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.
It Might As Well Be Spring
Julie Andrews Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string
I'd say that I had spring fever
But I know it isn't spring
I am starry-eyed and vaguely discontented
Like a nightingale without a song to sing
Oh, why should I have Spring fever
I keep wishing I were somewhere else
Walking down a strange new street
Hearing words that I have never heard
From a girl I've yet to meet
I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud or a robin on the wing
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way
That it might as well be spring
It might as well be spring
The song "It Might As Well Be Spring" is a classic tune written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for the 1945 musical "State Fair," which tells the story of a Midwestern family preparing to attend the State Fair. The singer, Margy Frake, sings this song expressing her discontent with her mundane life and yearning for new experiences. The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of Margy's feelings, as she compares herself to a willow tree swaying in the wind and a marionette dangling from strings. She mentions having a "Spring fever," which is typically associated with the youthful exuberance of the season, but avoids saying that it's actually spring because she doesn't want her feelings to be limited by the seasonal connotation.
Margy's general unease is reflected in her desire to be somewhere else, walking down an unfamiliar street and hearing new words from a girl she has yet to meet. She feels as busy as a spider weaving intricate daydreams, and as giddy as a baby on a swing. Though she hasn't experienced the usual signs of spring, such as blooming flowers or the return of robins, she says she feels "gay in a melancholy way." The line "it might as well be spring" is a contradiction, as the season doesn't actually matter to her. She's using the idea of spring as a way to express her longing for change and newness.
Overall, "It Might As Well Be Spring" is a song about restlessness and yearning, about the feeling of being trapped in one's current situation and longing for something different. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, the song perfectly captures the bittersweet emotions of its protagonist.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm
I am feeling agitated and uneasy, similar to the sway of a willow tree in a stormy wind.
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string
I feel nervous and easily startled, like a puppet being controlled by someone else's actions.
I'd say that I had spring fever
But I know it isn't spring
Although I feel a general excitement and restlessness, I know it cannot be attributed to the season of spring.
I am starry-eyed and vaguely discontented
Like a nightingale without a song to sing
I am captivated by my daydreams but simultaneously unfulfilled, like a nightingale without a melody to bring to life.
Oh, why should I have Spring fever
When it isn't even spring?
It is unclear why I am feeling so excited and restless during a time of year that is not typically associated with spring or new beginnings.
I keep wishing I were somewhere else
Walking down a strange new street
Hearing words that I have never heard
From a girl I've yet to meet
My mind is preoccupied with the idea of experiencing new things and meeting new people, longing for a sense of adventure.
I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud or a robin on the wing
My mind is working overtime with creative thoughts and ideas, and my mood is that of pure happiness despite not yet seeing the signs of spring.
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way
That it might as well be spring
Despite the juxtaposition of a joyful yet sad feeling, my overall mood is reminiscent of the energy associated with the season of spring.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Tratore
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind