beast's castle.
Frollo falls (getting a little repetative here) into molten material (at least its spiced up).
Scar gets EATEN ALIVE.
Clayton gets hung by vines.
Barbosa gets shot.
Shan Yu gets blown up by fireworks.
Favilier gets dragged to the Other Side.
And, saving the most gruesome for last, the Horned King literally GETTING TORN PIECE BY PIECE BY THE A CURSED CAULDRON.
Yeah, Disney should have had no complaints with Burton's work.
MolemanNineThousand
Easily the most unironically badass musical number in Muppet history.
Cindy Brooks
MolemanNineThousand to
Rene Branstetter
To quote Harley Quinn
YA DAMN STRAIGHT!!!
capmeme
Yup
Krystal Titus
100%
Ricky Moran Jr
MolemanNineThousand i agree, i especially love the rhymes throughout the song
Airlock
"Okay Hans, it's a movie about pirates that are puppets. We don't need anything crazy."
Hans Zimmer:
WolfOfJustice
Of course it's Han Zimmer, who else would come with such a legendary tune.
Elizabeth Alvarado
He wrote the score for the "Pirates of the Caribbean", don't expect anything less.
Wintersaga
Zimmer wrote the instrumental score for the film, but his only writing credit on any of the songs is "Boom Shakalaka!". All of the songs, including this one, were written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil.