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.
One Man Band
Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wherever you look,
Big tall buildings by Tishman
Tishman, ahh...
If I were a Tishman,
Yum di diddle didle doody didle diddy didy di
(Yum di didle)
If I were a building man.
I'd build a lot of buildings,
Yum di didle doody deedle didle deedle didle dumb
(Yum di didle)
Building buildings anywhere I wish,
If I were a Tishy Tishy Tish.
I'd build the 666 5th Avenue building
Right in the middle of the town,
One block wide and forty-eight stories high.
And I'd have eighteen elevators going up
And twenty-seven more going down,
All of them express to pass you by.
(Di diddle di)
I'd build a ladies room and also a mens room,
Right there on each and every floor,
Each one in a style that is apropos.
And like the restrooms in the best office buildings,
You'd need a key to open up the door,
Though who would steal a bathroom, I dunno!
Oh, if I were a Tishman,
Yum di diddle doidle didle dadle doodle deedle dumb
(Yum di didle)
All day long I'd buildy buildy build,
If I were a building man.
I'd build a lot of buildings,
Yum di doodle dadle didle deedle didle dodle dumb
(Yum di didle)
I could realize my life's ambish,
Raising rents whenever I would wish,
Telling tenants, "You can call me pish."
If I were a rich Tishman
The song "One Man Band" by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman is a playful ode to the changing landscape of New York City. The lyrics begin by acknowledging the big tall buildings that are being built by real estate company Tishman. The singer then imagines what it would be like to be a Tishman, spending all day building buildings. They describe the grandeur of their imagined creations, including the 666 5th Avenue building, which is described as being one block wide and 48 stories high with express elevators to whisk tenants up and down. The singer even includes details like the stylish bathrooms, complete with locked doors.
The song has a playful, whimsical quality but is also a commentary on the changing nature of the city. As buildings get taller and more elaborate, the city becomes more impersonal, dominated by anonymous corporations like Tishman. The singer's longing to be a "building man" who could raise rents and tell tenants what to do is both satirical and poignant. It speaks to the desire for power and control over our environment, even as that environment becomes increasingly commodified.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, New York is changing.
The city of New York is constantly evolving and developing.
Wherever you look,
There are significant changes to the architecture and city skyline.
Big tall buildings by Tishman
Tishman is a major developer responsible for constructing many skyscrapers in the city.
Tishman, ahh...
The mention of Tishman represents the impact and influence of developers on the cityscape.
If I were a Tishman,
The artist imagines themselves as a powerful developer shaping the city.
Yum di diddle didle doody didle diddy didy di
Nonsensical syllables used to maintain the rhythm and rhyme of the song.
All day long I'd buildy buildy build,
The singer would be constantly constructing new buildings if they were a developer.
I'd build a lot of buildings,
The artist would create a significant number of structures.
Yum di didle doody deedle didle deedle didle dumb
More nonsensical syllables used for the song's structure.
Building buildings anywhere I wish,
The artist would have the power to construct buildings wherever they desire.
If I were a Tishy Tishy Tish.
Playful use of the developer's name to continue the song's rhyme.
I'd build the 666 5th Avenue building
The artist imagines creating a specific building at a specific location.
Right in the middle of the town,
The 666 5th Avenue building would be a prominent and central fixture in the city.
One block wide and forty-eight stories high.
The building would be exceptionally large and towering over the surrounding area.
And I'd have eighteen elevators going up
The building would have numerous responsive elevators in order to facilitate foot traffic.
And twenty-seven more going down,
There would even be more elevators leading downwards to the building's foundations.
All of them express to pass you by.
The elevators would run quickly and smoothly, without stopping for many floors.
(Di diddle di)
More nonsensical syllables used for the song's structure.
I'd build a ladies room and also a mens room,
The building would have separate restrooms for both sexes.
Right there on each and every floor,
A restroom would be readily accessible for all occupants, no matter the level of the building.
Each one in a style that is apropos.
The restrooms would be designed in a manner befitting the rest of the building's aesthetic.
And like the restrooms in the best office buildings,
The restrooms would be high-quality and luxurious.
You'd need a key to open up the door,
Restroom access would be restricted and require a key.
Though who would steal a bathroom, I dunno!
The notion that someone would steal a restroom key is absurd, but necessary for the song's playful tone.
I could realize my life's ambish,
The singer imagines achieving their greatest ambitions by becoming a successful developer.
Raising rents whenever I would wish,
Having control over the buildings would allow the singer to demand higher rent when they chose to do so.
Telling tenants, "You can call me pish."
The singer would wield power over their tenants and demand respect.
If I were a rich Tishman
The song concludes with the artist imagining themselves as a wealthy and powerful developer.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, TUNECORE INC
Written by: ALLAN SHERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind