Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag) 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. Robert B. Sherman (born December 19, 1925) and Richard M. Sherman (born June 12, 1928) are Academy Award-winning American songwriters who specialize in musical film. ... Robert B. Sherman (born December 19, 1925) and Richard M. Sherman (born June 12, 1928) are Academy Award-winning American songwriters, who specialize in musical film. ... Robert B. Sherman (born December 19, 1925) (see also: Sherman Brothers) is an Academy Award-winning American songwriter who specializes in musical films with his brother Richard M. Sherman. ... Mary Poppins is a 1964] feature film based on the Mary Poppins series of childrens books written by P. L. Travers and illustrated by Mary Shepard. ... Walter Elias Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966), was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, and philanthropist. ...

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.) Sung by Mary Poppins as a lullaby to the Banks children, the song sets in motion one of the critical pieces of dramatic action in the movie. St Pauls Cathedral is a cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London in London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. ... twopence, also written as tuppence, is a British coin that worth two pennies. ... Pigeon redirects here. ... Trafalgar Square viewed from the northeast corner. ...

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, the eccentric Mrs. Travers acquiesced to the American songwriters' supplying the film's now-classic twentieth century soundtrack. ... My Lady Greensleeves as depicted in an 1864 painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. ...

Robert Sherman recalls: Robert B. Sherman (born December 19, 1925) (see also: Sherman Brothers) is an Academy Award-winning American songwriter who specializes in musical films with his brother Richard M. Sherman. ...

"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 Sherman Brothers went on to write more musical motion picture song scores than any other songwriting team in history, 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, The Tigger Movie, etc. Walter Elias Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966), was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, and philanthropist. ... Mary Poppins is a 1964] feature film based on the Mary Poppins series of childrens books written by P. L. Travers and illustrated by Mary Shepard. ... This article is about the musical film. ... The Jungle Book is the nineteenth animated feature in the Disney animated features canon. ... The Aristocats is the twentieth animated feature in the Disney animated features canon, released in 1970 from the Walt Disney studio. ... The Tigger Movie film poster The Tigger Movie is a 2000 film produced by The Walt Disney Company and directed by Jun Falkenstein. ...

Mary Poppins Stage Musical

Mary Poppins, the stage musical, premiered in London on December 16, 2004 at the Prince Edward Theatre. It is produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Disney Theatrical. Mary Poppins is the central character in a series of childrens books written by P. L. Travers and illustrated by Mary Shepard, which were subsequently adapted for film and for the stage. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Prince Edward Theatre is a theatre situated on Old Compton Street, just north of Leicester Square in the West End of London. ... Sir Cameron Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946 in Enfield) is a successful British theatrical producer. ... The purpose built Lion King theater in Hamburg New Amsterdam Theater in New York City Advertisement for Beauty and the Beast Disney Theatrical, formally known as Walt Disney Theatrical Productions is the stageplay and musical production arm of The Walt Disney Company. ...

External links

• Lyrics and tune