A Spoonful of Sugar

"A Spoonful of Sugar" is a song from Walt Disney's film and the musical versions of Mary Poppins, and it is composed by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman.

It is an uptempo song sung by Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews), instructing the two children, Jane (Karen Dotrice) and Michael (Matthew Garber) to clean their room. But even though the task is daunting, with a good attitude, it can still be fun. The melody is heard throughout the film as Mary's leitmotif.

In the musical, Robertson Ay and Mrs. Brill are helping Mrs. Banks for a tea party she is planning. Mrs. Brill tells Robertson Ay to make the frosting, which the kids try to do it instead (with Robertson Ay giving them warnings). This causes the kitchen to fall apart. Mrs. Banks is shocked to see the kitchen in this shape, when she came down with Mary Poppins. Mary sends her upstairs to get dressed, while she gives Jane and Michael some medicine, which comes out different colors (just like the film). Cleaning the kitchen up is similar to cleaning up the nursery in the film. At the end, Mary, Jane and Michael head out on their outing much to the delight of Mrs. Brill. The song is mixed with "The Bare Necessities" and "It's a Small World", also Sherman songs, in the final number of On the Record, a short lived revue of Disney songs.

History
Julie Andrews had not yet committed to do the part of Mary Poppins. She didn't like the song that was written for her and did not think it made an appropriate signature song, as it did not have enough snap to it. The original song was called "The Eyes of Love". Walt Disney instructed the Sherman Brothers to come up with something more catchy. Robert Sherman, who is the primary lyricist of the duo arrived home from work one evening, having worked all day trying to come up with a song idea. As he walked in the door, his wife, Joyce informed him that the children had received their polio vaccine that day. Bob asked his five year old son if it hurt (thinking that the boy had received a shot). His son responded that it (the medicine) was put on a cube of sugar and that he swallowed it. Realizing what he had, Robert Sherman arrived at work early the next morning and suggested the lyric to his brother, Richard Sherman, who at first thought it was the worst song idea ever. Later, he played a melody to it (After thinking about Mary singing Stay Awake when she wants them to go to sleep. What this meant was that he thought whenever the lyric was the "down" part of the first chorus line, to go up with the music). With that, the song was born.

Broadway Lyrics
Mary Poppins:

In every job that must be done

There is an element of fun

You find the fun and snap!

The job's a game

And ev'ry task you undertake

Becomes a piece of cake

A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see that...

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

The medicine go dow-own

The medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In the most delightful way!

A robin feathering his nest

Has very little time to rest

While gathering his bits of twine and twig

Though quite intent in his pursuit

He has a merry tune to toot

He knows a song will move the job along

Oh, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

The medicine go dow-own

The medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In the most delightful way!

[Interlude]

The honey bee that fetch the nectar

From the flowers to the comb

Never tire of ever buzzing to and fro

Because they take a little nip

From ev'ry flower that they sip

And hence (and hence),

They find (they find)

Their task is not a grind...

Oh, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

The medicine go dow-own

The medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In the most delightful way!