Julie Andrews got her big break when her stepfather introduced her to Val Parnell, whose Moss Empires controlled prominent venues in London. Andrews made her professional solo debut at the London Hippodrome singing the difficult aria "Je Suis Titania" from Mignon as part of a musical revue called "Starlight Roof" on 22 October 1947.
Andrews gained fame at a young age in 1950s Britain by acting and singing on light entertainment radio programmes such as "Educating Archie". She rose to international prominence after starring in Broadway musicals such as My Fair Lady and Camelot, as well as musical films like Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965).
Andrews had a major revival of her film career in the 2000s, in children's films such as The Princess Diaries (2001), its sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), and the Shrek animated films (2004-2007). In 2005, Andrews made her debut as a stage director with a revival of The Boy Friend, in which she also made her Broadway acting debut in 1954.
She was married with Blake Edwards in 1965 until his death in 2010.
Edelweiss
Julie Andrews Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every morning you greet me
Small and white
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my home-land forever
Small and white
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my home-land forever
The song "Edelweiss" is from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The Sound of Music" and is sung by the Captain Georg von Trapp (played by Christopher Plummer) to his children as a lullaby. The song is written as a tribute to his beloved Austria, specifically the edelweiss flower, which has become a symbol of the country. Though simple, the song embodies the Captain's deep love and patriotism for his homeland, even as he is forced to leave due to the growing threat of Nazi Germany.
The lyrics of the song describe the beauty of the edelweiss flower, which greets the Captain every morning with its small and white, yet clean and bright petals. The Captain wishes for the flower to bloom and grow forever, just as he wishes for his homeland to remain safe and protected. The repetition of the phrase "bloom and grow forever" emphasizes the Captain's hope and prayer for a lasting peace and prosperity for Austria.
Overall, "Edelweiss" is a poignant and heartfelt song that expresses the love and nostalgia for a home that the characters must leave behind. It also speaks to the universal longing for safety, security, and a sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Edelweiss, edelweiss
This song is an ode to the Edelweiss flower that is beloved by the people of Austria and has become a symbol of national pride.
Every morning you greet me
The singer is greeted by the Edelweiss each morning, which symbolizes the natural beauty of Austria and its people.
Small and white
The Edelweiss is a delicate and rare flower that is treasured for its beauty and purity.
Clean and bright
The flower is a symbol of hope and renewal, bringing light and joy to those who see it.
You look happy to meet me
The singer feels welcomed by the Edelweiss, as if the flower is a friend who is happy to see her.
Blossom of snow
The Edelweiss grows in the mountains of Austria, where the snow and cold help it to thrive.
May you bloom and grow
The singer wishes for the Edelweiss to continue to flourish and bring joy to future generations of Austrians.
Bloom and grow forever
The singer hopes that the beauty and spirit of the Edelweiss will endure for eternity.
Bless my home-land forever
The singer prays for Austria to be blessed and protected by the spirit of the Edelweiss, which represents the heart and soul of the nation.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Robin Spielberg, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Ii Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheSmithDorian
She's actually 60 years old here. Without question the most talented artist that Britain has ever produced. Her voice has, quite naturally, lost much of its high end range here (although she compensates for that with excellent technique) but as a child she was a prodigy and in her 20's and 30's her voice was as close to perfect as it's possible to get. A brilliant dancer and actress and a genuinely nice person - which is all the more remarkable for someone so talented.
In a word 'class'.
BD
She's born in '35, so if the title is to be correct then she's actually 45-50 here
ivan pj
very talented and an inspiration but Britain has produced many other equally if not more talented vocalists. Freddie Mercury is up there for me, as well as Sir Elton John
TheSmithDorian
TigerBunny
The title is not correct. This is actually from 'Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II(6 Mar. 1995).
TheSmithDorian
ivan pj
I actually said 'the most talented artist that Britain ever produced' not vocalist. But as a vocalist I'd say that Mercury was possibly the best male voice but he's not better than Andrews. Try this;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtEFcqNAFlU
And Elton John ... really ?
benjiebarker
she lost her voice after surgery to remove nodules in her throat. surgeon damaged part of her vocal cords
Edelweiss Lim
i've never been so proud and thankful in my life. My name is Edelweiss and to be very honest, i used to be very embarrassed about my name. Maybe because some people pronounce it wrong or they make fun of it. But after hearing this song, i feel relief, Edelweiss is not a common name now a days and im content and happy to have a very lovely and unique name. I'm thankful. :)
Martyn Notman
Bless! Glad its made you happy!
Emma Taub
It will be a sad day when this woman passes on, may that be years and years ahead of us. She is responsible for so much of my childhood, it will truly be a day of tears for millions.
Daniel Kramer
Julie Andrews has the voice of an angel and we are so lucky that she got to share it with us.