His best known work includes the Disney animated movies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as Little Shop of Horrors, Enchanted, Tangled and most recently, Sister Act the Musical.
Long Ago
Alan Menken Lyrics
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There was a golden age of powerful gods and extraordinary heroes
And greatest and strongest of all these Heroes was the mighty Hercules
But what is the measure of a true hero?
Now, that is what our story
Will you listen to him?
He's making the story sound like some Greek tragedy
We'll take it from here, darling
The opening lines of Alan Menken's song, Long Ago, takes us back to ancient Greece, where the great stories of heroes and gods were born. The song sets the scene for the story of Hercules, the most powerful of all heroes, but then poses an interesting question: what is the measure of a true hero? The answer to this question is at the heart of the story that follows, but it also prompts us to think about our own definitions of heroism.
The interjection of the two characters at the end of the verse, commenting on the seriousness of the story, adds a touch of humor to the piece. But it also recognizes the enduring appeal of these ancient tales, and the way in which they still resonate with people today. By breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience directly, the song invites us to become part of this story, to listen with open hearts and minds, and to extract our own meanings from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Long ago, in the far away land of ancient Greece
Once upon a time, in a distant land called Greece long ago
There was a golden age of powerful gods and extraordinary heroes
It was a glorious era of mighty gods and exceptional heroes
And greatest and strongest of all these Heroes was the mighty Hercules
Hercules, who was the strongest and greatest among all the heroes, stood out
But what is the measure of a true hero?
What determines or defines the true worth of a hero?
Now, that is what our story
That, my dear listeners, is the crux of our tale
Will you listen to him?
Are you paying attention to what he's saying?
He's making the story sound like some Greek tragedy
He's narrating it in such a way that it seems like a sad Greek play
Lighten up, dude
Calm down and relax, my friend
We'll take it from here, darling
Don't worry, we'll continue the story from here with a more positive tone, my dear
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALAN MENKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elliott
on God Bless us Everyone
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on God Bless us Everyone
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