Did You Know There Was a Powerful New Verse Added to the Most Played Song of All Time, “It’s a Small World?”

“People either love me for it, or hate me,” Richard M. Sherman of the Sherman Brothers once said of the pervasive “It’s a Small World.” Yes, this Disney classic is polarizing. While some attribute it to their childhood–and thus it drums up a healthy amount of nostalgia–others find it grating on the ears. Regardless of where you stand on the matter, it’s a fact that “It’s a Small World” is one of the most played songs ever.

Richard Sherman recently passed away back in May of 2024. Before he died, he left the world with one more sonic gift: a final verse for “It’s a Small World.” Disney has done what Disney does best and announced that verse to the world in the most tear-jerking, heart-swelling way. Learn more about the final verse of this classic, below.

Did You Know There Was a Powerful New Verse Added to the Most Played Song of All Time, “It’s a Small World After All?

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The Sherman Brothers were responsible for many Disney staples, including “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” among many others. Their songwriting expertise delighted generations of moviegoers and will no doubt continue to inspire for generations to come. Of all the songs they penned, “It’s a Small World” has become the most widely played.

The simple refrain was written to soundtrack the theme park ride of the same name. The experience allows visitors to take a tour around the world with ornate dolls representing a plethora of cultures. Though we can’t imagine a better song for such a ride, “It’s a Small World” has fallen victim to something many songs with pervasive play do: hatred due to oversaturation.

In the years since its debut, “It’s a Small World” has almost garnered the opposite of its intended effect. It’s a world of laughter / A world of tears…is an opening line that has prompted plenty of groans from a crowd.

Despite that fact, Richard Sherman decided to use his last bit of creative output to revamp “It’s a Small World.” The final verse breathes life back into this jingle. It reminds us why it was written in the first place: to foster connection with those around us.

The final verse can be seen above. It adds even more touching imagery to a song that, at its core, seeks to unite the world under the banner of humankind. Despite being a deeply divisive song, even its staunchest haters can’t deny the touching sentiment of “It’s a Small World”–even if that recognition is buried deep, deep down.

Check out the tribute video for this track released by Disney in honor of Richard Sherman’s efforts, below.

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)