"Children of the World" was the working title of the attraction Walt Disney only called "the happiest cruise that ever sailed" (and never "It's a Small World"). The attraction's tentative soundtrack design featured each national anthem, playing all at once, which resulted in a cacophonous noise. Walt demonstrated the miniature mock-up to his staff songwriters Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. As he and the Sherman Brothers walked through Walt said, "I need one song." A single song for the attraction which could be easily translated into many different languages and which could be played in all round. The Sherman Brothers wrote "it's a small world (after all)" in the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which influenced the song's message. They first presented "it's a small world (after all)" to Walt by singing in counterpoint while walking through the mock-up. In the spirit of international unity, "it's a small world (after all)" was sung and recorded in various studios around the world – by a church choir in London, TV performers in Mexico City, a school chorus in Rome, and by local children from Tokyo and California.
It is argued that this song is the single most performed and most widely translated song on earth. The song's tune and lyrics are the only Disney creations never to be copyrighted, as UNICEF requested, and can be heard worldwide on musical devices ranging from keyboard demos to ice cream trucks, it remains "a gift to the children of the world."
The song being considered annoying by some people is referenced in The Lion King, as when Scar assumed the throne of Pride Rock and took Zazu as his prisoner, he made him sing songs to him, preferably those with a little "bounce" in it, prompting Zazu to start singing "It's a Small World", only to be immediately cut off by Scar, who clearly despised the song. Also, in the Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama, Dr. Drakken is shown using a torture chamber, where a man is trapped in a room with singing dolls performing this song.
In addition to The Lion King, part of the song was hummed by Timon in The Lion King 1½ while waiting for Pumbaa with the snacks before he accidentally picked his nose.
The song was also performed on The Muppet Show in the Spike Milligan episode, paying tribute to the Muppets' favorite country: Disneyland. The set mimics the Mary Blair-designed sets of the ride and the characters that are singing the song bob up and down in a manner similar to that of the ride's animatronic figures.
It's a world of laughter, a world of tears
It's a world of hopes and a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world
There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship to everyone
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world
It's a world of wonder, a world of worth
And in years to come we'll know peace on earth
We will open our eyes
And we'll all realize
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world
(Jingle Bells verse)
Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Ha ha ha!
Bells on bobtail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to sing a sleighing song tonight!
Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!
It's a world of laughter, a world of tears
It's a world of hope and a world of fears
There's so much that we share that it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all!
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world!
(Islands variant of Jingle Bells)
Splashing through the foam in a seahorse we sashay
O'er the reefs we go
Laughing all the way
Ha ha ha!
Shells on bubbles gleam
Making treasures bright
Oh, what fun it is to sing a mermaid song tonight!
Oh, Jingle Shells, Jingle Shells
Jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to glide beneath the salty spray
Jingle Shells, Jingle Shells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to glide beneath the salty spray!
It's a world of laughter, a world of tears
It's a world of hope and a world of fears
There's so much that we share that it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all!
Jingle Shells, Jingle Shells
Jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to glide beneath the salty spray
Jingle Shells, Jingle Shells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to glide beneath the salty spray!
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world!
(Deck the Halls verse)
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Troll the ancient yuletide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
See the blazing Yule before us
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Heedless of the wind and weather
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world!
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