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.
The Lonely Goatherd
Rodgers And Hammerstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay odl-lay odl-lay hee-hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay odl-lay odl-lay odl-loo
Folks in a town that was quite remote heard
Lay odl-lay odl-lay hee hoo
Lay odl-lay odl-lay odl-loo
[the children]
O ho, lay-dee-odl-lee o, o ho lay-dee-odl-lay
O ho, lay-dee-odl-lee o, o ho lay-dee-odl-lay
[Maria]
A prince on the bridge of a castle moat heard
Lay odl-lay odl-lay hee-hoo
[Kurt]
Men on a road with a load to tote heard
Lay odl-lay odl-lay odl-loo
[the children]
Men in the midst of a table d'hote heard
Lay odl-lay odl-lay hee-hoo
[Maria]
Men drinking beer with the foam afloat heard
Lay odl-lay odl-lay odl-loo
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Lay odl-lay odl-lay hee-hoo
[Brigitta]
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Lay odl-lay odl-lay odl-loo
[Maria]
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay odl-lay odl-lay hee-hoo
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
[all]
Lay odl-lay odl-lay odl-loo
Ummm (ummm)
Odl-lay ee (odl lay ee)
Odl-lay hee hee (odl lay hee hee)
Odl-lay ee
[yodeling]
[Brigitta]
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
[Maria]
Lay-de odl, lay-de odl, lay woo-woo
[Brigitta]
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
[Maria]
Lay-de odl, lay-de odl, lay-de odl-loo
[Maria]
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay-de odl, lay-de odl, lay hmm hmm
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Lay odl-lay odl-lay odl-loo
[all]
Happy are they
Lay-de odl, lay-de de [yodeling]
Soon the duet will become a trio
[Maria]
Lay-de odl-lay-de odl-lay odl-loo
[all]
Odl-lay ee, old-lay ee
Odl-lay hee-hee, odl-lay ee
Odl-lay odl-lay, odl-lay odl-lee, odl-lay odl-lee
Odl-lay odl-lay odl-lay
[the children]
HOO!
The Lonely Goatherd is a fun and upbeat song from the musical The Sound of Music, written by the famous duo Rodgers and Hammerstein. The song is about a lonely goatherd who sings to pass time and his voice echoes throughout the mountains. The song starts with Maria, the singer, singing about how the lonely goatherd's voice echoed throughout the mountains. The children then join in and add to the chorus. The song describes how various people from different walks of life hear the goatherd's singing as they go about their daily lives. Even a prince and a little girl in a pink coat hear his singing.
The song is full of yodeling, which makes it unique and memorable. The yodeling adds a sense of playfulness to the song and enhances the happy and joyous mood. The yodeling makes the song stand out and makes it a hit with audiences of all ages. The song is a perfect example of how music can bring people together irrespective of their backgrounds and differences. The song is an excellent representation of the lively and fun nature of the musical.
Line by Line Meaning
High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
There existed a lonely goatherd situated on a high hill.
Lay odl-lay odl-lay hee-hoo
(Onomatopoeic) The lonely goatherd sang a loud and lively tune.
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
The man's voice was clear and boisterous.
Lay odl-lay odl-lay odl-loo
(Onomatopoeic) The song was inclusive of a repeated catchphrase.
Folks in a town that was quite remote heard
The people located in a faraway town were able to hear the goatherd's melody.
Lusty and clear from the goatherd's throat heard
The goatherd sang his tune with passion and clarity.
O ho, lay-dee-odl-lee o, o ho lay-dee-odl-lay
(Onomatopoeic) Children in the area react enthusiastically to the melody by joining in.
A prince on the bridge of a castle moat heard
A prince who was overlooking a grand castle was able to hear the song.
Men on a road with a load to tote heard
Passersby carrying large objects were also able to hear the melody.
Men in the midst of a table d'hote heard
People dining at a restaurant were able to hear the tune.
Men drinking beer with the foam afloat heard
Individuals indulging in beer while the frothy head sits upon the drink were also able to hear the song.
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
A young girl wearing a pink coat heard the joyful tune.
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
The girl responded by yodeling in return to the goatherd's tune.
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
The young girl's mother heard the song and was pleased with the girl's response to the melody.
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Both the goatherd and the young girl had a beautiful duet going between them.
Happy are they
Both the goatherd and the girl were filled with joy.
Soon the duet will become a trio
Another person will join the young girl and the goatherd to make a trio.
Odl-lay ee, old-lay ee
Odl-lay hee-hee, odl-lay ee
Odl-lay odl-lay, odl-lay odl-lee, odl-lay odl-lee
Odl-lay odl-lay odl-lay
(Onomatopoeic) The song continues as the trio sing together.
HOO!
(Onomatopoeic) The song comes to a joyful conclusion.
Contributed by Anna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@littleblueowl216
LYRICS:
High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Folks in a town that was quite remote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Lusty and clear from the goatherd's throat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
O ho lay dee odl lee o, o ho lay dee odl ay
O ho lay dee odl lee o, lay dee odl lee o lay
A prince on the bridge of a castle moat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Men on a road with a load to tote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Men in the midst of a table d'hote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Men drinking beer with the foam afloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Maria and the Children:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Ummm (ummm)
Odl lay ee (odl lay ee)
Odl lay hee hee (odl lay hee hee)
Odl lay ee
Yodeling
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hoo hoo
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hmm hmm
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Happy are they lay dee olay dee lee o
Yodeling
Soon the duet will become a trio
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Odl lay ee, old lay ee
Odl lay hee hee, odl lay ee
Odl lay odl lay, odl lay odl lee, odl lay odl lee
Odl lay odl lay odl lay
Hoo!
@blister2pack
How do you solve or dissolve a memory of captain Von Trappe or Maria?
Ode to Christopher Plummer
Thou with Julie Andrews and your lovely team, created the music etched in our hearts,
Emanating from the deep depths of Austria
Where the lovely Edelweiss bloom
Driving away the stony depression
Caused by the holocaust called Hitler!
The lively musical 🎼 dust enlivened and stole the hearts of people starting from Europe
to the tiny corners of the globe!
Enthralled the 70s to the young music lovers of 2021... with a soothing balm called Sound of music!
Salute to you sir, as long as the humanity lives.. the lovely music of Richard Rodgers and your portrayal
The Sound of Music shall echo and reverberate in all hearts .
In this distressing time of Covid 19 pandemic let the people be cured by listening to these wonderful music 🎶
@LAvsPORTLAND
Does anyone else want Julie Andrews to live forever??
@brianpmccallion7477
I would but I don't think that would be even possible
@buglikeanang3l
When you remind me that she will die eventually 👀
@nevaehrm
Thanks for putting that in my mind😑😭
@cameronwhatidoinsparetime8300
Yeah I do
@danielatay2412
Meeeeee
@knguyennguyen5559
Just realizing how the story of the lonely goatherd mirrors the movie’s plot. The lonely goatherd (a lonely man - Captain Von Trapp) with his goat herd (his children) build a new family with a girl (Maria) who responded to his song (request for a new governess), with the girl’s mother (Reverend Mother) encouraging the girl to follow her heart
@roamer1389
Great catch!!!
The sacred and the propane.
@12classics39
Omg you’re a genius!!!!!
@reneebecher4463
I read how the kids and Julie actually spent 3 months learning how to do this scene; marionette puppets, singing & everything❣️