☝️ Key Points
- Doolittle is preparing for his wedding and expresses both excitement and anxiety.
- He asks his friends to walk him down the aisle and make sure he doesn't run away.
- Humorous undertones can be heard throughout the song, especially in relation to his fears and attempts to escape the wedding.
- The lyrics reflect mixed feelings and uncertainty about marriage.
- The song is a humorous take on wedding preparations and fears of marriage.
Interpretation
The song 'Hei, this morning I'm getting married' from the musical
My Fair Lady is a humorous and somewhat cynical look at weddings and marriages from the perspective of Alfred Doolittle, the father of the protagonist Eliza.
In the song lyrics, Doolittle is preparing to get married and he is both excited and somewhat anxious. He asks his friends to bring him to the altar before he changes his mind or gets cold feet. He alludes to the tradition of celebrating the groom before the wedding and then bringing him to the altar.
The line 'Hei! This morning I'm getting married! Ding dong! Soon it will ring wonderfully' shows his anticipation and excitement. In other parts of the song, he asks his friends to wash him, shave him, and even chloroform him to ensure that he arrives at the altar on time.
The humorous references to his fears and attempts to avoid the wedding (such as 'If I go ballooning', 'Shoot in the air!' and 'Rub snow on me, use the army') show his insecurity and mixed feelings towards marriage.
Overall, the song is a humorous portrayal of wedding preparations and the fear of marriage that some people may experience.