Newman has been nominated for 15 Academy Awards and 4 Golden Globes, and has won 2 BAFTAs, 6 Grammys and an Emmy Award. Newman was honored with the Richard Kirk award at the 2000 BMI Film and TV Awards. The award is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to film and television music.
Born in Los Angeles, California, he is the youngest son of Martha Louis Montgomery (1920–2005) and composer Alfred Newman (1900–1970), who won the Academy Award for Best Original Score nine times. He is a member of a film-scoring dynasty in Hollywood that includes his father Alfred, brother David Newman, sister Maria Newman, uncles Lionel Newman and Emil Newman, cousin Randy Newman (also known as a singer and songwriter), and his first cousin, once removed, Joey Newman. His paternal grandparents were Russian immigrants, and his mother was from Mississippi.
During their upbringing, Martha herded her sons into violin lessons in the San Fernando Valley every weekend. Newman later studied composition and orchestration for two years at the University of Southern California, before transferring to Yale University, where he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1977 and a Master of Music in 1978. While at Yale, he met composer Stephen Sondheim, who became an early mentor.
Newman and his wife, Ann Marie, have three children. They reside in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.
At first, Newman was more interested in musical theater than in film composition, working with Sondheim in Broadway plays. Lionel, who succeeded Alfred as music director for 20th Century Fox, gave Thomas his first scoring assignment on a 1979 episode of the series The Paper Chase. In 1983, John Williams, who was a friend of both Alfred and Lionel, invited Newman to work on Return of the Jedi, orchestrating the scene where Darth Vader dies. Afterwards Newman met in New York producer Scott Rudin, who invited him to compose the score for Reckless (1984). Newman said that he thought "it was a tough job, at first" for requiring him to "develop vocabularies and a sense of procedure", only getting comfortable with writing scores "and not fraudulent in my efforts" after 8 years.
In 1992, Newman composed the score to Martin Brest's film Scent of a Woman.
In 1994, he got his first Academy Award nominations with the scores to The Shawshank Redemption and Little Women. He also scored the film The War. In 1996, he scored Diane Keaton's Unstrung Heroes, receiving yet another Oscar nomination. In 1998, he scored Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer as well as Meet Joe Black. In 1999, Newman composed the score to Sam Mendes' first feature film American Beauty, created using mainly percussion instruments. Newman believed the score helped move the film along without disturbing the "moral ambiguity" of the script, saying "It was a real delicate balancing act in terms of what music worked to preserve that." This was his first collaboration with Mendes, and he would go on to score all of the director's subsequent films except for the comedy-drama Away We Go, which featured songs instead of a score. He received a fourth Oscar nomination for this score, and although he lost again (to John Corigliano for The Red Violin), he did receive a Grammy and a BAFTA.
His critical and commercial success has continued in the following years with his scores for films such as Meet Joe Black, The Green Mile, Erin Brockovich, In the Bedroom and The Salton Sea. He was nominated consecutively for a further three Academy Awards, for Road to Perdition (2002), Finding Nemo (2003), and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004). However, he lost on each occasion to Elliot Goldenthal (for Frida), Howard Shore (for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), and Jan A. P. Kaczmarek (for Finding Neverland) respectively.
He was again nominated for an Oscar for scoring Steven Soderbergh's The Good German (2006). At the Oscar ceremony, he appeared in the opening segment by Errol Morris, who jokingly stated that Newman had been nominated for and failed to win an Oscar eight times. Newman replied: "No, I've failed seven but this will be my eighth", and indeed, he again lost, this time to Gustavo Santaolalla for Babel.
His first score since The Good German was for the 2008 animated film WALL-E, collaborating for the second time with director Andrew Stanton (with the first collaboration being Finding Nemo). The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (as had Nemo). Newman received two Oscar nominations: one for Best Original Score, and another for Best Original Song for "Down to Earth", which he co-wrote with Peter Gabriel. He was nominated in the Original Score category with two other veteran composers, James Newton-Howard and Danny Elfman, both of whom have also been nominated for several Oscars but each time unsuccessfully. Newman lost both the score and song nominations to A R Rahman for his work on Slumdog Millionaire. He and Peter Gabriel did however win a Grammy for "Down to Earth".
In 2008, Newman scored Towelhead and Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road and in 2009 he scored Brothers. In 2011 he scored The Help, The Debt, The Iron Lady, and The Adjustment Bureau.
