It… Read Full Bio ↴Matilda the musical, is based on the children's novel by Roald Dahl.
It is written by Dennis Kelly, with the score & lyrics written by Tim Minchin.
The musical was first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in December 2010.
In October 2011 it made it's way to the Cambridge Theatre in the west end.
Also in October 2011, it won best musical production and best actor (Bertie Carvel) in the Theatre Awards UK, and in November 2011 it won the Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical as part of The Evening Standard Awards.
The Hammer
Matilda the Musical Original Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See how my trophies gleam in the sunlight.
See how they shine.
What do you think it took to become
English Hammer-throwing champion 1969?
Do you think in that moment, when my big moment came,
That I treated the rules with casual disdain?
Well? Like hell!
Hmm? What?
As I chalked up my palms, did I wave my hands?
I did not!
As I started my spin, did I look at the view?
Did I drift off and dream for a minute or two?
Do you think I faltered or amended my rotation?
Do you think I altered my intended elevation?
As the hammer took off, did I change my grunt,
From the grunt I had practised for many a month?
Not a jot, not a dot did I stray from the plot.
Not a detail of my throw was adjusted or forgotten.
Not even when the hammer left my hands
And sailed high up, up above the stands, did I let myself go.
No! If you want to throw the hammer for your country,
You have to stay inside the circle all the time,
And if you want to make the team,
You don't need happiness or self-esteem,
You just need to keep your feet inside the line.
Sing, children - 2, 3, 4!
If you want to throw the hammer for your country,
Habinot est magitem. You have to stay inside the circle all the time.
Circular! Magitem! Magitem! And if you want to teach success,
(Aaah...)
You don't use sympathy or tenderness.
Tenderness...
You have to force the little squits to toe the line!
Sing, Jenny - 2, 3, 4!
If you want to throw the hammer for your country,
Regotem... Regotem varia magitem... You have to stay inside the circle all the time.
Tempero es te iste is. Apply just one simple rule -
To hammer-throwing, life, and school -
Life's a ball, so learn to throw it.
Find the bally line, and toe it,
And always keep your feet inside the line.
Now get out!
In "The Hammer", the English Hammer-throwing champion describes his winning moment and the intensity he felt. He boasts about his trophies shining in the sunlight and asks the listeners if they think he treated the rules with casual disdain during his big moment. He states that every detail during his throw was carefully planned and executed without deviation. He emphasizes the importance of staying inside the circle and not straying from the plot if one wants to throw the hammer for their country. The song represents a harsh commentary on the demands of success in modern society and the pressure to conform to strict rules and expectations, both in athletics and in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at these trophies.
Observe the shining trophies that I have won.
See how my trophies gleam in the sunlight.
Notice the brightness of my trophies when the sunlight falls on them.
See how they shine.
Notice how brightly they shine.
What do you think it took to become English Hammer-throwing champion 1969?
What do you believe was necessary to achieve the honor of being named the English Hammer-throwing champion in 1969?
Do you think in that moment, when my big moment came, That I treated the rules with casual disdain?
Did you think that I disregarded the rules lightly when I had my big moment in the competition?
Well? Like hell!
On the contrary, I did not disregard them at all.
As I stepped up to the circle, did I change my plan? Hmm? What?
Did I alter my plan after stepping up to the circle? What? No, I didn't.
As I chalked up my palms, did I wave my hands? I did not!
As I coated my hands with chalk, did I wave my hands? Definitely not!
As I started my spin, did I look at the view? Did I drift off and dream for a minute or two?
As I began to spin, did I gaze at the scenery? Did I get lost in thought for a moment or two?
Do you think I faltered or amended my rotation?
Do you suspect that I stumbled or adjusted my spin?
Do you think I altered my intended elevation?
Did I change the altitude I intended to throw the hammer?
As the hammer took off, did I change my grunt, From the grunt I had practised for many a month? Not a jot, not a dot did I stray from the plot.
As the hammer was released, did I modify my grunt to one that I hadn't practiced for many months? No, not at all! I remained focused on my plan.
Not a detail of my throw was adjusted or forgotten.
Not even the smallest detail was ignored or altered in my throw.
Not even when the hammer left my hands And sailed high up, up above the stands, did I let myself go. No!
Even when the hammer flew out of my hands and rose high above the stands, I didn't lose control of myself. No way!
If you want to throw the hammer for your country, You have to stay inside the circle all the time,
To become a hammer thrower for your country, you need to stay within the circle at all times.
And if you want to make the team, You don't need happiness or self-esteem, You just need to keep your feet inside the line.
And if you want to be a member of the team, you don't need to be happy or confident. You just need to keep both feet inside the line.
If you want to throw the hammer for your country, Habinot est magitem. You have to stay inside the circle all the time.
If you wish to represent your country as a hammer thrower, you must remain within the circle always. That's vital.
Circular! Magitem! Magitem! And if you want to teach success, (Aaah...)
Circle! Skillful! Skillful! And if you aspire to educate people on how to achieve success, (Aaah...)
You don't use sympathy or tenderness. Tenderness... You have to force the little squits to toe the line!
You must not use compassion or gentleness to teach. Instead, you need to compel the kids to follow the rules strictly.
