Disney Reveals Emotional New ‘It’s a Small World’ Lyrics Written by Late Richard Sherman Before His Death

Richard M. Sherman, the late songwriter who, with his brother Robert B. Sherman, wrote classic songs for dozens of Disney musicals and animated movies, penned one last verse to “It’s a Small World” before he died at age 95 in May.

On Wednesday, Nov. 27, the Walt Disney Company unveiled a brand-new short film titled The Last Verse and announced that Richard shared the new verse with Disney’s CEO Bob Iger in 2023, writing that it was “his final gift to the studio that he so deeply cherished.”

The song’s final verse was commemorated in the newly released short film and ABC News’ Nov. 27 documentary event honoring the 60th anniversary of 1964’s Mary Poppins, for which Richard and Robert won Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

The Last Verse features archival footage of the late Walt Disney himself speaking to the Sherman brothers’ contributions, as well as other footage of children, punk bands, astronauts, characters from The Lion King and people all over the world and over the years singing “It’s a Small World.” 

The video then displays footage of Richard’s office, including photographs of him with Mickey and Minnie Mouse and his piano before settling on a notepad featuring the new lyrics he wrote: “Mother Earth unites us in heart and mind / and the love we give makes us human kind / Through our vast wondrous land / when we stand hand in hand / it’s a small world after all.” 

“As the legendary creators of some of the most cherished music of the past century, the Sherman brothers will be remembered for their profound impact on our global culture,” Iger, 73, said in a statement. “Hearing Richard Sherman recite the final verse to ‘It’s a Small World’ before he died will be a moment I will carry with me forever. This beautiful short film is our tribute to their immeasurable musical contributions, their memory, and to the countless memories they helped create for generations of people around the world.”

“It’s a Small World,” of course, was written to accompany riders on the theme park attraction of the same name found at Disney’s theme parks around the globe. According to a 2014 TIME article, the tune is “very likely the most played song in music history.” 

Richard died on May 25; Disney announced at the time that he died “due to age-related illness” at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, Calif. His brother Robert died at age 86 in 2012. Richard is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, to whom he was married for 66 years, as well as his son, Gregory, and daughters Victoria Wolf and Lynda Rothstein.