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.
I Can Talk
Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't dance
Besides, I'm two feet shorter than the girls are
All these dancing parties are just plain dumb
When they asked, I should have said, "I can't come"
There's a girl with braces,
Standing by the punch bowl and she's making funny faces
I guess she wants to dance
I can't dance
I can't dance
Besides I look so awful in these braces
If that boy wants me to dance, I'll just die
I'm so tall, and he's about three feet high
Ever since September,
I've been taking dancing lessons, now I can't remember
How the heck to dance
Pardon me
My name's Jeff
And I don't mind if you are tall and skinny
And those braces on your teeth,
They're real neat
Thank you for the compliment, Gee you're sweet
Your name is Carlotta
I met you last summer when we went to Camp Granada
We oughta try to dance
Right foot first
Left foot next
I think you're suposed to do it to the music
You don't really look so bad, just your ears
When do you take your braces off?
Four more years
By the time your teeth are ready,
I'll be two feet taller, and I'll ask you to go steady
Then we'll dance
"I Can't Dance" is a humorous song about a young girl who is hesitant to dance due to her braces and height. She is self-conscious and worries that she will look foolish. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who may have felt awkward at a social gathering or dance.
The verse highlights the singer's lack of self-esteem and confidence. She considers dancing to be "plain dumb" and worries about how she looks. However, as the song progresses, she meets a boy who reassures her, and they dance together. By the end of the song, she is no longer self-conscious and is looking forward to dancing with the boy.
This song encapsulates the struggles that many young people face when it comes to social anxiety and self-esteem. Its lighthearted tone, catchy melody, and relatable lyrics make it a popular song to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't dance
I don't know how to dance
I can't dance
I don't know how to dance
Besides, I'm two feet shorter than the girls are
In addition, I'm much shorter than the girls, so it would be awkward to dance with them
All these dancing parties are just plain dumb
I don't enjoy these parties where the main activity is dancing
When they asked, I should have said, "I can't come"
I should have declined the invitation when I was asked to come
There's a girl with braces,
There's a girl at the party who's wearing braces
Standing by the punch bowl and she's making funny faces
She's standing by the punch bowl and making silly expressions
I guess she wants to dance
I think she's waiting for someone to ask her to dance
If that boy wants me to dance, I'll just die
If that boy wants me to dance with him, I'll be so embarrassed I'll want to just disappear
I'm so tall, and he's about three feet high
The boy is much shorter than me, and it will be very awkward to dance together
Ever since September, I've been taking dancing lessons, now I can't remember
I've been taking dancing lessons since September, but now I've forgotten everything I learned
How the heck to dance
I really don't remember how to dance
My name's Jeff
I'm introducing myself as Jeff
And I don't mind if you are tall and skinny
It doesn't matter to me that you're tall and thin
And those braces on your teeth, They're real neat
I think your braces are really cool
Thank you for the compliment, Gee you're sweet
Thank you for the compliment, you're very kind
Your name is Carlotta
I'm addressing you as Carlotta
I met you last summer when we went to Camp Granada
We met each other last summer when we were both at Camp Granada
We oughta try to dance
We should give dancing a try
Right foot first
Let's start with the right foot
Left foot next
Then the left foot
I think you're supposed to do it to the music
I think we need to dance to the rhythm of the music
You don't really look so bad, just your ears
You look fine to me, except for your ears
When do you take your braces off?
I'm asking when you'll get your braces removed
Four more years
You have four more years until your braces come off
By the time your teeth are ready, I'll be two feet taller, and I'll ask you to go steady
By the time your braces are removed, I'll have grown two feet taller, and I'll ask you to be my girlfriend
Then we'll dance
And then we'll dance together
Lyrics © GET SONGS DIRECT, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Allan Sherman, Busch Lou
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind