Music Video
Maria
the Nuns Lyrics
Maria Lyrics
Maria Song Lyrics
She climbs a tree and scr*pes her knee
Her dress has got a tear
She waltzes on her way to Mass
And whistles on the stair
And underneath her wimple
She has curlers in her hair
I even heard her singing in the abbey
She's always late for chapel
But her penitence is real
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal
I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel
Maria's not an asset to the abbey
I'd like to say a word in her behalf
Maria makes me laugh
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
When I'm with her I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I am
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling! She's a demon! She's a lamb!
She'd out pester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle! She is wild!
She's a riddle! She's a child!
She's a headache! She's an angel!
She's a girl!
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
February, 19th 2024
Background and Context"The Sound of Music," a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name, opens with the character Maria reveling in the beauty of the Austrian hills. This song, performed by Maria, reflects her deep connection to nature and her struggle between her love for the hills and her responsibilities at the Nonnberg Abbey. The musical's narrative explores Maria's journey from a postulant with doubts about her vocation to becoming the governess of the seven children of Captain von Trapp, a widowed Austro-Hungarian Navy submarine captain.
The song "Maria," however, is sung by the nuns of Nonnberg Abbey, discussing Maria's unsuitability for monastic life due to her free-spirited nature, describing her as a "flibbertigibbet" and a challenge akin to catching a cloud or holding a moonbeam. Oscar Hammerstein II crafted the lyrics with simplicity and charm, encapsulating Maria's character through the eyes of the nuns who find her behavior perplexing yet endearing.
Main Message and Theme
The opening song, "The Sound of Music," encapsulates the theme of finding joy and freedom in the natural world, as well as the conflict between personal desires and duties. Maria's love for the hills and her ability to find music in the natural surroundings symbolize her inner conflict and foreshadow her journey throughout the musical. This song sets the stage for Maria's transformation and her impact on the von Trapp family, reintroducing music and joy into their lives.
Maria's character, a juxtaposition of carefree spirit and responsibility, represents a bridge between two worlds: the strict, disciplined life of the abbey and the free, expressive world outside its walls. The nuns' song about Maria reflects the challenges of understanding and containing such a spirited individual within the structured environment of the abbey.
Through these songs, "The Sound of Music" explores themes of freedom, personal growth, and the transformative power of music and love. Maria's journey from the abbey to the von Trapp household and her impact on the family encapsulate the search for one's place in the world and the courage to follow one's heart.
The musical and its songs have become iconic, capturing the hearts of audiences with its uplifting message and melodic charm. The history and narrative adjustments made for the musical, such as altering the von Trapp family's story for dramatic purposes, add layers of intrigue to its backdrop, set against the looming threat of World War II in Austria.
"The Sound of Music" remains a beloved musical, with its songs like "Maria" and the titular "The Sound of Music" enduring as timeless anthems of hope, resilience, and the joy of life.
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