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.
The Age of Not Believing
Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Searching everywhere for something true
You're at the age of not believing
When all the make-believe is through
When you set aside your childhood heroes
And your dreams are lost up on a shelf
You're at the age of not believing
And worst of all you doubt yourself
On a barren isle in a lonely sea
Where did all the happy endings go?
Where can all the good times be?
You must face the age of not believing
Doubting everything you ever knew
Until at last you start believing
There's something wonderful
In you
You're at the age of not believing
And worst of all, you doubt yourself
You're a castaway where no one hears you
On a barren isle in a lonely sea
Where did all the happy endings go?
Where can all the good times be?
You must face the age of not believing
Doubting everything you ever knew
Until at last you start believing
There's something wonderful
In you
"The Age of Not Believing" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the idea of growing up and losing our childhood sense of wonder and belief in magic. The lyrics describe the feeling of being lost and alone in a world where everything that was once believed to be true is now questioned, and where one's dreams and heroes have been set aside. It speaks to the struggle of coming to terms with the fact that the world is not always what we wish it to be, and that sometimes we are forced to confront difficult truths.
The opening lines, "When you rush around in hopeless circles / Searching everywhere for something true," set the tone for the rest of the song, as it highlights the desperation of feeling lost and hopeless. The chorus, "You're at the age of not believing / When all the make-believe is through," reinforces this, emphasizing the point that at some point in our lives, we must face the reality that not everything is as it seems.
The bridge, "You must face the age of not believing / Doubting everything you ever knew / Until at last you start believing / There's something wonderful in you," offers a glimmer of hope, as it suggests that even when everything seems bleak, there is a spark of magic within us that we can choose to believe in. Overall, the song encourages listeners to embrace the uncertainties of life, to hold onto hope despite adversity, and to believe in themselves, even in the face of doubt and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
When you rush around in hopeless circles
When you frantically search for truth in a directionless manner
Searching everywhere for something true
Looking in all places for an honest answer
You're at the age of not believing
You have reached a point where you struggle to trust
When all the make-believe is through
After all pretense has come to an end
When you set aside your childhood heroes
Putting away the role models of your youth
And your dreams are lost up on a shelf
Your aspirations have been neglected and forgotten
And worst of all you doubt yourself
Your lack of confidence in yourself is your greatest obstacle
You're a castaway where no one hears you
You feel estranged from others and unheard
On a barren isle in a lonely sea
Alone on an unforgiving and isolating island
Where did all the happy endings go?
What happened to all the perfect conclusions?
Where can all the good times be?
Where have all the enjoyable moments disappeared to?
You must face the age of not believing
You must confront your distrust
Doubting everything you ever knew
Questioning all you have ever believed
Until at last you start believing
Until you finally have faith
There's something wonderful in you
You have immense value and potential within you
And worst of all, you doubt yourself
Your self-doubt is your most significant burden
You're a castaway where no one hears you
You feel abandoned and misunderstood
On a barren isle in a lonely sea
In a desolate and isolating environment
Where did all the happy endings go?
What happened to all the perfect resolutions?
Where can all the good times be?
Where have all the enjoyable moments disappeared to?
You must face the age of not believing
You need to confront your lack of trust
Doubting everything you ever knew
Questioning all you have ever believed
Until at last you start believing
Until you finally have faith
There's something wonderful in you
You have immense value and potential within you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RICHARD M. SHERMAN, ROBERT B. SHERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind