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.
Prologue / Little Shop of Horrors
Alan Menken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little shop, little shoppa terror.
Call a cop. Little shoppa horrors.
No, oh, oh, no-oh!
Little shop, little shoppa horrors.
Bop sh'bop, little shoppa terror.
Watch 'em drop! Little shoppa horrors.
Shing-a-ling, what a creepy thing
to be happening!
Shang-a-lang, feel the sturm
and drang in the air.
Sha-la-la, stop right where you are.
Don't you move a thing.
You better (tellin' you, you better)
Tell your mama somethin's gonna
get her
She better (ev'rybody better)
Beware!
Oh, Here it comes, baby
Tell those bumbs, baby
No, oh, oh, no!
Oh, Hit the dirt, baby
Red alert, baby
No, oh, oh, no!
Ally oop, haul it off the stoop
I'm warning you
Run away child, your gonna pay
If you fail!
Look around, look who's comming down the Street for you
You bet 'cha you bey your but
You bet 'cha
Best believe it something's
Come to get 'cha
Better watch your back and your tail!
Little shop, little shoppa horrors.
Bop sh-bop, you'll never stop
the terror.
Little shop, little shoppa horrors.
No, oh, oh, no, oh, oh, no, oh, oh, no!
The opening number "Prologue" of Alan Menken's musical "Little Shop of Horrors" serves as a warning to the audience of the horrors that are about to unfold. The choir sings about the little shop, repeatedly calling it a place of horrors and terror that needs to be avoided at all costs. The song is essentially a foreshadowing of the main plot of the story - the plant that takes over the world and brings destruction in its wake. The repetition of the lyrics "No, oh, oh, no-oh!" emphasizes the ominous and haunting nature of the narrative, which is further accentuated by the use of minor keys and the creepy carnival-like melody.
The lyrics of the song then shift to describe the arrival of the plant and the chaos it brings to the world. With phrases like "Shing-a-ling" and "Shang-a-lang," the lyrics emphasize the weird and unsettling nature of the plant's arrival. The final lines urge the audience to beware and watch out for the impending danger that is about to unfold.
Overall, "Prologue" serves as an incredibly effective opening number – it sets the tone for the show, introduces the main themes and characters, and immediately draws the audience in with its catchy tune and eerie lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Little shop, little shoppa horrors.
The shop is small but filled with dreadful things.
Little shop, little shoppa terror.
The shop is filled with frightening things that can cause terror.
Call a cop. Little shoppa horrors.
The shop is so scary that it's even worth calling the police for help.
No, oh, oh, no-oh!
The situation is extremely dangerous and alarming.
Bop sh'bop, little shoppa terror.
The terror in the shop is so intense that it's like a continuous beating sound.
Watch 'em drop! Little shoppa horrors.
People who encounter the horrors in the shop are so frightened that they tend to fall on the ground.
Shing-a-ling, what a creepy thing to be happening!
The situation is so creepy that it defies explanation.
Shang-a-lang, feel the sturm and drang in the air.
The atmosphere is intense and full of agitation and conflict.
Sha-la-la, stop right where you are.
People are so scared that they should immediately stop and take a moment to assess the situation.
Don't you move a thing.
People should not make any sudden movements that could cause problems.
You better (tellin' you, you better) tell your mama somethin's gonna get her.
People should warn their loved ones about the danger in the shop.
She better (ev'rybody better) beware!
Everyone should be on guard because the danger in the shop affects everyone.
Oh, Here it comes, baby.
The danger is imminent and people should be prepared for it.
Tell those bumbs, baby.
Warn everyone you see about the danger in the shop.
Hit the dirt, baby.
People should get down on the ground to avoid the danger.
Red alert, baby.
This is a dangerous situation that requires immediate attention.
Ally oop, haul it off the stoop, I'm warning you.
People need to run away from the danger as soon as possible.
Run away child, you're gonna pay if you fail!
If people fail to escape the danger, they will face terrible consequences.
Look around, look who's comming down the Street for you.
The danger is getting closer and people should be aware of their surroundings.
You bet 'cha you bey your but you bet 'cha.
People should be absolutely certain that the danger is real and not a false alarm.
Best believe it something's come to get 'cha.
The danger is real and it's coming to get people.
Better watch your back and your tail!
People need to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings to avoid the danger.
Little shop, little shoppa horrors.
The shop is still small but its horrors are still very real.
Bop sh-bop, you'll never stop the terror.
The terror is pervasive and will always continue as long as the shop is open.
Little shop, little shoppa horrors.
People should be cautious of entering the shop due to its horrors.
No, oh, oh, no, oh, oh, no, oh, oh, no!
The situation is extremely dangerous and alarming, and people should be cautious.
Writer(s): Alan Menken, Howard Elliott Ashman
Contributed by Molly P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Elliott
on God Bless us Everyone
"Til now once he comes how happy!" is wrong. The correct lyrics are "Til the world becomes a family."
Elliott
on God Bless us Everyone
"Let us LOVE til we die." Not "Let us HAVE til we die."