Honor To Us All
Larry Steelman Orchestra Lyrics
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Well, honey, I've seen worse
We're going to turn this sow's ear
into a silk purse
We'll have you washed and dried
Primped and polished
till you glow with pride
You'll bring honor to us all
Wait and see
When we're through
Boys will gladly go to war for you
With good fortune
And a great hairdo
You'll bring honor to us all
A girl can bring her family
great honor in one way
By striking a good match
And this could be the day
Men want girls with good taste
Calm
Obedient
Who work fast-paced
With good breeding
And a tiny waist
You'll bring honor to us all
We all must serve our Emperor
Who guards us from the Huns
A man by bearing arms
A girl by bearing sons
When we're through
You can't fail
Like a lotus blossom
Soft and pale
How could any fellow
Say "No Sale"
You'll bring honor to us all
There - you're ready
Not yet
An apple for serenity
A pendant for balance
Beads of jade for beauty
You must proudly show it
Now add a cricket just for luck
And even you can't blow it
Ancestors
Hear my plea
Help me not to make a
fool of me
And to not uproot
my family tree
Keep my father standing tall
Scarier than the undertaker
We are meeting our matchmaker
Destiny
Guard our girls
And our future
as it fast unfurls
Please look kindly on
these cultured pearls
Each a perfect porcelain doll
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us all
The Larry Steelman Orchestra's Honor to Us All is a song that features in Disney's animated movie, Mulan. The song is a representation of what women were supposed to be like in the traditional Chinese culture. The matchmaker is setting standards for what a perfect bride should be like. The bride must have specific qualities such as obedience, good taste, calmness, good breeding, a tiny waist, and work at a fast pace. However, the bride-to-be seems to be clueless about the expectations placed on her, but trusts the matchmaker's recipe for an instant bride. The song's central theme is marriage as a token of honor for the woman's family and serves as a message to maintain tradition.
The song is an excellent representation of the traditional Chinese culture and the pressures women used to face when searching for husbands. The song depicts how the Chinese culture viewed women at that time and their role in society, and it highlights the women's desire to bring honor to their families. The song is also symbolic of the patriarchal nature of the Chinese society, where a girl's only duty is to bear sons and continue her family lineage. Although the song has a historical significance, it also resonates with the difficulties women continue to face in the modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
This is what you give me to work with?
I've seen worse, but we can work with this.
We're going to turn this sow's ear into a silk purse
We're going to make something good out of something bad.
We'll have you washed and dried Primped and polished till you glow with pride
We'll make you look beautiful and feel confident.
Trust me recipe for instant bride
I know what I'm doing and can help you become a wife quickly.
You'll bring honor to us all
You'll make us proud and respected.
Wait and see When we're through Boys will gladly go to war for you
Men will be drawn to you and even fight for you.
With good fortune And a great hairdo You'll bring honor to us all
Luck and beauty will make you even more respectable.
A girl can bring her family great honor in one way By striking a good match And this could be the day
A suitable marriage could bring great honor and today could be the day for it.
Men want girls with good taste Calm Obedient Who work fast-paced With good breeding And a tiny waist
Men want women who are refined, composed, cooperative, efficient, and thin.
You'll bring honor to us all
You'll make us proud and respected.
We all must serve our Emperor Who guards us from the Huns A man by bearing arms A girl by bearing sons
We must all do our duty for the Emperor and defend against the Huns in our own ways - men with weapons and women with children.
When we're through You can't fail Like a lotus blossom Soft and pale How could any fellow Say "No Sale"
After we're done, you'll be irresistible like a delicate, beautiful flower, and no man will say no to you.
You'll bring honor to us all
You'll make us proud and respected.
There - you're ready Not yet An apple for serenity A pendant for balance Beads of jade for beauty You must proudly show it Now add a cricket just for luck And even you can't blow it
We're almost done preparing you - here are some final accessories for you to wear, including an apple and a pendant, and you must display them confidently. And don't forget the cricket for good luck.
Ancestors Hear my plea Help me not to make a fool of me And to not uproot my family tree Keep my father standing tall
I'm asking for help from our ancestors to avoid embarrassing myself and shameful actions that could damage our family's reputation and to keep my father respected.
Scarier than the undertaker We are meeting our matchmaker Destiny Guard our girls And our future as it fast unfurls Please look kindly on these cultured pearls Each a perfect porcelain doll
Meeting the matchmaker is more intimidating than facing death, and we ask for help from fate to secure our girls' future and maintain their purity and elegance.
Please bring honor to us Please bring honor to us Please bring honor to us Please bring honor to us all
We plead for honor and respect from everyone.
Writer(s): David Zippel, Matthew Wilder
Contributed by Tyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.