Petula Clark (born 15 November 1932) is a British singer, actress, and song… Read Full Bio ↴Petula Clark (born 15 November 1932) is a British singer, actress, and songwriter. She started her professional career as a child performer and has had one of the longest careers of any British entertainer, spanning more than eight decades. Clark's professional career began during the Second World War as a child entertainer on BBC Radio. In 1954 she charted with "The Little Shoemaker", the first of her big UK hits, and within two years she began recording in French. Her international successes have included "Prends mon cœur", "Sailor" (a UK number one), "Romeo", and "Chariot". Hits in German, Italian, and Spanish followed. In late 1964 Clark's success extended to the United States with a four-year run of career-defining, often upbeat singles, many written or co-written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent. These include her signature song "Downtown" (US number one), "I Know a Place", "My Love" (US number one), "A Sign of the Times", "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love", "Who Am I", "Colour My World", "This Is My Song" (by Charlie Chaplin) (a UK number one), "Don't Sleep in the Subway", "The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener" and "Kiss Me Goodbye". Between January 1965 and April 1968 Clark charted with nine US Top 20 hits in the US, where she was sometimes called "the First Lady of the British Invasion".

Clark has sold more than 68 million records. She has also enjoyed success in the musical film Finian's Rainbow and in the stage musicals The Sound of Music, Blood Brothers, Sunset Boulevard, and Mary Poppins.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petula_Clark

Discography
Petula Clark Sings (1956)
A Date with Pet (1956)
You Are My Lucky Star (1957)
À Musicorama (1958)
Petula Clark in Hollywood / Pet Clark (1959)
Prends mon coeur (1959)
Tête à tête avec Petula Clark (1961)
Rendez-vous avec Petula Clark (1962)
In Other Words (1962)
Petula (1962)
Le soleil dans les yeux (1963)
Ceux qui ont un coeur (1964)
Hello Paris (1964)
Petula au Canada (1964)
Downtown (1965)
I Know a Place (1965)
The World's Greatest International Hits (1965)
Petula '65 (1965)
My Love (1966)
I Couldn't Live Without Your Love (1966)
Petula Clark '66 (1966)
Colour My World (1967)
These Are My Songs (1967)
C'est ma chanson (1967)
Petula Italiana (1967)
The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener (1968)
Petula (1968)
Portrait of Petula (1969)
Just Pet (1969)
Memphis (1970)
Warm and Tender / The Song of My Life (1971)
Comme une prière (1972)
La chanson de Marie-Madeleine (1972)
Now (1972)
Come On Home (1974)
I'm The Woman You Need (1975)
Je reviens (1977)
Destiny (1978)
Where The Heart Is (1998)
Here For You (1998)
Solitude & Sunshine: The Songs of Rod McKuen (2007)
Lost in You (2013)
From Now On (2016)
Living For Today (2017)
Vu d'ici (2018)

My Favorite Things
Petula Clark Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Overall Meaning

Petula Clark's "My Favorite Things" is a beloved, nostalgic ode to simple pleasures and happy memories. The song opens with the famous line "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens," and goes on to list a series of things that the singer loves and finds comfort in. The lyrics are meant to suggest that even when things are difficult or stressful, holding onto reminders of the things we cherish can help us find some measure of peace.

The first verse of the song mentions specific items that bring the singer joy, such as rusty copper kettles and cozy woolen mittens. The second verse moves beyond objects and details comforting experiences like the sound of sleigh bells or the sight of geese flying against the backdrop of the moon. The final verse describes the beauty of winter turning to spring, and the pure joy of a snowy day.

The final lines of the song turn from describing favorite things to offering encouragement to others who may be feeling down. The singer suggests that when life gets difficult or painful, they "simply remember" the things they love, and somehow that makes everything better. In this way, the song becomes a gentle reminder to focus on the good things in life, and to hold onto the joy that comes from the simple pleasures.

Line by Line Meaning

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
I find joy in the simple things in life such as raindrops on roses and the gentle touch of a kitten's whiskers.

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
I love the feeling of warmth and security that comes from holding onto a bright, copper kettle or wearing a cozy pair of woolen mittens.

Brown paper packages tied up with strings
Even the unassuming sight of a brown paper package tied up with string can bring a smile to my face.

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
I take pleasure in the sight of cream colored ponies and the taste of crisp apple streudels.

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
The sounds of doorbells and sleigh bells, as well as the taste of schnitzel with noodles, are some of my cherished things.

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
I find beauty in watching wild geese soaring above with the moon shining on their wings.

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
The sight of young ladies wearing white dresses and blue satin sashes is something that brings me joy and happiness.

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
There's something magical about snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, and my spirit is lifted when I experience this.

Silver white winters that melt into springs
I appreciate the contrast between the silver white winter season and the warmth and new life of the spring season that follows it.

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
Even when I experience pain or discomfort from things like dog bites or bee stings, I can still hold onto the joy of my favorite things.

When I'm feeling sad
During moments of sadness, I reflect on my favorite things to lift my spirits and bring me happiness.

I simply remember my favorite things
By bringing to mind the things that I love, I can find comfort, joy, and happiness even during difficult times.

And then I don't feel so bad
By focusing on my favorite things, my negative emotions fade away and I begin to feel better.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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