If you want to throw the hammer for your country, Regotem... Regotem varia magitem... You have to stay inside the circle all the time.
If you aspire to represent your country in hammer throwing, you must remain within the circle always. That's fundamental.
Tempero es te iste is. Apply just one simple rule - To hammer-throwing, life, and school - Life's a ball, so learn to throw it. Find the bally line, and toe it, And always keep your feet inside the line.
Maintain control - this is the key. Follow one elementary rule for hammer throwing, life and school - life's a game, so learn to play it. Find the right direction and follow it consistently, always keeping both feet within the line.
Now get out!
Now leave!
Contributed by Natalie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hptwirlmeid6056
Look at these trophies
See how my trophies gleam
in the sunlight, see how they shine
What do you think it
took to become English
Hammer-throwing champion
Nineteen-sixty-nine?
Do you think in that moment
When my big moment came
That I treated the rules
With casual disdain
Well, LIKE HELL!
As I stepped up to the circle
did I change my plan? Hmm... what?
As I chalked up my palms
did I wave my hands? I DID NOT!
As I started my spin
did I look at the view?
Did I drift off and dream
for a minute or two?
Do you think I faltered or amended my rotation?
Do you think I altered my intended elevation?
As the hammer took off did I change my grunt
From the grunt I had practised for many a month?
Not a jot, not a dot did I stray from the plot
Not a detail of my throw was adjusted or forgotten
Not even when the hammer left my hands
And sailed up, up above the stands
Did I let myself go?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no...
No
If you want to throw the hammer for your country,
You have to stay inside the circle all the time,
And if you want to make the team,
You don't need happiness or self-esteem,
You just need to keep your feet inside the line.
Sing, children 2, 3, 4!
If you want to throw the hammer for your country,
Bambinatum est maggitum.
You have to stay inside the circle all the time.
Circulum! Maggitum! Maggitum!
And if you want to teach success,
(Aaah)
You don't use sympathy or tenderness.
Tenderness
You have to force the little squits to toe the line!
Sing, Jenny 2, 3, 4!
If you want to throw the hammer for your country,
Bambinatum, Bambinatum, Gloria Maggitum
You have to stay inside the circle all the time.
Circulum ex Deus, Deus.
Apply just one simple rule -
To hammer-throwing, life, and school -
Life's a ball, so learn to throw it.
Find the bally line and toe it,
And always keep your feet inside the line.
Now get out!
@pilarhsings7855
I was the Trunchbull recently in a production of Matilda and this song has become my favorite out of the whole musical. It was so fun to sing and do a ribbon dance too. Audience laughed so hard! Loved this role!!
@wil94976
I was a part of a production of Matilda (just the crew) and the person who played Trunchbull was amazing! They were all amazing, I'm so proud of them. This was one of my favorite songs and I especially loved to watch them perform it from side stage
@judgingeveryone
In my theater’s production of Matilda, we had a man dressed in drag playing the Trunchbull. It was a dream role of his, and he was absolutely fabulous!
@ellahodges4066
I love this musical. I wish I was in it
@caragrabowski8742
EpicElla Hodges Same! As soon as I saw it, I was extremely obsessed!
@rainbowandre9580
So same
@rapsakkc-rwoah9258
It’s so good and fun
@Spoiled_milk535
Oml saaame
@hptwirlmeid6056
Look at these trophies
See how my trophies gleam
in the sunlight, see how they shine
What do you think it
took to become English
Hammer-throwing champion
Nineteen-sixty-nine?
Do you think in that moment
When my big moment came
That I treated the rules
With casual disdain
Well, LIKE HELL!
As I stepped up to the circle
did I change my plan? Hmm... what?
As I chalked up my palms
did I wave my hands? I DID NOT!
As I started my spin
did I look at the view?
Did I drift off and dream
for a minute or two?
Do you think I faltered or amended my rotation?
Do you think I altered my intended elevation?
As the hammer took off did I change my grunt
From the grunt I had practised for many a month?
Not a jot, not a dot did I stray from the plot
Not a detail of my throw was adjusted or forgotten
Not even when the hammer left my hands
And sailed up, up above the stands
Did I let myself go?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no...
No
If you want to throw the hammer for your country,
You have to stay inside the circle all the time,
And if you want to make the team,
You don't need happiness or self-esteem,
You just need to keep your feet inside the line.
Sing, children 2, 3, 4!
If you want to throw the hammer for your country,
Bambinatum est maggitum.
You have to stay inside the circle all the time.
Circulum! Maggitum! Maggitum!
And if you want to teach success,
(Aaah)
You don't use sympathy or tenderness.
Tenderness
You have to force the little squits to toe the line!
Sing, Jenny 2, 3, 4!
If you want to throw the hammer for your country,
Bambinatum, Bambinatum, Gloria Maggitum
You have to stay inside the circle all the time.
Circulum ex Deus, Deus.
Apply just one simple rule -
To hammer-throwing, life, and school -
Life's a ball, so learn to throw it.
Find the bally line and toe it,
And always keep your feet inside the line.
Now get out!
@TheLoliMaster
Ok, I think the vocals are better in the original version but the instrumentals are better in the Broadway version. This song is a good example. But that just means both versions are good!