He has appeared on "Shout", released by Shout for England in 2010, as England's unofficial World Cup song. It reached #1 in the UK charts.
His latest singing endeavor is "The Greatest Gift", as used in the Sainsbury's 2016 Christmas advert. It can be streamed on Spotify, and can be downloaded from iTunes, with all profits going to charity.
Finale/Children Will Listen
James Corden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Halfway through the wood
Do not let it grieve you
No one leaves for good
You are not alone
No one is alone
Hold him to the light now
Things will be all right now
Tell him what you know
Once upon a time
(In a far-off kingdom there lay a small village at the edge of the woods)
Careful the things you say
Children will listen
Careful the things you do
Children will see
And learn
Guide them along the way
Children will glisten
Children will look to you
For which way to turn
To learn what to be
Careful before you say
"Listen to me"
Children will listen
Careful the wish you make
Wishes are children
Careful the path they take
Wishes come true
Not free
Careful the spell you cast
Not just on children
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you can see
And turn against you
Careful the tale you tell
That is the spell
Children will listen
The lyrics of James Corden's song Finale/Children Will Listen contains a great deal of wisdom and insight regarding the power of our words and actions on others. The opening lines of the song, "Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood, do not let it grieve you, no one leaves for good" seems to encourage the listener to take a broader perspective on life and relationships. The lines suggest that life is a journey, and that although people may enter and exit our lives for varied reasons and circumstances, we should not be consumed by despair or grief over those departures. Instead, the song is encouraging us to trust that all things will ultimately work out as they should.
The next segment of the song urges us to be careful with our words, mindful of how our messages and behaviors can impact those around us. The chorus emphasizes this point, declaring "Careful the things you say, children will listen, careful the things you do, children will see and learn." The song is acknowledging that children are always observing their elders and soaking in what they say and do. As such, it's important for adults to be cognizant of the impact they are having on young people.
The later segments bring all these themes together, reminding us that our actions, words, and wishes can have long-lasting effects that we might not anticipate. In grappling with these concepts, the song seems to urge us to be mindful of the power of our words and actions, to guide and inspire others with positivity, and to be humble and thoughtful in our interactions with people of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes people leave you
At times, people leave your life
Halfway through the wood
It often occurs when things are unfolding, not totally there yet
Do not let it grieve you
Don't allow it to disturb your peace
No one leaves for good
People may change, but they remain with you
You are not alone
You have others present for you
No one is alone
Being alone is not the same as being lonely
Hold him to the light now
Bring someone to the truth or make them see the brighter side
Let him see the glow
Allow someone to witness the positivity
Things will be all right now
Everything will turn out okay
Tell him what you know
Educate others with what you know
Once upon a time
In the past or in a far-off kingdom
(In a far-off kingdom there lay a small village at the edge of the woods)
Careful the things you say
Words have a powerful impact, so be cautious when speaking
Children will listen
Kids are always attentive and learn what they are taught
Careful the things you do
Actions speak louder than words, so be mindful of how you behave
Children will see
Kids observe and learn what their surrounding environment conveys
And learn
They take in all the lessons that life offers
Guide them along the way
Lead and assist them as they learn through life
Children will glisten
Kids shine bright when they know the right path
Children will look to you
Kids seek guidance and direction from their elders
For which way to turn
They are clueless of paths to take, so they look towards elders for direction
To learn what to be
They soak up the essence of what it takes to become a better person
Careful before you say
Be conscious of the words you choose to communicate
"Listen to me"
Don't use your authority to manipulate, persuade or coerce the kids to do things as it may lead to harmful effects.
Careful the wish you make
Be cautious with the desires you form
Wishes are children
Wishes are equivalent to children, so handle them tenderly
Careful the path they take
Be careful of the path you take to achieve your wishes
Wishes come true
You have a chance to make your desires come true
Not free
There may be an inevitable price to pay to accomplish your wishes
Careful the spell you cast
Be careful with the magic you cast
Not just on children
Not only kids are influenced, so be mindful when you use your influence
Sometimes the spell may last
The influence and effect may last beyond what you expect or imagine
Past what you can see
It may extend to areas beyond your knowledge, sight, or perception
And turn against you
It may backfire or affect you negatively
Careful the tale you tell
Be mindful of the stories you tell
That is the spell
Stories are a form of a spell that leaves an influential impact
Children will listen
Kids heed and recollect well the tales that are imparted to them
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aether413
BAKER
Shhh...please...
