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.
Something That I Want
Alan Menken Lyrics
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She's a girl with the best intentions
He's a man of his own invention
She looked out the window
He walked out the door
But she followed him
And he said, "What'cha lookin' for?"
Something that I tell myself I need
Something that I want
And I need everything I see.
something that I want
something that I tell myself I need
something that I want
and I need everything I see
he's been livin' in a pure illusion
she's gonna come to her own conclusion
right when you think you know what to say
someone comes along and shows you a brand new way
She said, I want something that I want
Something that I tell myself I need
Something that I want
And I need everything I see.
Something that I want
Something that I tell myself I need
Something that I want
And I need everything
'cause
It's so easy to make believe,
it seems you're livin' in a dream
Don't you see that what you need
is standing in front of you?
I want something that I want
Something that I tell myself I need
Something that I want
And I need everything I see
Something that I want
Something that I tell myself I need
Something that I want;
and I need everything I see
The lyrics of Alan Menken's "Something That I Want" is a song that speaks to a feeling that many people have experienced- the desire for something that seems just out of reach. The song's opening lines introduce us to two characters, a girl with the best intentions, and a man who is a man of his own invention. There is an immediate sense of tension between the two, and the lyrics suggest that they are somehow at odds with each other.
As the song progresses, the girl follows the man, and when he asks her what she is looking for, her response is simple: she wants something that she wants. It's a somewhat circular statement, but it speaks to a certain sense of longing that is hard to articulate. The repeated phrase "something that I want" is emphasized, as if to underline the fact that she is searching for something specific, even if she can't quite name it.
The second verse of the song further underscores the idea of illusion and confusion. The man has been living in a pure illusion, and the girl is going to come to her own conclusion. This verse suggests that perhaps the man is not really living the life he appears to be living, and that the girl is beginning to see through his facade. The chorus repeats, with the addition of the line "and I need everything I see." This line seems to suggest that the girl is feeling overwhelmed by all the possibilities around her, and that she is struggling to make sense of her own desires.
The final verse of the song offers a solution of sorts. The lyrics suggest that it is easy to make believe, and that it is easy to dream of something that is just out of reach. However, the reality is that what we need is often right in front of us- if we are willing to open our eyes and see it. The song ends with a repeated chorus, reminding us of the girl's desire for "something that I want."
Line by Line Meaning
C'mon
The song starts with a casual urging of the listener to come along on a journey of self-discovery.
She's a girl with the best intentions
The singer is a girl who wants the best for herself.
He's a man of his own invention
The man is self-made, independent, and in total control of his life.
She looked out the window
She is curious and gazing out the window, perhaps seeking something beyond what she has right now.
He walked out the door
The man is not afraid to take bold steps and seize new opportunities.
But she followed him
The woman isn't content to be left behind; she follows him because she's determined to find her way as well.
And he said, "What'cha lookin' for?"
The man is intrigued by her persistence and tries to understand her motive.
She said, I want something that I want;
Something that I tell myself I need
Something that I want
And I need everything I see.
The woman knows what she wants, but she also wants more. She desires the things that she thinks will fill her need and eyes everything around her with longing.
He's been livin' in a pure illusion
She's gonna come to her own conclusion
Right when you think you know what to say
Someone comes along and shows you a brand new way
The man has been living in his own bubble of perception, and the woman is about to discover her own way of experiencing and living. They both thought they knew everything, but someone showed them that they still had much to discover.
It's so easy to make-believe,
it seems you're livin' in a dream
Don't you see that what you need
Is standing in front of you?
The song points out how it can be easier to pretend, to protect ourselves from vulnerability, and to lose focus on what is really important. What we really need might be right in front of us, but we're blinded by the scarcity mentality.
Something that I want
Something that I tell myself I need
Something that I want
And I need everything I see
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the woman's desire for more material possessions and showing how that same desire distracts her from recognizing her own needs.
Contributed by Isaiah W. 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."