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 Life I Lead
Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel a surge of deep satisfaction
Much as a king astride his noble steed
Thank you.
When I return from daily strife to hearth and wife
How pleasant is the life I lead!
Mrs. Banks: Dear, it's about the children...
I run my home precisely on schedule
At 6:01, I march through my door
My slippers, sherry, and pipe are due at 6:02
Consistent is the life I lead!
Mrs. Banks: George, they're missing!
Mr. Banks: Splendid, splendid.
It's grand to be an Englishman in 1910
King Edward's on the throne; it's the age of men
I'm the lord of my castle, the sov'reign, the liege!
I treat my subjects--servants, children, wife
With a firm but gentle hand, noblesse oblige!
It's 6:03 and the heirs to my dominion
Are scrubbed and tubbed and adequately fed
And so I'll pat them on the head and send them off to bed
Ah, lordly is the life I lead!
A British nanny must be a gen'ral
The future empire lies within her hands
And so the person that we need to mold the breed
Is a nanny who can give commands!
Mr. Banks: You getting this, Winifred?
Mrs. Banks: Oh yes, dear, every word!
Mr. Banks:
A British bank is run with precision
A British home requires nothing less!
Tradition, discipline, and rules must be the tools
Without them...Disorder! Catastrophe! Anarchy!
In short, you have a ghastly mess!
The Life I Lead is a song from the 1964 movie Mary Poppins. It is sung by the character Mr. George Banks, played by David Tomlinson, who is a banker and the patriarch of the Banks family. In this song, Mr. Banks celebrates the joys of his orderly and structured life while his wife, Mrs. Banks, tries to get his attention regarding their missing children.
The opening lines of the song convey Mr. Banks' sense of contentment and superiority as he compares himself to a king on a horse. He then goes on to outline his daily routine, which runs like clockwork and which he finds immensely satisfying. He takes pride in the fact that he is an Englishman living in a time of great power and progress. He sees himself as the lord of his castle, treating his family and servants with a firm but gentle hand. He is pleased that he has raised obedient children who are ready for bed by 6:03 pm when he sends them off to slumber. Finally, Mr. Banks stresses the importance of order and discipline in a British home and business, warning against disorder and chaos.
The song is a commentary on the rigid social hierarchy and values of early 20th-century England. Mr. Banks represents the values of his class and is a harsh critic of anything that deviates from the norm. Mrs. Banks, on the other hand, represents a more liberal and empathetic perspective, one that is open to change and experimentation. The lyrics, the melody, and the performance by David Tomlinson combine to create a masterful caricature of the British establishment.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel a surge of deep satisfaction
I am filled with immense pleasure and contentment
Much as a king astride his noble steed
Similar to a king atop his superior horse
Thank you.
Gratefulness expressed
When I return from daily strife to hearth and wife
After a long day of battling life's obstacles and returning to my family
How pleasant is the life I lead!
I find great enjoyment in the way I live
Dear, it's about the children...
Referring to the importance of the children in their lives
Yes, yes, yes.
Agreement confirmed
I run my home precisely on schedule
My household is operated with great exactness and organization
At 6:01, I march through my door
Upon arrival home, it is at exactly 6:01
My slippers, sherry, and pipe are due at 6:02
I expect my personal comforts (slippers, sherry, and pipe) to be ready for me by 6:02
Consistent is the life I lead!
My life is guided by a reliable and unwavering routine
Splendid, splendid.
An exclamation of approval
It's grand to be an Englishman in 1910
Being an Englishman during this historical period is wonderful
King Edward's on the throne; it's the age of men
King Edward rules, and this is a time of masculine power
I'm the lord of my castle, the sov'reign, the liege!
I am in control of my home and family; the supreme ruler
I treat my subjects--servants, children, wife
My family members (children and wife) and household staff (servants) are addressed as my subjects
With a firm but gentle hand, noblesse oblige!
I maintain authority over them with a kindly but strong approach, following the obligation of the noble class
It's 6:03 and the heirs to my dominion
At exactly 6:03, my offspring, who will inherit my kingdom, are attended to
Are scrubbed and tubbed and adequately fed
They have had a proper cleaning and feeding
And so I'll pat them on the head and send them off to bed
I will give them an affectionate gesture and then send them to sleep
Ah, lordly is the life I lead!
My existence is that of a great ruler
A British nanny must be a gen'ral
A nanny in England has to be a commander
The future empire lies within her hands
The growth and success of the children and household rest on the nanny's abilities
And so the person that we need to mold the breed
A person who can shape the character of the children is required
Is a nanny who can give commands!
A nanny who can give orders is ideal
You getting this, Winifred?
Asking if Winifred is understanding the importance of a nanny in their lives
Oh yes, dear, every word!
Assurance that Winifred is fully comprehending and paying attention
A British bank is run with precision
A bank in England is operated with extreme accuracy
A British home requires nothing less!
A household in England demands no less than the utmost precision
Tradition, discipline, and rules must be the tools
In order to maintain precision, tradition, discipline, and rules are necessary
Without them...Disorder! Catastrophe! Anarchy!
If these things are non-existent, chaos and devastation will occur
In short, you have a ghastly mess!
Simply put, it is a dreadful disaster
Contributed by Stella M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.