Maybe I just wasn't meant to have children-
BAKER'S WIFE
Don't say that! Of course you were meant to have children.
BAKER
But how can I go about being a father when I had no father to show me?
BAKER'S WIFE
Just calm the child
BAKER
Yes, calm the child
BAKER'S WIFE
Look, tell him the story of how it all happened.
Be father and mother you'll know what to do.
BAKER
Alone...
BAKER'S WIFE
Sometimes people leave you
Halfway through the wood.
Do not let it grieve you,
No one leaves for good.
You are not alone.
No one is alone.
Hold him to the light now,
Let him see the glow.
Things will be al right now.
Tell him what you know...
BAKER
Once upon a time, in a far off kingdom...
There lay a small village at the edge of the woods...
And in this village there a lived a young maiden...
A carefree young lad...
And a childless baker...
With his wife.
WITCH
Careful the things you say,
Children will listen.
Careful the things you do,
Children will see.
And learn.
Guide them along the way,
Children will glisten.
Children will look to you
For which way to turn,
To learn what to be.
Careful before you say
"Listen to me."
Children will listen.
ALL
Careful the wish you make,
Wishes are children.
Careful the path they take-
Wishes come true,
Not free
Careful the spell you cast,
Not just on children.
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you can see
And turn against you...
WITCH
Careful the tale you tell that is the spell.
Children will listen...
@sabrinaault
Maybe I just wasn't meant to have children
Don't say that of course you were meant to have children
But how can I go about being a father when I had no father to show for?
Just calm the child
Just calm the child.
Look, tell him the story of how it all happened be father and mother you'll know what to do.
Alone?
Sometimes people leave you, half way through the wood, do not let it grieve you, no one leaves for good, you are not alone, no one is alone. Hold him to the light now, let him see the glow, you will be alright now, tell him what you know.
Once upon a time in a far off kingdom, there lay a small village at the edge of the woods
Careful the things you say
And in this village
Children will listen
There was a young maiden
Careful the things you do
A care free young lad
Children will seee
And a childless baker
And learn
With his wife
Guide them along the way, children will glisten. Children will look to you, for which way to turn, to learn what to be.
Careful before you say, listen to me, children will listen.
Careful the wish you make, wishes are children. Careful the path they take, wishes come true, not free Careful the spell you cast, not just on children, sometimes the spell may last past what you can see, and turn agains you.
Careful the tale you tell, that is the spell. Children will listen.
@blxcktexrs6068
Sometimes people leave you
Halfway through the wood
Do not let it grieve you
No one leaves for good
You are not alone
No one is alone
Hold him to the light now
Let him see the glow
Things will be all right now
Tell him what you know
Once upon a time
(In a far-off kingdom there lay a small village at the edge of the woods)
Careful the things you say
Children will listen
Careful the things you do
Children will see
And learn
Guide them along the way
Children will glisten
Children will look to you
For which way to turn
To learn what to be
Careful before you say
"Listen to me"
Children will listen
Careful the wish you make
Wishes are children
Careful the path they take
Wishes come true
Not free
Careful the spell you cast
Not just on children
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you can see
And turn against you
Careful the tale you tell
That is the spell
Children will listen
@jamessnowe1197
For those who don't see, this entire play/film is about the woods, which represent the world, and how the world affects children. The whole movie is about children. Notice how the villain of the movie, the witch, looks like an awful person, but is really just a parent desperate to save the innocence of a child from the horrors of the world.
@allie_678
So true!
@funnycayoteaj3705
thts true wow i dint notice that
@ktfinnst3796
She was a villan?
@nataliecox5207
I never got that from watching the movie and I love that you put this on here because I see it now😱
@kylerivera3470
The witch wasn't so much of a villain as the people in the show perceived her as a villain. We can tell she isn't really evil, but the characters view her as the evil witch.
Also, I don't think the movie is JUST about children. I think it is about how the world affects people in general. After all, the adults also grow over the course of the movie. Well, I'd also be willing to accept an argument about how the adults (specifically Cinderella and the Baker) still had child-like aspects to them despite being physically grown up.
@mayamagination
"sometimes people leave you .. halfway through the wood"
@marekartist8441
I always get goosebumps at this part :'(
@hayleedickson-munn7312
+Marek Artist same
@merlinairiarte4497
minute?