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 Love to Laugh
Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring,
And you appear in all your splendor,
My one and only love.
The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms
In the hush of night while you're in my arms.
I feel your lips, so warm and tender,
The touch of your hand is like heaven,
A heaven that I've never known.
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
Tells me that you are my own.
You fill my eager heart with such desire.
Ev'ry kiss you give sets my soul on fire.
I give myself in sweet surrender,
My one and only love.
The song "My One and Only Love," originally recorded in 1955 by Johnny Hartman, and later by Richard "Groove" Holmes in 1961, is a ballad that exquisitely captures the overwhelming emotions of falling in love. The first line, "The very thought of you makes my heart sing," is a sentiment that many people can relate to. It describes how the mere thought of the person is enough to fill the singer's heart with joy and happiness. The comparison to an April breeze on the wings of spring is a beautiful metaphor for the freshness and vitality of this newly found love.
The second verse of the song continues to paint a vivid picture of the depth of emotions experienced by the singer. The shadows that fall, and the mystic charms that spread during the hush of night, create the perfect ambiance for this beautiful moment. And as the singer holds the one they love in their arms, they feel their warmth and tenderness, which further deepens their connection. The third verse captures the intense physical attraction between the couple. The touch of the hand is described as heavenly, and every kiss sets the soul on fire. The blush on the cheek is a telltale sign that the love is reciprocated, and that the two people are meant to be together.
Overall, "My One and Only Love" is a beautifully crafted love song that speaks to the heart and soul of its listeners. It is a perfect description of the all-encompassing feelings that come with falling in love. The imagery and metaphors used throughout the song are captivating and resonate long after the song has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
The very thought of you makes my heart sing
You bring so much joy into my life just by the mere thought of you that I cannot help but feel elation and happiness.
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring,
Similar to how the gentle and refreshing breeze of April fills the air with new life during spring, you bring a rejuvenating feeling into my life.
And you appear in all your splendor,
You always show up and present yourself in the most beautiful and impressive way possible.
My one and only love.
You are the only love of my life, the person who means everything to me.
The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms
As the night falls, it creates mystical charms that add to the magic of being in your arms.
In the hush of night while you're in my arms.
During those peaceful moments when we are together, enjoying each other's company, everything seems right in the world.
I feel your lips, so warm and tender,
When I kiss you, I feel your warmth and tenderness that makes me feel loved and wanted.
My one and only love.
You are my only love, my everything, and the one who matters the most to me.
The touch of your hand is like heaven,
Even the slightest caress or touch of your hand feels heavenly to me, an experience I never knew before I met you.
A heaven that I've never known.
You have brought me to a new world, a beautiful and heavenly realm that I never knew existed, where everything feels complete and whole.
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
When I talk to you, I can see the blushing of your cheek, indicating your fondness and deep love for me.
Tells me that you are my own.
It is evident from your actions and expressions that you belong to me, and our love is pure and strong.
You fill my eager heart with such desire.
Your mere presence fills my heart with passion and longing, and I cannot wait to spend every moment with you.
Ev'ry kiss you give sets my soul on fire.
A single kiss from you is all it takes to ignite the flames of my love, making my soul come alive and burn with everlasting desire.
I give myself in sweet surrender,
I willingly give myself to you, surrendering to your love and your presence, knowing that it is where I truly belong.
My one and only love.
You are my only love, the one I want to spend my life with, the one who completes me and makes everything in life worthwhile.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Guy B. Wood, Robert Mellin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind