Why, after all these years, does this song still stick in my head?

I saw a memorable staged production of Carousel this weekend at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.  I was still humming "When the Children are Asleep," one of my all-time favorites.  

And then my pal Matt Stine goes and finds this video, and now I can't stop whistling "brave, courageous, and bold...."  

Who wrote this anthem??