“Usually after the hectic week, Walt would ask us how we were doing, and we'd tell him what we were working on. Then he'd ask us to play it, and I'd sit down and play, and he'd look out the window and get wistful. Then he'd turn around and say, 'That's what it's all about, isn't it?'”
"Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)" is a song featured in the 1964 film Mary Poppins, written by the Sherman Brothers, and sung by Mary Poppins. It has an orchestral and choral reprise, played over George Banks' solitary walk to the bank at night. It is known to have been Walt Disney's favorite song.
It is also noted to be one of the only two from the film (the other being "Stay Awake") that P.L. Travers liked as well.
Lyrics[]
Early each day to the steps of St. Paul's,
the little old bird woman comes
In her own special way to the people, she calls,
"Come, buy my bags full of crumbs."
Come feed the little birds, show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do
Their young ones are hungry, their nests are so bare
All it takes is tuppence from you
Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag
"Feed the birds," that's what she cries,
while overhead, her birds fill the skies
All around the cathedral the saints and apostles
look down as she sells her wares
Although you can't see it, you know they are smiling
each time someone shows that he cares
Though her words are simple and few,
listen, listen, she's calling to you:
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag."
Though her words are simple and few,
Listen, listen, she's calling to you:
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag."
Films:Mary Poppins • Mary Poppins Returns • The Cat That Looked at a King • Mary Poppins (video) • Mary Poppins Returns (video)
Music:Mary Poppins • Musical • The Legacy Collection • Mary Poppins Returns Books:Big Golden Book • Little Golden Book • Practically Poppins in Every Way
Mary Poppins Returns:William Weatherall Wilkins • Jack • Topsy • The Balloon Lady • Clyde • Shamus • John Banks • Annabel Banks • Georgie Banks • Angus • Hamilton Gooding and Templeton Frye • The Park Keeper • Penny Farthing
Mary Poppins Returns:(Underneath the) Lovely London Sky • A Conversation • Can You Imagine That? • The Royal Doulton Music Hall • A Cover is Not the Book • The Place Where Lost Things Go • Turning Turtle • Trip a Little Light Fantastic • Nowhere to Go But Up Musical:Temper, Temper • Practically Perfect • Anything Can Happen Deleted Songs:The Anthropomorphic Zoo • The Chimpanzoo • The Right Side • The Land of Sand • Admiral Boom • Mary Poppins' Melody • You Think, You Blink • Through The Eyes of Love • West Wind • Tiki Town • The North Pole Polka