Step in Time facts for kids

"Step In Time" is a famous song and dance from the 1964 Walt Disney movie Mary Poppins. The talented Sherman Brothers wrote the music and lyrics for this lively tune. Marc Breaux and Dee Dee Wood created the fun dance moves. In the movie, Bert the chimney sweep (played by Dick Van Dyke) sings it with other chimney sweeps on the rooftops of London. The song is a bit like the old British music hall song Knees Up Mother Brown.

The Song in the 1964 Mary Poppins Movie

In the 1964 film Mary Poppins, the song "Step In Time" has two main parts. In the first part, Bert sings different phrases like "Kick your knees up" and "Flap like a birdie." He sings these while dancing on the rooftops.

Bert, Mary Poppins, Jane, Michael, and all the chimney sweeps dance together. Admiral Boom looks at them through his telescope. He thinks they are "Hottentots" and orders Mr. Binnacle to scare them away. They use colorful fireworks to make them leave.

In the second part, the chimney sweeps enter the house of George Banks. Mrs. Brill sees them and screams, "They're at it again!" She tries to hit one of them with a frying pan. Ellen runs around the dining room, and the chimney sweeps playfully flip her. Other phrases sung in this part include "Votes for women" and "What's all this?"

Other Versions of "Step In Time"

"Step In Time" is also a big part of the 2004 Mary Poppins stage musical. It has a similar purpose to the movie version. A cool trick in the musical is that Bert walks upside down over the stage! In this version, the song also helps show Jane and Michael that chimney sweeps can be like guardian angels.

A shorter version of the song appears on the Disney's Sing Along Songs video called "Disneyland Fun."

The song was also on the 1982 exercise album Mousercise. This version had mostly different lyrics, but it kept "Kick Your Knees Up" and "Flap Like A Birdie." This Mousercise version was also shown as an episode of D-TV on the Disney Channel.

Main Lyrics of "Step In Time"

The main part of the song follows a pattern. A short phrase is sung three times, with "step in time" after each. The third line is always "Never need a reason, never need a rhyme."

Here's how the main part goes:

• _________________________, step in time
• _________________________, step in time
• Never need a reason, never need a rhyme
• _________________________, step in time

Phrases Used in the Film

In the movie, many different phrases fill those blank spaces.

• Kick your knees up
• 'Round the chimney
• Flap like a birdie
• Up on the railing
• Over the rooftops
• Link your elbows
• Mary Poppins
• (Ah!) They're at it again
• OW!
• Votes for women
• It's the master
• What's all this?

The first seven phrases were sung when the characters were on the rooftops of London. The last five phrases were sung inside the Banks' house. The phrase "What's all this?" is sung several times without "Step in time" after it. Also, "Mary Poppins" was only sung once with "Step in time."

Songs Similar to "Step In Time"

The song "Me Ol' Bamboo" from the 1968 movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is very similar to "Step In Time." The Sherman Brothers also wrote this song, and Dick Van Dyke performed it.

Both songs are based on an old British song called "Knees Up Mother Brown." This song was popular in British music halls and pubs, especially during World War II. It involves simple, repeated physical actions, just like "Step In Time."

See also

In Spanish: Step in Time para niños