In 2012, Newman scored The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. He also scored the 23rd James Bond movie Skyfall, directed by his longtime collaborator Sam Mendes, which celebrates the film franchise's 50th anniversary. His work on this film earned him his eleventh Oscar nomination and a second BAFTA win. During 2013, he scored Steven Soderbergh's Side Effects and Saving Mr. Banks. The latter score was very well received by film music critics, earning Newman BAFTA and Oscar nominations for the second consecutive year, both of which he lost to Steven Price for Gravity.
Newman's 2014 projects included The Judge and Get on Up. He scored 2015's The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, marking the first time Newman has scored a sequel to a film he also wrote the score for.
In 2016, Newman scored the motion picture Passengers starring Andy Garcia, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt.
Newman likes to vary the instrumentation in his scores, ranging from full orchestra to percussion-only music. He is also fond of incorporating unusual instruments such as the zither, hurdy-gurdy, psaltery and hammered dulcimer, or unexpected sounds, like Aboriginal chants and the chirping of cicadas. The composer declared that he has "an interest in mundane experimentation."
Calling All Angels
Thomas Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And high above him you hear the church bells start to ring.
The heaviness, the heaviness of it settles in,
A mother starts to sing.
Then it's one foot then the other as you step along the road
Steppin' on the road, how much weight, how much weight?
And it's how long and how far and how many times,
Calling all angels, calling all angels.
Walk me through this one, don't leave me alone.
Calling all angels, calling all angels.
We're trying, we're hoping, but we're not sure how
Oh and every day you gaze upon the sunset
With such love and intensity.
Why it's almost as if, if you could only crack the code
You'd finally understand what this all means.
Oh but if you could, do you think you would
Have traded all the pain and suffering?
Oh, but then you would've missed the beauty of the light upon this earth
And the sweetness of the leaving.
Calling all angels, calling all angels!
Walk me through this one, don't leave me alone
Calling all angels, calling all angels,
We're trying, we're hoping but we're not sure
Calling all angels (call all angels)
Calling all angels (call all angels)
Walk me through this one
Don't leave me alone.
Calling all angels, calling all angels
We're trying, we're hoping, we're hurting, we're loving
We're crying, we're calling,
But we're not sure how this goes.
The lyrics of Thomas Newman's song "Calling All Angels" reflect on the heaviness and pain observed in the world and plead for comfort from a divine presence. The verse begins with a man placing a crying baby outside a church, and the bells signify that it's time for the mass. However, the heaviness of the entire situation is profound, and a mother begins to sing to relieve some of that tension. Moving ahead, the chorus phrases, "Calling all angels" captures the feeling of desperation that the singer has, seeking help from some higher power to guide them through their troubles. The lyrics seem to suggest that the singer is struggling with various struggles and wants to have someone by their side to ease them through it all.
The second verse expands a bit more on the quality of life, talking about the simple pleasures of witnessing a sunset with profound love. The phrase "if you could only crack the code" implies that life is a mystery, and despite our efforts to put meaning to it, it continues to elude us. The chorus repeats, underscoring the essential message of the song, which is to plead for guidance from the angels as we navigate through the uncertainty.
Overall, this song's lyrics capture the uncertainty of life and the hope that we can find solace and guidance from something higher, especially when going through challenging times.
Line by Line Meaning
A man is placed upon the steps, a baby cries
A man and a newborn baby are in a desperate situation and are in need of help.
And high above him you hear the church bells start to ring.
The situation is dire enough that even the church bells are ringing, indicating an urgent need.
The heaviness, the heaviness of it settles in,
The gravity and seriousness of the situation become palpable and emotionally taxing.
A mother starts to sing.
In the face of the difficulty, the mother begins to sing, perhaps providing some comfort or hope.
Then it's one foot then the other as you step along the road
Moving forward requires perseverance, taking one step at a time, even when the road is difficult.
Steppin' on the road, how much weight, how much weight?
Carrying the burden of the situation is challenging and taxing physically and emotionally.
And it's how long and how far and how many times,
The difficulty of the situation is compounded by its uncertainty - how long it will last, how far it will go, and how many times it may happen again.
Oh, before it's too late?
Time is of the essence, and it's important to act before it's too late to make a difference.
Calling all angels, calling all angels.
A call for divine or supernatural intervention to help in the situation.
Walk me through this one, don't leave me alone.
