Jolly Holiday is a song from Walt Disney's film Mary Poppins. It was composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The song is sung in the film by Bert (Dick Van Dyke) and Mary (Julie Andrews) in the pastel fantasy sequence before reaching the carousel. Oscar winning music arranger Irwin Kostal provided the much lauded orchestration.
This song also appears in the musical, but it was changed to fit the story of Neleus from Mary Poppins Opens the Door.
The motion picture takes place in 1910 (although the P.L. Travers books place the story in 1934) and the song is in the Music Hall style of the period.
This song has been parodied in Forbidden Broadway Cleans Up Its Act and the show's album, with the name "Jolly Holiday with Rudy," which made fun of the cleaning of Broadway at the time.
Lyrics[]
Bert: All that it takes is a spark
Then something, plain as a park
Becomes a wonderland
All you have to do
Is look a-new
Then you’ll understand
Why it’s a jolly holiday with Mary
Mary makes your heart so light
Mary Poppins:
Oh, really.
Bert:
When the day is grey and ordinary
Mary makes the sun shine bright
Mary Poppins:
You do talk nonsense, Bert.
Bert:
Oh, 'appiness is blooming all around 'er
The daffodils are smiling at the dove
Mary Poppins:
I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.
Bert:
When Mary holds your 'and
Mary Poppins:
Bert.
Bert:
You feel so grand
Your 'eart starts beatin'
Like a big brass band
Mary Poppins:
You’ve got enough brass for all of us.
Bert:
Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with Mary
No wonder that it’s Mary that we love
Come along, you two.
Jane & Micheal:
Boring, just like other nannies
Thinking parks are good for us
It’s just statues, ducks and grannies
I don’t understand all the fuss
Jane:
Is she doing it to spite us?
Michael:
We could lose her for a lark
Jane:
Perhaps it’s all a plot
Michael:
I’ll tell you what
She seems so different
Jane & Micheal:
But I bet she’s not
There is nothing to excite us
In the park
Jane:
Who are you?
Neleus:
I’m Neleus, and I thought Mary Poppins would never let me get down from this
plinth!
Bert:
Ain’t it a glorious day
Right as a morning in May
Neleus:
I feel like I could fly
Have you ever seen
The grass so green?
Mary Poppins:
Oh, Bert.
Or a bluer sky?
Bert & Neleus:
Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with Mary
Bert:
Bad days I’ve never known
You can ask the passing statuary
Statues:
Nothing’s ever set in stone
Bert:
You’re looking tip-top from top to toe. If I may say so.
Mary Poppins:
Thank you, Bert. And you may.
Statues:
Oh it’s a jolly holiday with Mary
No wonder that it’s Mary that we love
Bert:
Oi! Do you think Neleus is lookin' a bit timid today?
Micheal:
No. Why?
Bert:
I knew him when he was a little bolder. A little boulder, ha ha!
To see a statue dance like that
You can’t believe your eyes
You fear you’ve lost your marbles
But the thinker thinks you’re wise
So you should hasten, call a mason
Tell him what you’ve seen
If he knows his craft he’ll think you’re daft
But we’ll know what you mean
Male Statues:
Oh it’s a jolly holiday with Mary
No wonder that it’s Mary that we love
Bert:
Now Notre Dame can cause alarm
And I’ve me own hunch why
Those gargoyles need to gargle
Cos their throats get rather dry
And just between us, I know Venus Has a vice that shocks She often drinks with a
sphinx who winks It's neat and on the rocks
Statues:
Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with Mary
No wonder that it’s Mary that we love
Bert:
Let’s go for jaunty saunter
You are bound to make your mark
Looks like all of you were all born to
Take a promenade in the park
With those finely-chiselled features
You can look down from above
Each man out with his dog would stand agog
To see a statue take a gentle jog
Bert & Statues-
It’s (it's) no (no) wonder that it’s Mary
That (that) we (we) love
Statues:
Love love love
Love love love
Bert:
No wonder that it’s Mary that we love
Mary Poppins:
It’s a jolly holiday with you, Bert
Gentlemen like you are few
Though you’re just a diamond in the rough, Bert
Underneath, your blood is blue
Statues:
Your blood is blue
Mary Poppins:
You’d never think of pressing your advantage
Forbearance is the hallmark of your creed
A lady needn’t fear when you are near
Your sweet gentility is crystal clear
Statues:
It’s crystal clear
Mary Poppins & Female Statues:
Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with you, Bert
Mary & Statues:
It’s a jolly holiday
Mary & Statues:
A jolly, jolly holiday with you
Statues:
With you
Jane, Micheal & Female Statues:
Oh it’s a jolly holiday with Mary
Mary makes your heart so light
When the day is grey and ordinary
Mary makes the sun shine bright
Oh happiness is blooming all around her
The daffodils are smiling at the dove
Bert & Male Statues:
Let’s go for jaunty saunter
We are bound to make our mark
Looks like all of us were all born to
Take a promenade in the park
With our finely-chiseled features
We can look down from above
Bert, Jane, Michael & Statues:
When Mary holds your hand
You feel so grand
Your heart starts beating
Like a big brass band
Bert, Jane, Michael & Female Statues:
Oh it’s a jolly holiday with Mary
Male Statues:
It's no wonder that it's Mary that we love
Bert, Jane, Michael & Statues:
No wonder that it’s Mary that we love