The pair wrote nine musicals together and collaborated on a musical film, State Fair. As producers, they also brought Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun to the stage, leaving an indelible mark on American musical theater and a legacy of successes that has never been equaled.
Our greatest living Broadway composer, Steven Sondheim, spent summers with Oscar Hammerstein during his formative adoplescent years. The legacy lives on.
Maria
Rodgers And Hammerstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her dress has got a tear
She waltzes on her way to mass
And whistles on the stair
And underneath her wimple
She has curlers in her hair
I've even heard her singing in the abbey
But her penitence is real
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal
I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel
Maria's not an asset to the abbey
I'd like to say a word in her behalf:
Maria makes me laugh
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertigibbet?
A will-o'-the-wisp?
A clown
Many a-thing you know you'd like tell her
Many a-thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
When I'm with her I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I am
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling
She's a demon
She's a lamb
She'd out pester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She can throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle, she is wild
She's a riddle, she's a child
She's a headache
She's an angel
She's a girl
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertigibbet?
A will-o'-the-wisp?
A clown
Many a-thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a-thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
The song "Maria" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "The Sound of Music" is a playful and charming number that serves to introduce the audience to the character of Maria. Here, the nuns at the abbey where she lives are discussing her behavior and how she's not "an asset to the abbey." The lyrics describe her as a bit of a free spirit who often gets into scrapes, yet is always genuine in her penitence. The nuns are perplexed about how to deal with her, and the song concludes with the famous lines asking: "How do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? How do you find a word that means Maria?" The verses also paint a picture of Maria as a somewhat enigmatic character who is both lovely and frustrating, unpredictable yet endearing.
While at a surface level, "Maria" seems to be a playful song about a mischievous character, it also touches on deeper themes of individuality and how to deal with those who don't fit society's norms. Maria's refusal to be tied down by traditional expectations is what endears her to the audience, and her charm and vivacity are things the nuns come to appreciate by the end of the show. Therefore, the song isn't just a lighthearted musical number but serves to highlight the importance of embracing everyone's unique qualities instead of trying to suppress them.
Line by Line Meaning
She climbs a tree, and scrapes her knee
Maria is playful and adventurous, even if it means getting hurt in the process
Her dress has got a tear
Maria is not concerned with her appearance and wears clothes that may not be in perfect condition
She waltzes on her way to mass
Maria finds joy and happiness in the little things, like dancing on her way to church
And whistles on the stair
Maria is carefree and joyful, regularly expressing her happiness with a whistle or a song
And underneath her wimple
She has curlers in her hair
Maria's playful nature extends even to her attire, as she doesn't always adhere to the strict rules of the abbey
I've even heard her singing in the abbey
Maria's love for music is so strong that she sometimes can't help but break the rules and sing in places she shouldn't
She's always late for chapel
But her penitence is real
Maria may not be punctual, but she takes her religious beliefs seriously and approaches them with sincerity
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal
Maria may struggle with punctuality, but one thing she never misses is a good meal
I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel
Maria's not an asset to the abbey
While Maria has her endearing qualities, it's clear that she doesn't always fit in with the strict and structured environment of the abbey
I'd like to say a word in her behalf:
Maria makes me laugh
Despite her flaws, Maria's unique personality and antics bring joy and laughter to those around her
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertigibbet?
A will-o'-the-wisp?
A clown
Maria is so unique and unpredictable that it's difficult to categorize her or find a solution to the challenges she poses
Many a-thing you know you'd like tell her
Many a-thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
While Maria may frustrate others with her flighty nature, they still care for her and want to guide her in a positive direction
When I'm with her I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I am
Maria's unpredictability can be disorienting and confusing to those around her
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling
She's a demon
She's a lamb
Maria's personality is multifaceted and complex, making it difficult to accurately describe her or understand her fully
She'd out pester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She can throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
Maria's energy and passion are so intense that she could even make a pest look tame in comparison
She is gentle, she is wild
She's a riddle, she's a child
She's a headache
She's an angel
She's a girl
Maria's personality is a paradox, as she contains both childlike innocence and wild unpredictability, simultaneously driving others crazy and winning their hearts
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertigibbet?
A will-o'-the-wisp?
A clown
Many a-thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a-thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
The question of how to deal with Maria's unique personality is one that remains unanswered, as she continues to confound and amuse those around her
Oh how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
Maria is so ethereal and unpredictable that trying to control her is like trying to hold a moonbeam, an impossible feat
Contributed by Leah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@AJStarhiker
Half the song is missing. I keep wanting them to continue:
"When I'm with her, I'm confused, out of focus and bemused, and I never know where I am."
"She's as flighty as a feather."
"Unpredictable as weather."
"She's a darling."
"She's a demon."
"She's a lamb."
@SergiSabateRuano
She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee, her dress has got a tear
She waltzes on her way to Mass and whistles on the stair
And underneath her wimple she has curlers in her hair
I even heard her singing in the abbey
She's always late for chapel, but her penitence is real
She's always late for everything, except for every meal
I hate to have to say it, but I very firmly feel
Maria's not an asset to the abbey
I'd like to say a word in her behalf (It say it, sister Margarita)
Maria makes me laugh
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find the word that means Maria?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay and listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
@dianalee3059
My mother was one of the ladies in this scene. They hired singers who could say a few lines. She was the short one with the round wire glasses. She absolutely loved doing this. They worked for six weeks total. She took a lot of ribbing about My mother, the nun. RIP Mom, I miss you so much!
@shadowoflugia
I love this! Thanks for sharing, and I’m glad you get to have this immortalized scene to remember her by! ♥️
@Patrick3183
Thanks for sharing
@leahraji3244
Oh wow! What an accomplishment!
@cahillgreg
Thanks for sharing Diana - I've loved this since my mother took me to the Cinema in the mid 60s to see it in Dublin, Ireland.
I got ribbed too - haha
@lennyblue4u
What a wonderful treasure to memorialize your mother forever. She still lives in your heart . Thank you .
@kittykatsarecuties1238
The fact that they sang this at her wedding had me DEAD
@aleeshafrhna4311
Same😭😭
@coolcooldude1631
Cause marriage was how it was solved
@coolcooldude1631
But still funny haha