Step in Time
Encyclopedia
"Step in Time" is a song and dance number from Walt Disney
's 1964
film Mary Poppins
, and it is composed by Richard M. Sherman
and Robert B. Sherman
. The choreography for this song was provided by Marc Breaux
and Dee Dee Wood
. It is sung by Bert, the chimney sweep (Dick Van Dyke
) and the other chimney sweeps on the rooftops of London
. In the first part of the song, the lines he says in the verses are "Kick your knees up", "'Round the chimney
", "Flap like a birdie", "Up on the railing", "Over the rooftops" and "Link your elbows" followed by an interlude. The interlude continues with Bert, Mary Poppins, Michael, Jane and all the chimney sweepers dancing around the rooftops and as Admiral Boom looks at them with the telescope
, he thinks that they're Hottentots
, so he orders Mr. Binnigal to make them scram with colorful fireworks
. In the second part, as all the chimney sweepers get in the house of George Banks, Mrs. Brill walks into the living room looking at them and screams, "THEY'RE AT IT AGAIN!" and she runs away trying to strike one of the chimney sweepers with a frying pan
. As Jane, Michael, Mary Poppins and Bert get in the same place, Ellen runs around the dining room with an "OW!" and the chimney sweepers flip her. The other phrases in the rest of the musical number are "Votes for women," "It's the master," and "What's all this?"
Step in Time appears in the stage musical
, with a very similar purpose. The main difference, however, is that (thanks to the possibilities of sophisticated theatrical staging) Bert walks upside down on the proscenium arch over the stage. In addition, this version of the song is sung to show Jane and Michael that chimney sweeps are also guardian angels.
It is also very similar to another song Dick Van Dyke sang called "Me Ole Bamboo" from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
.
A shortened version is also present on the Sing Along Songs video "Disneyland Fun."
A rendition also appears on the 1982 exercise album Mousercise
, but with mostly different lyrics ("Kick your knees up" and "Flap like a birdie" are kept in this version). This version was also seen as an episode of D-TV
on the Disney Channel
.
_________________________, step in time
_________________________, step in time
Never need a reason, never need a rhyme
_________________________, (step) in time
2. 'Round The Chimney
3. Flap Like A Birdie
4. Up On The Railing
5. Over The Rooftops
6. Link Your Elbows
7. (A little later) Mary Poppins
9. OW!
10. Votes For Women
11. It's The Master
12. What's All This?
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's 1964
1964 in film
The year 1964 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 29 - The film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is released....
film Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins (film)
Mary Poppins is a 1964 musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, produced by Walt Disney, and based on the Mary Poppins books series by P. L. Travers with illustrations by Mary Shepard. The film was directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, with songs by...
, and it is composed by Richard M. Sherman
Richard M. Sherman
Richard Morton Sherman is an American songwriter who specializes in musical film with his brother Robert Bernard Sherman....
and Robert B. Sherman
Robert B. Sherman
Robert Bernard Sherman is an American songwriter who specializes in musical films with his brother Richard Morton Sherman...
. The choreography for this song was provided by Marc Breaux
Marc Breaux
Marc Breaux is an American choreographer and occasional film director best known for his work on musical films of the 1960s and 1970s. Most of his well known work was in collaboration with Dee Dee Wood to whom he was married for many years...
and Dee Dee Wood
Dee Dee Wood
Dee Dee Wood is an American Choreographer best known for her work on musical films of the 1960s and 1970s. Most of her well known work was in collaboration with Marc Breaux, to whom she was married for many years. Much of Wood's most recognized work was also in collaboration with the songwriting...
. It is sung by Bert, the chimney sweep (Dick Van Dyke
Dick Van Dyke
Richard Wayne "Dick" Van Dyke is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer with a career spanning six decades. He is the older brother of Jerry Van Dyke, and father of Barry Van Dyke...
) and the other chimney sweeps on the rooftops of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In the first part of the song, the lines he says in the verses are "Kick your knees up", "'Round the chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
", "Flap like a birdie", "Up on the railing", "Over the rooftops" and "Link your elbows" followed by an interlude. The interlude continues with Bert, Mary Poppins, Michael, Jane and all the chimney sweepers dancing around the rooftops and as Admiral Boom looks at them with the telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
, he thinks that they're Hottentots
Khoikhoi
The Khoikhoi or Khoi, in standardised Khoekhoe/Nama orthography spelled Khoekhoe, are a historical division of the Khoisan ethnic group, the native people of southwestern Africa, closely related to the Bushmen . They had lived in southern Africa since the 5th century AD...
, so he orders Mr. Binnigal to make them scram with colorful fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
. In the second part, as all the chimney sweepers get in the house of George Banks, Mrs. Brill walks into the living room looking at them and screams, "THEY'RE AT IT AGAIN!" and she runs away trying to strike one of the chimney sweepers with a frying pan
Frying pan
A frying pan, frypan, or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. It is typically in diameter with relatively low sides that flare outwards, a long handle, and no lid. Larger pans may have a small grab handle opposite the main handle...
. As Jane, Michael, Mary Poppins and Bert get in the same place, Ellen runs around the dining room with an "OW!" and the chimney sweepers flip her. The other phrases in the rest of the musical number are "Votes for women," "It's the master," and "What's all this?"
Step in Time appears in the stage musical
Mary Poppins (musical)
Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P. L. Travers and the Disney 1964 film. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre...
, with a very similar purpose. The main difference, however, is that (thanks to the possibilities of sophisticated theatrical staging) Bert walks upside down on the proscenium arch over the stage. In addition, this version of the song is sung to show Jane and Michael that chimney sweeps are also guardian angels.
It is also very similar to another song Dick Van Dyke sang called "Me Ole Bamboo" from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car is a children's book written by Ian Fleming for his son Caspar, with illustrations by John Burningham...
.
A shortened version is also present on the Sing Along Songs video "Disneyland Fun."
A rendition also appears on the 1982 exercise album Mousercise
Mousercise
Mousercise is the title of several Disney productions:* A 1982 exercise album for children released by Disneyland Records, featuring various Disney songs....
, but with mostly different lyrics ("Kick your knees up" and "Flap like a birdie" are kept in this version). This version was also seen as an episode of D-TV
D-TV
D-TV was a series of music videos created by Walt Disney Productions in 1984 using popular music and video footage from Disney videos, mostly cartoons, created out of the trend of music videos on cable channel MTV, which inspired the name of this series...
on the Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
.
Main lyrics
(What you like to say)_________________________, step in time
_________________________, step in time
Never need a reason, never need a rhyme
_________________________, (step) in time
By the rooftops of London
1. Kick Your Knees Up2. 'Round The Chimney
3. Flap Like A Birdie
4. Up On The Railing
5. Over The Rooftops
6. Link Your Elbows
7. (A little later) Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins is a series of children's books written by P. L. Travers and originally illustrated by Mary Shepard. The books centre on a magical English nanny, Mary Poppins. She is blown by the East wind to Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane, London and into the Banks' household to care for their...
Inside the house
8. (Ah!) They're At It Again9. OW!
10. Votes For Women
11. It's The Master
12. What's All This?
Literary Sources
- Sherman, Robert B. Walt's Time: from before to beyondWalt's Time: from before to beyondWalt's Time: from before to beyond is a 252-page autobiographic, full color book by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. It was edited by Imagineers Bruce Gordon, David Mumford and Jeff Kurtti and was published in 1998 by Camphor Tree Publishers who are out of Santa Clarita, California...
. Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998.