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.
You're a Builder Upper
Julie Andrews Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are able to make me feel that I'm Clark Gable
Then next minute you make me feel
I'm something from the zoo
First you warm up, then you're distant
Never knew a girl so inconsistent
I'm a big-shot at half past one
A so-and-so by two
Keeping me on meaner than him
You're a builder-upper, a breaker-downer
A holder-outer, and I'm a giver-inner
Sad but true, I'm a sapper or two
Taking it from a big rover like you
Don't know where I'm atter
I'm just a this-er, then I'm a that-er
A taker on the chin-er
My, my, my, what a weakie am I
To love you as I do
Just when I'm ready to sob
You hand me a throb
And everything is hunky-dory
And that's my story
Open your arms and I'm a stooge for your charms
You're a builder-upper, a breaker-downer
A holder-outer and I'm a giver-inner
Sad but true, I love it I do
Being broken by a builder-upper like you
Sad but true, I love it I do
Being broken by a builder-upper like you
The lyrics of Julie Andrews's song You're a Builder Upper are about a relationship that is full of ups and downs, with the singer being constantly affected by the other person's actions. The singer describes the emotional rollercoaster that their partner takes them on, going from feeling like a Hollywood star to feeling like an animal in a zoo, and from feeling like a big-shot to feeling like a nobody. The song describes the partner as being inconsistent and often leaving the singer feeling hurt and vulnerable. Despite this, the singer expresses their love for their partner, even when they feel weak and helpless. Overall, the song is a bittersweet reflection of the highs and lows of being in love with someone who can break you down just as quickly as they build you up.
Line by Line Meaning
When you want to
Whenever you feel like it
You are able to make me feel that I'm Clark Gable
You have the power to make me feel like a movie star
Then next minute you make me feel
But then suddenly you change your mind and
I'm something from the zoo
You make me feel like an animal
First you warm up, then you're distant
At first you're affectionate, then you withdraw
Never knew a girl so inconsistent
I've never met someone who changes their mind so often
I'm a big-shot at half past one
For a moment, I feel important
A so-and-so by two
But soon I feel insignificant
Heaven forgive you for your sins
I hope you're forgiven for the way you treat me
Keeping me on meaner than him
Treating me worse than anyone else ever has
You're a builder-upper, a breaker-downer
You build me up and tear me down
A holder-outer, and I'm a giver-inner
You hold back while I give in
Sad but true, I'm a sapper or two
Sadly, I'm weak and vulnerable to your manipulations
Taking it from a big rover like you
Enduring your emotional abuse as a strong and confident person
Don't know where I'm atter
I have no idea where I stand with you
I'm just a this-er, then I'm a that-er
One moment I'm one thing, the next moment another
A taker on the chin-er
I constantly have to take your insults without fighting back
My, my, my, what a weakie am I
I can't believe how weak I am for staying with you
To love you as I do
Despite everything, I still love you
Just when I'm ready to sob
Just when I'm about to cry
You hand me a throb
You give me something to feel good about
And everything is hunky-dory
And everything is suddenly going well
And that's my story
And that's the way it always goes with us
Open your arms and I'm a stooge for your charms
Whenever you show affection, I can't resist
Sad but true, I love it I do
Sadly, I love the way you treat me
Being broken by a builder-upper like you
Even though it's painful, I enjoy being manipulated by you
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC
Written by: E. Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind