The Sherman Brothers wrote more motion picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in history[1], 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, The Aristocats and The Tigger Movie.
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 publishing arm, Wonderland Music Company. That same year, the Sherman Brothers had their first "Top Ten" hit with "Tall Paul", sung 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.
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-loved song: "It's a Small World (after all)" for the 1964 New York World's Fair. Since then, "Small World" has become the most translated and performed song on earth.
In 1965, the Sherman Brothers won 2 Academy Awards for Mary Poppins, which includes the songs "Feed The Birds", "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and the Oscar winner, "Chim Chim Cher-ee". Since Mary Poppins' premiere, the Shermans have subsequently earned 9 Academy Award nominations, 2 Grammy Awards, 4 Grammy Award nominations and an incredible 23 gold and platinum albums.
Robert and Richard Sherman worked directly for Walt Disney 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 and 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.
(Left to right) Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman on the cover of the 1991 publication: The Sherman Brothers Songbook, published by Hal Leonard Music.
(Left to right) Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman on the cover of the 1991 publication: The Sherman Brothers Songbook, published by Hal Leonard Music.
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 features both song-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 the 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 and Broomsticks (1971) and Little Nemo: Adventures In Slumberland (1992).
Outside the motion picture realm, their Tony 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 Disney's blockbuster film: The Tigger Movie (2000). This film marked the brothers' first major motion picture for the Disney company in over twenty eight 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 theatre'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, 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.
Collaboration from afar
Since 2002, Robert Sherman has lived in London, England. He moved from Beverly Hills while Richard Sherman remained in California. Surprisingly; however, the separation did not impede the brothers' collaborative process. The brothers have credited this to the technological advents of fax machines, email and low cost, international telephone service. Also, both brothers travel between Los Angeles, New York and London frequently which also facilitates their work. Since Robert's move, the brothers have continued to collaborate on various musical plays as well as a feature, animated, film musical which incorporates their original story, song score and screenplay.
Major scores
* The Sword in the Stone, 1963
* Big Red, 1963
* Mary Poppins, 1964
* The Happiest Millionaire, 1967
* The Jungle Book, 1967
* The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, 1968
* Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968
* The Aristocats, 1970
* Bedknobs and Broomsticks, 1971
* Snoopy, Come Home, 1972
* Charlotte's Web, 1973
* Tom Sawyer, 1973
* Huckleberry Finn, 1974
* The Slipper and the Rose, 1976
* The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, 1977
* The Magic of Lassie, 1978
* Magic Journeys, 1982
* Winnie the Pooh and a Day For Eeyore, 1983
* Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, 1992
* The Mighty Kong, 1998
* Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving", 1999
* The Tigger Movie, 2000
* Inkas the Ramferinkas, 2008 (announced)
Stage musicals
* Victory Canteen, 1971 (Ivar Theatre, L.A.)
* Over Here!, 1974 (Broadway, NY)
* Dawgs, 1983 (Variety Arts Center, L.A.)
* Busker Alley, 1995 (U.S. Tour)
* Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2002 (London)
* Mary Poppins, 2004 (London)
* Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2005 (Broadway, NY)
* Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2005 (UK Tour)
* Busker Alley, 2006 (Broadway, NY - *one night only)
* Mary Poppins, 2006 (Broadway, NY)
Theme park songs
* There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow for Carousel of Progress
* Miracles from Molecules for Adventure Thru Inner Space
* One Little Spark for Journey Into Imagination
* The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (attraction)
* "it's a small world" for the 1964 New York World's Fair attraction of the same name.
* "The Astuter Computer Revue" for the 1982 premiere of the CommuniCore Exhibit at EPCOT.
* Magic Highways for Rocket Rods
* Makin' Memories for Magic Journeys
* The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room for Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
* "We Meet the World with Love" and Meet the World for the same exhibit in Tokyo Disneyland
Chim Chim Cheree
The Sherman Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee!
A sweep is as lucky
As lucky can be
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Good luck will rub off when
I shakes 'ands with you
Or blow me a kiss
And that's lucky too
Now as the ladder of life
'As been strung
You may think a sweep's
On the bottommost rung
Though I spends me time
In the ashes and smoke
In this 'ole wide world
There's no 'appier bloke
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee!
A sweep is as lucky
As lucky can be
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-oo!
Good luck will rub off when
I shakes 'ands with you
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee!
A sweep is as lucky
As lucky can be
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-oo!
Good luck will rub off when
I shakes 'ands with you
I choose me bristles with pride
Yes, I do
A broom for the shaft
And a broom for the flume
Up where the smoke is
All billered and curled
'Tween pavement and stars
Is the chimney sweep world
When the's 'ardly no day
Nor 'ardly no night
There's things 'alf in shadow
And 'alf way in light
On the roof tops of London
Coo, what a sight!
Though I'm covered with soot
From me 'ead to me toes
A sweep knows 'e's welcome
Wherever 'e goes
Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee!
When you're with a sweep
You're in glad company
No where is there
A more 'appier crew
Than them wot sings
"Chim chim cher-ee
Chim cher-oo!"
On the chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee
Chim cher-oo!
"Chim Chim Cheree" is a cheerful song about the joys of being a chimney sweep and the luck that comes with it. The repetitive use of "Chim, Chiminey" adds to the cheerful nature of the song, making it more melodic and enjoyable. The lyrics describe the life of a sweep and how they find happiness in their work, despite the dirty and grimy conditions they work in. The main idea behind the song is that it is not the job that counts; rather, it is how one finds joy in it. The song also portrays a sense of community, that sweeps are not alone in the world, they have each other's company and share stories, so delightfully presented in the song's composition.
The lines "A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be" and "good luck will rub off when I shakes 'ands with you" suggests that the song is philosophical, proposing that luck is not an external force, but something within oneself. The song advises listeners to adopt a positive attitude and find joy in the little things. Even the dirty work of a chimney sweep could bring joy and good luck if one chooses to look at it from a different angle.
Line by Line Meaning
Chim chiminey
The sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chiminey
The continuing sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chim cher-ee!
A traditional sound that a chimney sweep would sing to attract customers
A sweep is as lucky
A chimney sweep considers himself fortunate
As lucky can be
He feels he couldn't be any luckier
Chim chiminey
The sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chiminey
The continuing sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chim cher-oo!
A variation of the traditional sound that a chimney sweep would sing
Good luck will rub off when
The good fortune of a chimney sweep will transfer to others
I shakes 'ands with you
When I shake your hand
Or blow me a kiss
When you blow a kiss to me
And that's lucky too
This will also bring good fortune
Now as the ladder of life
The climbing of the social hierarchy
'As been strung
Has been put in place
You may think a sweep's
One might assume a chimney sweep is
On the bottommost rung
At the lowest level of society
Though I spends me time
Despite spending my time
In the ashes and smoke
Working in dirty and dangerous conditions
In this 'ole wide world
In the entire world
There's no 'appier bloke
There is nobody happier
A sweep is as lucky
A chimney sweep considers himself fortunate
As lucky can be
He feels he couldn't be any luckier
Chim chiminey
The sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chiminey
The continuing sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chim cher-oo!
A variation of the traditional sound that a chimney sweep would sing
Good luck will rub off when
The good fortune of a chimney sweep will transfer to others
I shakes 'ands with you
When I shake your hand
Chim chiminey
The sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chiminey
The continuing sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chim cher-ee!
A traditional sound that a chimney sweep would sing to attract customers
A sweep is as lucky
A chimney sweep considers himself fortunate
As lucky can be
He feels he couldn't be any luckier
Chim chiminey
The sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chiminey
The continuing sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chim cher-oo!
A variation of the traditional sound that a chimney sweep would sing
Good luck will rub off when
The good fortune of a chimney sweep will transfer to others
I shakes 'ands with you
When I shake your hand
I choose me bristles with pride
I take great care in selecting my chimney sweep tools
Yes, I do
Indeed I do
A broom for the shaft
A brush for the handle
And a broom for the flume
A brush for the chimney pipe
Up where the smoke is
In the chimney
All billered and curled
Where smoke is twisted and tangled
'Tween pavement and stars
Between the ground and the sky
Is the chimney sweep world
This is the world of a chimney sweep
When the's 'ardly no day
When there is hardly any daylight
Nor 'ardly no night
When there is hardly any nighttime
There's things 'alf in shadow
Some objects are only partially visible in the darkness
And 'alf way in light
Some objects are only partially visible in the light
On the roof tops of London
On the roofs of buildings in London
Coo, what a sight!
Wow, what a view!
Though I'm covered with soot
Even though I am dirty
From me 'ead to me toes
From my head to my toes
A sweep knows 'e's welcome
A chimney sweep is always welcome
Wherever 'e goes
No matter where he goes
Chim chiminey
The sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chiminey
The continuing sound that a chimney sweep would sing as he works
Chim chim cher-ee!
A traditional sound that a chimney sweep would sing to attract customers
When you're with a sweep
When you're in the company of a chimney sweep
You're in glad company
You're in good company
No where is there
Nowhere is there
A more 'appier crew
A happier group of people
Than them wot sings
Than the ones who sing
"Chim chim cher-ee
"Chim chim cher-ee
Chim cher-oo!"
Chim cher-oo!"
On the chim chiminey
On the chimney
Chim chim cher-ee
A traditional sound that a chimney sweep would sing to attract customers
Chim cher-oo!
A variation of the traditional sound that a chimney sweep would sing
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@friendlyflow
Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee
A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be
Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-oo
Good luck will rub off when I shakes 'ands with you
Or blow me a kiss
And that's lucky too
Now as the ladder of life as been strung
You may think a sweep's on the bottommost rung
Though I spends me time in the ashes and smoke
In this 'ole wide world there's no 'appier bloke
Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee
A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be
Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-oo
Good luck will rub off when I shakes 'ands with you
Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee
A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be
Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-oo
Good luck will rub off when I shakes 'ands with you
I choose me bristles with pride
Yes, I do
A broom for the shaft and a brush for the flume
Up where the smoke is all billered and curled
'Tween pavement and stars is the chimney sweep world
When the's 'ardly no day
Nor 'ardly no night
There's things 'alf in shadow
And 'alf way in light
On the roof tops of London
Cool, what a sight
Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee
When you're with a sweep, you're in glad company
No where is there are more 'appier crew
Than them wot sings, chim chim cher-ee, chim cher-oo
Chim chiminey, chim chim
Cher-ee chim cher-oo
@edoardo7311
the more I grow old, the more every Mary Poppins song gets me emotional...
@emilylarimore127
Same here
@andrewrees4600
Totally agree, love this song. Reminds me of my mum who passed 2 yrs ago and my childhood.
@Michelle_Schu-blacka
It's memories of childhood ... No commitments, no responsibilities, no hangups.
@stevefielding7475
and me
@kdp8133
Back to my wonderful, loving childhood.
@froboythestud
Was Dick VanDyke’s accent really inaccurate? Yes. Was his performance absolutely perfect, enchanting, lovable, and iconic in every other way? Definitely!
@Imaragamuffinchild
I adore the attempt though haha
@janitabekkering
froboythestud i
@marsbars504
froboythestud no it wasn’t but he is just acting it’s not his accent I’m pretty sure! But it was very accurate to a regular heavy accented British man