The Disney Song Encyclopedia - fieldi

“THE OLD HOME GUARD” 145
overdubbing (a relatively new sound process), so Woods could essentially
sing with herself in harmony. As she washes the floor and the bubbles rise
out of the scrub bucket, each bubble reflects Cinderella, and the Cinderella
images sing the harmony while the actual Cinderella performs the melody.
The number, sometimes listed as “Sing, Sweet Nightingale,” was recorded
as a duet by David Sanborn and David Benoit in 1995.
“Oh, What a Merry Christmas Day” is the warm carol written by Irwin
Kostal (music) and Frederick Searles (lyric) for the animated film short
Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983). Complete with bells and chimes, a
Dickensian-like chorus sings the graceful number, listing the simple joys of
Christmas Day, over the opening credits. The song is reprised at the end
of the movie as well. An up-tempo version of the carol has been used for
parades and other holiday activities at the Disney theme parks.
“Ol’ Dan Patch” is the quaint folk song sung by the rural blacksmith
Hiram Douglas (Burl Ives) at different points in the movie So Dear to My
Heart (1948). After the rural residents in a small Indiana town see the famous
race horse Dan Patch stop for exercise while traveling by train across
the country, the local blacksmith sings about the celebrated horse to the
youngsters Jeremiah (Bobby Driscoll) and Tildy (Luana Patten) as they ride
in his wagon. At other times in the movie, Hiram reprises the song with
different lyrics, commenting on the latest development in the story. The
music is based on a traditional folk tune and the uncredited lyric is simple
but playful, with a wry sense of humor.
“Old Father William” is a delightful musical ditty, based on a poem by
Lewis Carroll, that is used in the animated film fantasy Alice in Wonderland
(1951). Composer Oliver Wallace adapted the poem into a silly duet
for the rotund twins Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee (both voiced by
J. Pat O’Malley), about the aged Father William, who insists on turning
somersaults and eating inedible food. Alice (Kathryn Beaumont) uses their
self-absorbed performance to escape from the nutty pair.
“The Old Home Guard” is the military march song performed by a troop
of aging veterans in the film fantasy Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971).
Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman wrote the number about the people of
England defending their island from invaders, and it is sung by a squad of
World War I veterans as they march into town near the beginning of the
film. The same soldiers reprise the song at the end of the movie when they