The Sherman Brothers wrote more motion-picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history, working for Walt Disney during the last six years of his life. Film scores of the Sherman Brothers include Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Jungle Book and The Aristocats.
Life and work
Robert and Richard Sherman began writing songs together in 1951 on a challenge from their father, Tin Pan Alley songwriter Al Sherman. The brothers wrote together and with different songwriting partners throughout the rest of the decade.
In 1958, Robert founded the music publishing company Music World Corporation, which later enjoyed a landmark relationship with Disney's BMI-affiliated publishing arm, Wonderland Music Company. That same year, the Sherman Brothers had their first top-ten hit with "Tall Paul," sung by Mouseketeer Judy Harriet on the Surf Records label and then covered by Mouseketeer Annette Funicello. The success of this song yielded the attention of Walt Disney, who eventually hired the Sherman Brothers as Staff Songwriters for Walt Disney Studios. The first song they wrote on personal assignment by Walt Disney was "Strummin' Song" in 1961. It was used in the Annette Funicello made-for-television movie called The Horsemasters.
While at Disney, the Sherman Brothers wrote more motion-picture musical scores than any other songwriters in the history of film. They also wrote what is perhaps their best-known song, "It's a Small World (after all)" for the 1964 New York World's Fair. Since then, some have claimed that this has become the most translated and performed song on Earth, although this is largely justified by the fact that it is played continuously at Disney's leisure park rides of the same name.
In 1965, the Sherman Brothers won two Academy Awards for Mary Poppins, which includes the songs "Feed The Birds," "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," and the Oscar-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee." Since Mary Poppins' premiere, the Shermans have subsequently earned nine Academy Award nominations, two Grammy Awards, four Grammy Award nominations, and an incredible 23 gold- and platinum-certified albums.
Robert and Richard Sherman worked directly for Walt Disney, completing the scores for the live-action musical films The Happiest Millionaire and The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band until Disney's death in 1966. Since leaving the company, the brothers have worked freelance as songwriters on scores of motion pictures, television shows, theme-park exhibits, and stage musicals.
Their first non-Disney assignment came with Albert R. Broccoli's motion picture production Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1968, which garnered the brothers their third Academy Award Nomination.
In 1970, the Shermans returned to Disney for a brief stint where they completed work on The Aristocats and Bedknobs & Broomsticks. The latter film garnered the brothers their fourth and fifth Oscar Nominations, respectively. 1972 saw the release of Snoopy Come Home, for which the brothers received a Grammy nomination.
In 1973, the Sherman Brothers also made history by becoming the only Americans ever to win First Prize at the Moscow Film Festival for Tom Sawyer, for which they also authored the screenplay.
In 1976, “The Slipper and the Rose” was picked to be the Royal Command Performance of the year. The performance was attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. A modern musical adaptation of the classic Cinderella story, "Slipper", also featured songs, score, and screenplay by the Sherman Brothers. Two further Academy Award nominations were garnered by the brothers for the film. That same year the Sherman Brothers received their star on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame" directly across from Grauman's Chinese Theater.
The Sherman Brothers' numerous other Disney and non-Disney top box office film credits include The Jungle Book (1967), The Aristocats (1970), The Parent Trap (1961), The Parent Trap (1998), Charlotte's Web (1973) , The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh (1977), Snoopy, Come Home (1972), Bedknobs & Broomsticks (1971), and Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1992).
Outside the motion-picture realm, their Tony Award-nominated smash hit Over Here! (1974) was the biggest-grossing original Broadway musical of that year. The Sherman Brothers have also written numerous top selling songs including "You're Sixteen," which holds the distinction of reaching Billboard's #1 spot twice: first with Johnny Burnette in 1960 and then with Ringo Starr fourteen years later. Other top-ten hits include "Pineapple Princess," "Let's Get Together," and more.
In 2000, the Sherman Brothers wrote the song score for the Disney film The Tigger Movie. This film marked the brothers' first major motion picture for the Disney company in over 28t years.
In 2002, Chitty hit the London stage, receiving rave revues. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is currently the most successful stage show ever produced at the London Palladium, boasting the longest run in that century-old theater's history. On April 28, 2005, a second Chitty company premiered on Broadway (New York City) at the Hilton Theatre. The Sherman Brothers wrote an additional six songs specifically for the new stage productions. A successful third company of Chitty is currently touring throughout the United Kingdom.
