# Willy Wonka quote... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2002, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899 "2002-05-02T17:45:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lenny\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9dc877/32.png) [@Lenny\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lenny_Carl)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/1 "2002-05-02T17:45:11Z")
Many apologies if this has been asked before… There’s a line in the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” where Gene Wilder says something like… _“We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.”_ I was wondering if this is taken from a poem or something - or is it just a line from the movie? Can anyone help me?? ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/2 "2002-05-02T17:48:37Z")
We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams; - World-losers and world-forsakers, on whom the pale moon gleams; Yet we are the movers and shakers, Of the world for ever, it seems." – Arthur O’Shaughnessy ---
**Author:** ![goofyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@goofyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goofyfish)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/3 "2002-05-02T17:54:49Z")
]right on the money Ode WE are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams; World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams: Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world for ever, it seems. With wonderful deathless ditties We build up the world’s great cities, And out of a fabulous story We fashion an empire’s glory: One man with a dream, at pleasure, Shall go forth and conquer a crown; And three with a new song’s measure Can trample an empire down. We, in the ages lying In the buried past of the earth, Built Nineveh with our sighing, And Babel itself with our mirth; And o’erthrew them with prophesying To the old of the new world’s worth; For each age is a dream that is dying, Or one that is coming to birth. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/4 "2002-05-02T19:17:17Z")
What about that weird song he sings when he’s in the tunnel? Something about _There’s no knowing where we’re going…_ and it ends with him screaming something…er, anyone remember that one? ---
**Author:** ![Spiratu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Spiratu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiratu)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/5 "2002-05-03T03:17:56Z")
“There’s no earthly way of knowing Which direction we are going There’s no knowing where we’re going Or which way the wind is blowing Is it raining? Is it snowing Is a hurricane a-blowing Not a speck of light is showing So the danger must be growing Oh, the fires of hell are glowing Is the grisly reaper mowing Yes! The danger must be growing For the rowers keep on rowing And they’re certainly not showing Any signs that they are slowing! Stop the boat!” But I have this saved on my computer, so I can’t give you a source. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/6 "2002-05-03T03:32:41Z")
I can only find that quoted as from _Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory_. No idea if the rhyme appears in the book, _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_. But you gotta know that I’m gonna find some excuse to post in a thread where the OP is a question about my sig… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/7 "2002-05-03T17:27:44Z")
It’s been a long time since I’ve read the book but I’m almost certain it’s not in there. That was an original from the movie. Marilyn Manson covered it on one of his albums, though… 🙂 Speaking of Willy Wonka, I’m glad they seemed to have ditched the remake with Nicolas Cage–but if they ever _do_ do a remake, I hope Alan Cumming is available for the job. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/8 "2002-05-03T18:43:13Z")
Ah, thanks for the entire poem. I hope to find out where it’s from one day. Gene Wilder is so utterly intense when he does that…oh hell, he’s intense throughout the whole thing. He really owned that role. Weren’t they going to do a remake, starring Marilyn Manson as Wonka? ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/9 "2002-05-03T18:56:04Z")
Nope, that was a rumor that never had any basis in fact. Manson denied it at the time, and so did the studio involved. I agree that Wilder was _the_ Willy Wonka. That tunnel scene gets me every time, along with the end scene when he’s screaming at Charlie. I never thought anybody else would be able to play Wonka until I saw “Spy Kids” and Alan Cumming as Fegin Floop. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/10 "2002-05-03T22:06:52Z")
Why on earth do they keep remaking _successful_ movies? I don’t _want_ to see another actor playing Willy Wonka! I don’t _need_ to! _(stamps foot, exits in a huff)_ ---
**Author:** ![heptapod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@heptapod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heptapod)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/11 "2002-05-03T22:42:41Z")
Side note: Gene Wilder said he’d only do Willy Wonka if he could do the scene where he’s seen for the first time, walking with a cane and pronounced limp then does a somersault forward after his cane gets stuck between some bricks to make the audience wonder if he’s lying or telling the truth throughout the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/12 "2002-05-04T02:59:00Z")
Oh, a rumor, hm. I’m relieved, I must say. Anyways. There aren’t a large number of movies that I feel strongly about not remaking…but this flick was a part of my childhood. Sure, I wasn’t ALIVE when it came out, but…I did watch it multiple, multiple times. It’s just so magical. You can remake it with CGI Oompa Loompas and electromagnetic 3-D chocolate bars, and Haley Joel “I See Dead People” Osment as little Charlie Bucket, but where’s the magic? (If they ever made a movie like the one I just described, I think I’d have to take large buckets of chocolate to throw at moviegoers.) ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/13 "2002-05-04T16:44:53Z")
I watched WWATCF a couple months ago, I think it was on ABC…I was horrified when the scene of them licking the wallpaper and WW delivering the aforementioned quote was CUT OUT!!! That’s what I get for watching network TV, I guess. That is one of my favorite moments in the film, along with where he says “You LOSE!! Good DAY, sir!!”. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/14 "2002-05-04T17:20:34Z")
I got it on DVD for Christmas! I’m a bit annoyed that the special anniversary edition came out a week later - mine doesn’t have any special features or goodies included. But, at least I have Wonka, whenever I need it! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Quasar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Quasar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Quasar)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonka-quote/106899/15 "2002-05-04T17:43:17Z")
Here’s the whole poem… We are the music makers, And we are the dreamer of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams; World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams: Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world for ever, it seems. With wonderful deathless ditties, We build up the world’s great cities, And out of a fabulous story We fashion an empire’s glory: One man with a dream, at pleasure, Shall go forth and conquer a crown; And three with a new song’s measure Can trample an empire down. We, in the ages lying In the buried past of earth, Built Nineveh with our sighing, And Babel itself with our mirth; And o’erthrew them with prophesying To the old of the new world’s worth; For each age is a dream that is dying, Or one that is coming to birth. A breath of our inspiration, Is the life of each generation. A wondrous thing of our dreaming, Unearthly, impossible seeming- The soldier, the king, and the peasant Are working together in one, Till our dream shall become their present, And their work in the world be done. They had no vision amazing Of the goodly house they are raising. They had no divine foreshowing Of the land to which they are going: But on one man’s soul it hath broke, A light that doth not depart And his look, or a word he hath spoken, Wrought flame in another man’s heart. And therefore today is thrilling, With a past day’s late fulfilling. And the multitudes are enlisted In the faith that their fathers resisted, And, scorning the dream of tomorrow, Are bringing to pass, as they may, In the world, for it’s joy or it’s sorrow, The dream that was scorned yesterday. But we, with our dreaming and singing, Ceaseless and sorrowless we! The glory about us clinging Of the glorious futures we see, Our souls with high music ringing; O men! It must ever be That we dwell, in our dreaming and singing, A little apart from ye. For we are afar with the dawning And the suns that are not yet high, And out of the infinite morning Intrepid you hear us cry- How, spite of your human scorning, Once more God’s future draws nigh, And already goes forth the warning That ye of the past must die. Great hail! we cry to the corners From the dazzling unknown shore; Bring us hither your sun and your summers, And renew our world as of yore; You shall teach us your song’s new numbers, And things that we dreamt not before; Yea, in spite of a dreamer who slumbers, And a singer who sings no more.