A plea for guidance and support in the face of an overwhelming situation.
We're trying, we're hoping, but we're not sure how
Despite efforts and hope, uncertainty and doubt remain about the outcome or how to proceed.
Oh and every day you gaze upon the sunset
Reflecting on the beauty of life and the world around us can provide solace and perspective in difficult times.
With such love and intensity.
The depth of feeling inspired by the beauty of the world can be profound.
Why it's almost as if, if you could only crack the code
The beauty of the world seems almost like a secret, mysterious code that, once understood, would make everything clear.
You'd finally understand what this all means.
Understanding the beauty and mystery of life would provide clarity and meaning that is currently lacking.
Oh but if you could, do you think you would
The beauty of the world is even more poignant because of the pain and suffering that also exists.
Have traded all the pain and suffering?
The tradeoff of understanding the mystery and beauty of life might be that the pain and suffering that make life difficult are also lost.
Oh, but then you would've missed the beauty of the light upon this earth
The beauty and wonder of the world are inextricably linked with the hardship and struggle that also exist.
And the sweetness of the leaving.
Even death and leaving this life can have a bittersweet quality that is beautiful and poignant.
We're trying, we're hoping, we're hurting, we're loving
Life is complex and full of mixed emotions, experiences, and struggles.
We're crying, we're calling,
In times of difficulty, we may cry out for help and rely on others for support.
But we're not sure how this goes.
Despite our best efforts, we may not understand the larger picture or how events will unfold.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JANE SIBERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JustMeandMyGal6773
I wanted to reply to my post and share an e-mail I received a little while back. I removed the names out of respect for the privacy of the family involved and hope you will all understand. This is all very hard for me and I can't read this without feeling loss and yes still some guilt. I am trying very hard to keep going and this e-mail came to me when I needed it most, just as I described above. I guess we all should stop and think about the lives we touch.
Even when we don't realize it.
Mr.(left blank), You don't know me but you knew my husband Daryl. You served with him in the U.S. Army. I am writing to tell you that he passed away 2 weeks ago.
He had talked to me many times about you and the time that you had spent together in the military. You could even say that it was because of you that Daryl and I got married and had the children we have. He told me about the last mission you two were on when he was on point and you were at the rear of the column and spotted what he should have but didn't. You saved his life that day along with the rest of your men.
He used to tell me about how bad he felt about how you handled that boy. He would only say you didn't deserve that. It was after that incident that Daryl transferred back to the U S and asked me to marry him. He would tell me that if it were not for Cpl.(left blank) he wouldn't know how precious life could be.
He told me how deeply it hurt you to see the pain in that boys face when you did what he could not. He used to tell me that he hoped to be half the man that you were in that moment.
I can tell you that he spent his years since being a good husband and father. Always asking "would Cpl. (left blank) be proud."
In these past years he lived his life working hard and loving his 3 boys and I. He was a good man and I loved him dearly.
A couple of years ago he developed some health problems but took it all in stride. Long story short, complications set in and he was recently hospitalized. While there he asked me if I remembered the stories he had told me about you. I told him that I had. He then asked me to get a message to you if I could.
He told me to tell you "Thank You" for saving his life. He also told me to tell you that you are not the devil. I don't know what that means but he said that you would.
I would also like to thank you myself, because from what Daryl told me, if it were not for you I would not have had the time I did with him or my boys.
Our lives will never be the same with out him, but if not for you we would never have had him to begin with. I am sorry to be bringing you bad news like this after so many years but hope the fact that you will always be remembered by us for giving us our Daryl will bring you some measure of comfort.
You might be interested to know that at our wedding we had a picture of you standing as Daryl's best man. We joked about that one many times. Daryl would say "How many people can say that the Angel of Death was their best man".
Lastly, let me thank you again for my Daryl and I hope that life has been treating you like it should. I know that Daryl is watching out for you, me and the boys just like you watched out for him.
With Respect; (left blank) and Family
@TerahHeartEarth99
I love the ending of the song and how it's sung with so much power and such a strong, passionate voice..... from 4:00 to 4:40
@JustMeandMyGal6773
This song and upload has saved my life tonight. I am a U S Military veteran and I have been trying to deal with my survivors quilt. I happened along this song by accident and gave it a listen. While listening to it, it was as if my fallen brothers were standing next to me, letting me know it was o.k. and that they were still fighting for me. So I just want to say thank you for uploading this and especially Thank You to my brothers in arms who died so that I might live.
@SanzL1
Thank YOU and your fallen brothers for your service. People who become tender due to suffering are needed in this world. YOU are needed in this world to show others that they can get through their dark times and to live in honor of those of your friends who died. They would surely want this. Sending you love and gratitude. . .
@JustMeandMyGal6773
I wanted to reply to my post and share an e-mail I received a little while back. I removed the names out of respect for the privacy of the family involved and hope you will all understand. This is all very hard for me and I can't read this without feeling loss and yes still some guilt. I am trying very hard to keep going and this e-mail came to me when I needed it most, just as I described above. I guess we all should stop and think about the lives we touch.
Even when we don't realize it.
Mr.(left blank), You don't know me but you knew my husband Daryl. You served with him in the U.S. Army. I am writing to tell you that he passed away 2 weeks ago.
He had talked to me many times about you and the time that you had spent together in the military. You could even say that it was because of you that Daryl and I got married and had the children we have. He told me about the last mission you two were on when he was on point and you were at the rear of the column and spotted what he should have but didn't. You saved his life that day along with the rest of your men.
He used to tell me about how bad he felt about how you handled that boy. He would only say you didn't deserve that. It was after that incident that Daryl transferred back to the U S and asked me to marry him. He would tell me that if it were not for Cpl.(left blank) he wouldn't know how precious life could be.
He told me how deeply it hurt you to see the pain in that boys face when you did what he could not. He used to tell me that he hoped to be half the man that you were in that moment.
I can tell you that he spent his years since being a good husband and father. Always asking "would Cpl. (left blank) be proud."
In these past years he lived his life working hard and loving his 3 boys and I. He was a good man and I loved him dearly.
A couple of years ago he developed some health problems but took it all in stride. Long story short, complications set in and he was recently hospitalized. While there he asked me if I remembered the stories he had told me about you. I told him that I had. He then asked me to get a message to you if I could.
He told me to tell you "Thank You" for saving his life. He also told me to tell you that you are not the devil. I don't know what that means but he said that you would.
I would also like to thank you myself, because from what Daryl told me, if it were not for you I would not have had the time I did with him or my boys.
Our lives will never be the same with out him, but if not for you we would never have had him to begin with. I am sorry to be bringing you bad news like this after so many years but hope the fact that you will always be remembered by us for giving us our Daryl will bring you some measure of comfort.
You might be interested to know that at our wedding we had a picture of you standing as Daryl's best man. We joked about that one many times. Daryl would say "How many people can say that the Angel of Death was their best man".
Lastly, let me thank you again for my Daryl and I hope that life has been treating you like it should. I know that Daryl is watching out for you, me and the boys just like you watched out for him.
With Respect; (left blank) and Family
@brianlazar8263
It is ok that you survived and continue to do so. What you are feeling is normal, hard to understand, but normal. I agree with Sandra Lavini, a huge thank you to you and your fallen brothers in arms. You are still needed in this world.
@JustMeandMyGal6773
JustMeandMyGal6773 Please God help me. I need you. The memories won't stop! I'm sorry Dwayne. I told you not to go over that rise. I told you it was a hot LZ. You didn't listen. I'm sorry Marie. I tried to stop him. I'm sorry I lived and he didn't. I didn't want him to die. I wish it was me instead of him. Please forgive me.
@TheNCSeven
I know this is 2 years after your original post and I hope it finds you doing better. I could never ever say that I know what your going through and things will get easier, but time does bring understanding and a measure of peace. No one can say for certain why things happen the way that they do, but I believe that God still has purpose in your life. He does not put us in situations that we are not strong enough to carry. Your fallen brethren now live through you and you are able to give closure for them. Live your life to the fullest and know that it is with purpose. Thank you for all you have suffered and sacrificed in the name of others. You are God's solider strong and brave.
@SandyLou66
This movie has a very powerful & positive message. I played it in all of the classes I was teaching. Most students were moved by it...I believe it was worth their watching. Although I've seen it at least 10 times, I still cry!
@Sissavianna1
O filme é espetacular e a música lindíssima... Não tem como não chorar! Maravilhoso!
@lovetimandjulie
One of the most inspiring and heart-breaking movies I've ever seen! Outstanding performances from everyone: Haley Joel Osment, Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Olympia Dukakis, Jon Bon Jovi....incredible!