In 2003, four Sherman Brothers' musicals ranked in the Top 10 Favorite Children's Films of All Time in a British nationwide poll reported by the BBC. The Jungle Book (1967) ranked at #7, Mary Poppins (1964) ranked at #8, The Aristocats (1970) ranked at #9, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) topped the list at #1.
In recent years, with Robert's move to London, England, United Kingdom, the brothers have written many new songs for the stage musical presentations of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins, produced collaboratively by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh.
For their contributions to the motion picture industry, the Sherman brothers have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6918 Hollywood Blvd. and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 9, 2005. On November 16, 2006, Mary Poppins premiered at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway.
On November 17, 2008 the Sherman Brothers received the National Medal of Arts which is the highest honor conferred upon artists or patrons of the arts by the United States Government. The award was presented by United States President, George W. Bush in an East Room ceremony at The White House.
A Spoonful of Sugar
Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.
You find the fun and...snap! The job's a game!
And every task you undertake becomes a piece of cake
A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see...
That a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down, medicine go down
In a most delightful way
A robin feathering his nest has very little time to rest
While gathering his bits of twine and twig
Though quite intent in his pursuit, he has a merry tune to toot
He knows a song will move the job along
For a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down, medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way
The honeybees that fetch the nectar from the flowers to the comb
Never tire of ever buzzing to and fro
Because they take a little nip from every flower that they sip
And hence (And hence), they find (They find)
Their task is not a grind
Ah...
The song "A Spoonful of Sugar" is a cheerful and upbeat tune from the classic children's movie, Mary Poppins. The lyrics of the song communicate the idea that even the most mundane and challenging tasks can be done with a sense of fun and joy, particularly when accompanied by a bit of sugar or sweetness. Rather than approaching work or difficult circumstances with dread or reluctance, the lyrics suggest that finding enjoyable elements within them can transform them into games or pieces of cake - easily manageable and even pleasurable.
The titular phrase, "a spoonful of sugar," has become a widely recognized metaphor for the power of positivity and finding joy in everyday tasks. The song's lyrics also draw on the imagery of nature to underscore this point, noting how even a hardworking robin or honeybee can find joy and ease in their work thanks to small pleasures along the way. The repetition of the phrase "medicine go down" emphasizes the idea that sometimes difficult tasks, like taking medicine, can be made more pleasant and easier to bear when approached with a positive and joyful attitude.
Line by Line Meaning
In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.
No matter how difficult a task may seem, there is always something enjoyable about it.
You find the fun and...snap! The job's a game!
If you can identify the enjoyable aspect of a task, it becomes much easier to complete.
And every task you undertake becomes a piece of cake
When you focus on the enjoyable aspect of a task, it is no longer difficult to accomplish.
A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see...
Tasks that are enjoyable become exciting and fun experiences.
That a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
Adding something enjoyable to a difficult task can make it much easier to complete.
The medicine go down, medicine go down
Even the most unpleasant tasks can become tolerable when approached in the right way.
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
It only takes a small amount of something enjoyable to make a task more pleasant.
In a most delightful way
By making a task more pleasant, it becomes an enjoyable experience.
A robin feathering his nest has very little time to rest
Even creatures in the animal kingdom work hard to accomplish their necessary tasks.
While gathering his bits of twine and twig
The bird is working to create a home for itself and its young.
Though quite intent in his pursuit, he has a merry tune to toot
Even when working hard, it is possible to find joy in the task.
He knows a song will move the job along
Adding something enjoyable, like a song, can make a task easier to accomplish.
The honeybees that fetch the nectar from the flowers to the comb
Even insects work hard to complete necessary tasks.
Never tire of ever buzzing to and fro
The bees are continuously busy, but remain focused and determined.
Because they take a little nip from every flower that they sip
Even in their work, bees are able to find something enjoyable.
And hence (And hence), they find (They find)
As a result of finding enjoyment in their tasks,
Their task is not a grind
Working hard is not a burden when there is joy to be found in the task.
Ah...
A deep breath in response to realizing that hard work can be enjoyable.
Contributed by Aaron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.