Album: Classic Disney Collection (1964)
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written for the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. Walt Disney was in charge of the "Children Of The World" pavilion, which after the fair became the "It's A Small World" attraction at Disneyland. He asked Richard and Robert Sherman to write a song for the attraction. The brothers tell the story of when Walt Disney gave them the assignment: "Walt showed us a mock up of the exhibit. All these audio-animatronic children sang their own national anthems. It was a cacophony. Walt said, "I want you to write me ONE song. Write me a 'roundelay.'" We said, "You mean a 'round'. And he said, 'Yeah. A roundelay' - and so that's how 'It's A Small World' was born."
  • The "It's A Small World" attraction quickly became very popular at Disneyland. The ride is now featured at every Magic Kingdom: Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and Euro Disney. The song plays continuously during the ride.
  • This might be the greatest Earworm of all-time; the song you just can't get out of your head. Robert Sherman Jr. told us why:
    "Like many songs, It's A Small World has a verse and a chorus. One thing which makes this song particularly 'catchy' is that the verse and chorus work in counterpoint to each other. This means that you can play the same chords over and over again, but with different melodies. The repetitive, yet varied pattern tricks your mind into absorbing the work without it becoming tiresome to your ear. (There are many who would disagree with this, however! :)) To visualize the idea of "counterpoint," imagine laying the chords of the chorus on top of the chords of the verse. Measure for measure, the chords would be the same. If the chords are the same, then the melodies of the respective sections (i.e. chorus and verse) will have the capacity to harmonize and countersync with each other. In the case of It's A Small World, the rhythms are sufficiently different between the verse (mostly eighth and quarter notes) and the chorus (lots of half notes), which makes their eventual, counterpuntal juxtaposition that much more interesting to the ear. The Sherman Brothers have written numerous 'counterpuntal' songs including Doll On A Music Box/Truly Scrumptious from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the three part counterpoint title song from 1973's Tom Sawyer heard at the beginning of that film. In each case, the musical lines act as a metaphor for what that person's particular perspective is. The Sherman Brothers like to use counterpoint to present opposing perspectives, their contrasts and their eventual synthesis."
  • This is the most performed and translated song of all time. While this is a difficult claim to justify ("Yesterday" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" come to mind), here is the case Sherman makes:
    "I'm certain that there are a number of ring tones which, now logged much like any other form of song, would probably surpass You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' and Yesterday too. In dealing strictly with radio play, Yesterday may in fact be able to make a claim here, but we're not talking about radio play only. The thing to remember is that It's A Small World is not a radio song and the 'Most performed or translated' assertion does not necessarily apply to radio performances or internet downloads for that matter. I believe that the 'Most performed and translated' statement is more of a global statement. It is not limited to one venue or another (i.e. ringtones or radio plays). For example, neither Yesterday nor Lovin' Feeling are featured on an amusement park ride which plays non-stop, 16 hours a day on an endless loop in four (soon to be five) locations worldwide. I can tell you that the 'Most Performed' assertion is well known in licensing and merchandising circles, but it's probably more of an obvious assumption based on the number of plays which It's A Small World gets on the four theme park rides, all day long, every day. I think the first time I heard this claim made was by Disney CEO Michael Eisner at the Hollywood bowl back in 1985. I guess I defend the statement by saying that not all music statistics can be established using conventional means. Since 1983, there has not been a moment when "It's A Small World" wasn't playing in at least two locations on the globe. Who else can claim that? As far as its having been translated into more languages than "Yesterday" or "Lovin' Feeling," I think that becomes self-evident to anyone who's ridden the ride as well. Most performed, yes, obviously. Most translated, yes to that as well."
  • This song was used in the 1994 Disney movie The Lion King when Zazu the bird is singing to Scar. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Matt - Canton, NC

Comments: 10

  • Wendy Gilbert from Uk England 30 years ago I wrote new words to “It’s a small world after all” song to help my children off to sleep. I’de like my words to be heard but don't know where to start. Is it even possible to take a known tune and put your own words to it and have it recorded?
  • Kev from Rogers, ArWell, I looked up the Japanese lyrics, and sure enough, I could understand them! They differ quite a bit from the English version, as, for example, there is a mention of "tears" but not of "fears". There is no mention of "just one moon and one golden sun", but there is the Japanese version of "a smile means friendship to everyone". No mention of mountains that divide or oceans that are wide" but rather, "Everyone form a circle and join hands". And instead of repeating "It's a small world after all" in the refrain, the Japanese version changes it a bit-- The world is small, the world is the same, the world is round, it's just one (world). I also found a video of the "Small World" boat ride at Tokyo Disneyland on You Tube. It's actually quite interesting, as the song is played in both English and Japanese and it's quite a colorful "trip" around the world.
  • Kev from Rogers, ArI got the 45 rpm record as a birthday or Christmas present just after the '64 World's Fair. The A Side was all English, while the B Side was all foreign languages. At the time, the B Side was all gibberish to me. But I've studied a lot of those languages since then, so maybe I could understand those foreign lyrics now?
  • AnonymousDoes anybody like this song?
  • Rich from Portsmouth, Nhto Carol,s. Londonderry VT--likewise,in 1964 we went to the NY world's Fair--in my granddad's new Studebaker Lark!
    He was from W Burke VT! (I still remember walking up the spiral staircase inside the Statue of Liberty!)
    Rich F, Portsmouth NH.
  • Augustine from Singapore, SingaporeAW MAN

    Although I like this song, please don't play it too much. Play it only during the clock parade. Felt like crying when I heard this song for the first time ever, but no longer now!
  • Carol from S. Londonerry, VtI went to the 1964 World's Fair when I was 12 and of course we (I, my parents,and 3 younger siblings) had to go on the Small World ride, since it was so hyped. Within 3 minutes, we were wishing for those softballs, Caitlin! The spinning dolls and the incessant saccharin high-pitched singing was enough to send us crazy! Many years later, a friend in California told us that he took a church kids' group to Disneyland and the machines broke down for 45 minutes, but oh, no -- not the music. It was like a Twilight Zone episode.
  • Caitlin from Upper Township, NjI think the ride would be better if every person got 4 or 5 softballs on the way in
  • Rod from Phoenix, AzWe were on the Disney World ride many years ago when it broke down midway through. The music though never stopped. After sitting there for 35 minutes, hearing that song over and over, I wanted to get out and strangle the little bastards!

    Still a long running joke with my wife and I.
  • Keith Major from Bristol, EnglandThis song brings back many happy memories from family visits to Disneyland.
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