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 Wan'na Be Like You
Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I'm the king of the swingers
Oh, the Jungle VIP
I've reached the top and had to stop
And that's what's been bothering me
I wanna be a man, a mancub
And stroll right into town
And be just like the other men
Oh, oobee doo
I wanna be like you
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you, too
You'll see it's true
An ape like me
Can learn to be human too.
Spoken:
Gee, Cousin Louie
You're doin' real good!
Now here's your part of the deal 'cause,
Lay the secret on me of man's red fire
But I don't know how to make fire
Sung:
Now don't try to kid me mancub
I made a deal with you
What I desire is man's red fire
To make my dream come true
give me the secret mancub
Clue me what to do
Give me the power of man's red flower
So I can be like you
You!
I wanna be like you
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you, too
You'll see it's true
Someone like me
Can learn to be
Like someone like me
Can learn to be Like someone like you!
Can learn to be
Like someone like me!
In The Jungle Book's "I Wan'na Be Like You," we hear Louie, the orangutan, sing the song to Mowgli, the human child he's stolen, while dancing and playing with his primate band. Louie is impressed by Mowgli's ability to make fire and wants to learn how to do it. Louie dreams of having the red flower, which is a metaphor for human traits, and becoming like Mowgli. Louie, who defines himself by his jungle status, tries to manipulate Mowgli into telling him the secret of the red fire. Here lies the theme of the song. It deals with the longing for transformation, and the frustration that arises when it's unattainable. Louie can't become like Mowgli unless he possesses the red flower's power. Louie desires a transformation that he knows he can't achieve.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I'm the king of the swingers
I am the leader of this group of charismatic and carefree individuals.
Oh, the Jungle VIP
I am the most important person in this jungle society.
I've reached the top and had to stop
I have achieved my goals but now I feel unfulfilled.
And that's what's been bothering me
This lack of fulfillment is causing me distress.
I wanna be a man, a mancub
I want to leave behind my current identity and become a human child.
And stroll right into town
I want to enter human society and experience their way of life.
And be just like the other men
I want to fit in and be accepted by human society.
I'm tired of monkeyin' around!
I am tired of living a carefree and frivolous life in the jungle.
Oh, oobee doo
An exclamation to show my excitement and enthusiasm for my desire to become human.
I wanna be like you
I want to be like a specific human whom I admire.
I wanna walk like you
I want to imitate your physical movements and mannerisms.
Talk like you, too
I want to imitate your speech patterns and vocabulary.
You'll see it's true
I am confident that I can successfully imitate human behavior.
An ape like me
I am aware that I am not currently a human, but rather an animal.
Can learn to be human too.
I believe that with effort and guidance, I can learn to act like a human and become a part of human society.
Gee, Cousin Louie
Expressing surprise and admiration for a fellow animal in the jungle.
You're doin' real good!
I am impressed with your progress and success in achieving your goals.
Now here's your part of the deal 'cause,
Referring to an agreement or exchange that had been previously arranged.
Lay the secret on me of man's red fire
Tell me the secret to humans' ability to create and control fire.
But I don't know how to make fire
Admitting my lack of knowledge and ability in this area.
Now don't try to kid me mancub
Do not attempt to deceive me, as I am eager to learn this information.
I made a deal with you
Reminding the human child of a previously arranged agreement.
What I desire is man's red fire
I am motivated by my strong desire to possess fire, which is a symbol of human power and intelligence.
To make my dream come true
I believe that possessing fire will help me achieve my goal of becoming human.
give me the secret mancub
I am requesting that the human child fulfill their end of our agreement and share their knowledge.
Clue me what to do
Please give me step-by-step instructions on how to make fire.
Give me the power of man's red flower
I am referring to fire as a powerful and transformative tool that humans possess.
So I can be like you
I believe that possessing fire will help me become more like a human.
You!
Referring to the human child as the key to my success.
Someone like me
Acknowledging that I may seem different or inferior to humans.
Can learn to be
Expressing hope and determination in my ability to learn new skills and behavior.
Like someone like me
Recognizing myself as an individual with unique strengths and qualities.
Can learn to be Like someone like you!
Remaining hopeful that I can successfully imitate humans and integrate into their society.
Can learn to be
Reiterating my belief in my ability to learn and grow.
Like someone like me!
Emphasizing the importance of embracing my individuality while also striving to become like humans.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Gerardi
I love both the animated version and the Christopher Walken version of this song!
Julian Baidak, Raptor Knight III
I prefer the 2016 version because it has a more jazz tune than the old one.