'Mary Poppins' Song 'a Spoonful of Sugar' Still Resonates Today — inside Story behind the Hit

The hit song from the movie, "Mary Poppins," titled "A Spoonful of Sugar," has a unique story behind it that remains relevant almost after six decades since its release.

When Disney's movie, "Mary Poppins," was first released in 1964, it won over fans' hearts not only because of its unique story but also its spectacular soundtrack. One of the many songs that endeared viewers was "A Spoonful of Sugar."

Almost six decades since the hit tune was released, it remains not only catchy but relevant to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that the world battles. Here is the interesting story behind the hit song.

THE STORY BEHIND IT

In early December, writer and director Jeffery Sherman took to Twitter to tell the story of how the song came to be part of the 1974 movie. Sherman is the son of one of the writers.

When released in 1964, it was the highest-grossing film with over $102 million in both the United States and Canada.

His father and uncle, Robert and Richard Sherman, were the brains behind the song. In his tweet, he recalled the heartwarming moment the piece was brought to life, writing:

"When I was a kid, we got the polio vaccine. My dad, working on Mary Poppins, asked how my day was. I told him about the vaccine. "Didn't it hurt? I said they put it on a sugar cube, and you ate it."

After telling his father that story, he called his uncle, and the next day they wrote "A Spoonful of Sugar." Jeffery continued his message by urging his followers to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

He also advised them to keep wearing masks and practice social distancing. Many fans were in awe of the parallels between the song and the COVID-19 vaccine.

FAMOUS LINES FROM "MARY POPPINS"

The iconic live-action musical had a lot of memorable quotes that many homes still reference and find inspirational. An example is, "Don't you know that everybody's got a Fairyland of their own?"

This was a line taken from the author of "Mary Poppins," P.L Travers. The poignant quote explains that everyone dreams of a magical place that belongs to only them. Mary told these to the Banks' children to encourage them never to stop dreaming.

Another iconic line from the movie is "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." While hard to pronounce at times, the song, which came about as a collaboration between Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke never fails to bring a smile to people's faces.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT "MARY POPPINS"

When released in 1964, it was the highest-grossing film, raking in over $102 million in both the United States and Canada. The next year, it won five Oscar awards, with Andrews bagging best actress while the Sherman Brothers won accolades for their songs.

The film was based on a children's book series by Travers, and Disney reportedly had to wait about 20 years for her to approve its bid for a movie adaptation. Although Disney said they followed her wish to the letter, Travers cried at the premiere.