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 End
Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was this what I was promised?
Who am I at the end?
Where is the Garden of Eden?
Nowhere near?
Nowhere near
Yeah
Who am I at the end?
Who am I at the end?
Where is everyone hiding?
Nowhere near?
Nowhere near
Yeah
Who am I at the end?
Was this all for nothing?
Who am I at the end?
Why am I returning?
To my cage?
To my cage
Yeah
Who am I at the end?
Were The Uncaged. lying?
Who am I at the end?
Why is The Flame. dying?
I'm afraid
It all fades away
It all fades away now
The color fades to gray
Saturate the pain now
I'm where I want to be
I am finally found
Truly one with The Flame
Burn the mask
Just breathe out
Yeah?
Yeah
Finally home at the end
Finally who I wanted
Finally home at the end
Finally Uncaged. from my darkness
I'm free
Yeah
The lyrics of The End by Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman are open for interpretation, but it is clear that it is a reflective and contemplative piece about death and the afterlife. The singer questions who they are and what they were promised as they near the end of their life. They wonder where the Garden of Eden is and why they are burning, perhaps alluding to the concept of hell or purgatory. The singer expresses fear and uncertainty, questioning if everything they did in life was for nothing and why they must return to their "cage," possibly symbolizing their physical body or mundane existence.
As the song progresses, the tone shifts towards acceptance and freedom. The singer decides they are where they want to be and are finally one with The Flame, which could represent a higher power or enlightenment. They feel truly found and Uncaged from their darkness, expressing a sense of liberation and peace in death.
Overall, The End is a poignant and thought-provoking work that invites the listener to reflect on the meaning of life and death.
Line by Line Meaning
Who am I at the end?
What is my true identity as I reach the end of my journey?
Was this what I was promised?
Did the promises made to me truly come to fruition?
Where is the Garden of Eden?
Where is the perfect existence that I long for?
Nowhere near?
Is it truly out of my reach?
Yeah
I acknowledge the hopeless reality
Why am I burning?
Why do I feel such intense suffering?
Where is everyone hiding?
Why do I feel so alone in my pain?
To my cage?
Am I returning to my self-imposed limitations?
Yeah
I acknowledge my own self-imposed limitations
Was this all for nothing?
Did everything I do have no meaning or purpose?
Why am I returning?
Why do I feel like I'm back where I started?
Were The Uncaged. lying?
Did the promises of liberation and freedom turn out to be lies?
Why is The Flame. dying?
Why is the passion and intensity fading away?
I'm afraid
I'm scared of what this means
It all fades away
Everything I once held dear is slipping away
It all fades away now
This feeling of emptiness is becoming stronger
The color fades to gray
The vibrancy of life is being replaced by dullness
Saturate the pain now
I can only try to numb the pain
I'm where I want to be
I have arrived at my destination
I am finally found
I have found my true self
Truly one with The Flame
I have become fully immersed in my passion
Burn the mask
Get rid of the façade and be authentic
Just breathe out
Let go of everything and just breathe
Yeah?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Yeah
I acknowledge your agreement
Finally home at the end
I have finally come to the end of my journey
Finally who I wanted
I have become the person I always wanted to be
Finally home at the end
I have finally come to the end of my journey
Finally Uncaged. from my darkness
I am finally free from my own personal demons
I'm free
I am no longer held back by my own limitations
Yeah
I acknowledge my newfound freedom
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Daniel Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind