Feed the Birds

"Feed the Birds" is a song written by the Sherman Brothers (Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman) and featured in the 1964 motion picture "Mary Poppins". It is reputed to have been Walt Disney's favorite song.

The song speaks of an old beggar woman who sits on the steps of Saint Paul's Cathedral, selling bags of breadcrumbs to passers-by for tuppence a bag, so that the passers-by can feed the many pigeons who surround the old woman. (The scene is reminiscent of the real-life seed sellers in nearby Trafalgar Square.)

Use & placement

In contrast to the energetic nature of most of the film's songs, "Feed the Birds" has religious overtones and is played in a reverent tempo, similar to a hymn. This most serious of songs is thus used to frame the truly serious moments in a film that is mostly humorous and lighthearted. It is used in three places:

Its first appearance is an orchestral segment at the beginning of the film's overture, thus starting the overture slowly. The overture then segués into some of the faster pieces in the film's score.

Its second appearance comes when Mary Poppins sings the song to the children as a sweet lullaby on the night before their trip to the bank. It begins with Mary showing them a water-filled globe of St. Paul's, whose "snowflakes" are in the shape of the many birds flying around the cathedral. While the children sit and listen with rapt attention, scenes cut away to beautiful dreamlike imagery of the cathedral and of the birdwoman, with parts of the song accompanied by an off-screen choir and orchestra. The song and its story set in motion one of the critical pieces of dramatic action in the film, the next day.

Its third appearance is the following evening, a dramatic orchestral and choral rendition, as a sombre and thoughtful Mr. Banks walks to his place of employment, literally and figuratively alone in the streets of London, to face the bank's board of directors to be fired. It segués into a short dirge-like segment as Mr. Banks reaches the door.

Initial reactions

As the Sherman Brothers recall, when Richard Sherman first played and sang "Feed the Birds" to "Mary Poppins"' author, Pamela Travers, she thought it was "nice," but inappropriate for a female voice. Robert Sherman then called in a Disney staff secretary to demonstrate the song again. Upon hearing a woman sing the song, Mrs. Travers' response was that she thought "Greensleeves" was the only truly appropriate song for the soundtrack, as it was "quintessentially English". (Mrs. Travers had originally wanted the only music in the film to be Edwardian period songs.) Eventually and reluctantly, Mrs. Travers acquiesced to the American songwriters' supplying the film's now-classic twentieth century soundtrack.

Robert Sherman recalls:

:"On Fridays, after work, [Walt Disney would] often invite us into his office and we'd talk about things that were going on at the Studio. After a while, he'd wander to the north window, look out into the distance and just say, 'Play it.' And Dick would wander over to the piano and play 'Feed the Birds' for him. One time just as Dick was almost finished, under his breath, I heard Walt say, 'Yep. That's what it's all about.'"

He also comments:

:"Songs have been written about a myriad of subjects. 'Feed the Birds' is the first song written about the merits of giving charity."

The song was sung by the movie's star Julie Andrews to video of the elderly bird woman of the song. Walt Disney himself made the unusual request that the bird woman, though a non-speaking part (except for one line, stating the first line of the song's chorus), be a cameo by one of his favorite character actresses, Academy Award winner Jane Darwell. In her mid eighties and semi-retired from acting (she took episodic guest appearances about once per year in television shows), Ms. Darwell had recently moved into the Motion Picture Country Home due to her advanced age and feebleness. Needing neither the money nor the screen credit she declined the role. Walt Disney, still insistent, personally drove to the retirement home to plead with her, and charmed and flattered that she was so wanted she agreed to take the part. Walt later sent a limousine to bring her to the studio. It was her last screen appearance or acting role.

Literary sources

* Sherman, Robert B. "". Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998.
* Greene, Kathrine and Richard. "Inside The Dream: The Personal Story of Walt Disney". New York: Disney Editions, 2001.

External links

* [http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/feedbirds.htm Lyrics and tune]