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.
The Basics
Alan Menken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ARIEL
Can you do that?
URSULA
My dear, sweet child. That's what I do. It's what I live for.
To help unfortunate merfolk like yourself.
I admit that in the past I've been a nasty
They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch
But you'll find that nowadays
I've mended all my ways
Repented, seen the light, and made a switch
To this
And I fortunately know a little magic
It's a talent that I always have possessed
And dear lady, please don't laugh
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, the lonely, and depressed (pathetic)
Poor unfortunate souls
In pain, in need
This one longing to be thinner
That one wants to get the girl
And do I help them?
Yes, indeed
Those poor unfortunate souls
So sad, so true
They come flocking to my cauldron
Crying, "Spells, Ursula, please!"
And I help them!
Yes I do
Now it's happened once or twice
Someone couldn't pay the price
And I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals
Yes I've had the odd complaint
But on the whole I've been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls
Have we got a deal?
ARIEL
If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again.
URSULA
But you'll have your man, heh heh. Life's full of tough choices, isn't it? Heh heh.
Oh, and there is one more thing.
We haven't discussed the subject of payment.
ARIEL
But I don't have-
URSULA
I'm not asking much, just a token really, a trifle!
What I want from you is - your voice.
ARIEL
But without my voice, how can I-
URSULA
You'll have your looks, your pretty face.
And don't underestimate the importance of body language, ha!
The men up there don't like a lot of blabber
They think a girl who gossips is a bore!
Yet on land it's much prefered for ladies not to say a word
And after all dear, what is idle babble for?
Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation
True gentlemen avoid it when they can
But they dote and swoon and fawn
On a lady who's withdrawn
It's she who holds her tongue who get's a man
Come on you poor unfortunate soul
Go ahead!
Make your choice!
I'm a very busy woman and I haven't got all day
It won't cost much
Just your voice!
You poor unfortunate soul
It's sad but true
If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet
You've got the pay the toll
Take a gulp and take a breath
And go ahead and sign the scroll
Flotsam, Jetsam, now I've got her, boys
The boss is on a roll
This poor unfortunate soul
Beluga sevruga
Come winds of the Caspian SeaLarengix glaucitis
Et max laryngitis
La voce to me
Now, sing!
ARIEL
Aah...
Keep singing
The lyrics to "The Basics" from the movie "The Little Mermaid" by Alan Menken is a conversation between Ursula and Ariel. Ursula offers to make Ariel human but requires Ariel's voice as payment. Throughout the song, Ursula expresses her sympathy and understanding towards "poor unfortunate souls" who come to her seeking help, including Ariel. She boasts of her talents and offers advice on how to attract a man by withholding conversation. Ariel is hesitant at first, realizing that she will never see her family again if she becomes human, but is ultimately convinced to make the deal with Ursula.
The lyrics of this song touch on the themes of sacrifice, betrayal, and transformation. Ursula's character represents temptation and the price that individuals are willing to pay for their desires. The song suggests that there are times when making a deal with the devil, so to speak, may seem necessary or even justified but can lead to unforeseen consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself.
In order to achieve your dream, you must acquire the qualities and characteristics that align with that dream.
Can you do that?
Is it possible for me to turn into a human?
My dear, sweet child. That's what I do. It's what I live for.
Helping people with their unfortunate situations is my life's purpose, especially merfolk like yourself in need of transformation.
To help unfortunate merfolk like yourself.
Poor souls with no one else to turn to.
I help those who have no other options for help, who are in difficult situations, such as merfolk who wish to change their form.
I admit that in the past I've been a nasty
They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch
But you'll find that nowadays
I've mended all my ways
Repented, seen the light, and made a switch
To this
And I fortunately know a little magic
It's a talent that I always have possessed
And dear lady, please don't laugh
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, the lonely, and depressed (pathetic)
I acknowledge that I have behaved poorly in the past, but I have since changed and learned to use my magic to help those in need, such as those who are unhappy and alone.
Poor unfortunate souls
In pain, in need
This one longing to be thinner
That one wants to get the girl
And do I help them?
Yes, indeed
Those poor unfortunate souls
So sad, so true
They come flocking to my cauldron
Crying, "Spells, Ursula, please!"
And I help them!
Yes I do
There are many souls who are suffering and seeking help, including those who are unhappy with their appearance, those who struggle with love, and more. They come to me for spells and I do help them.
Now it's happened once or twice
Someone couldn't pay the price
And I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals
Yes I've had the odd complaint
But on the whole I've been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls
Although I have occasionally had to be strict with those who are unable to pay the price of my services, in general I have been kind to those who come to me for help.
But you'll have your man, heh heh. Life's full of tough choices, isn't it? Heh heh.
Oh, and there is one more thing.
We haven't discussed the subject of payment.
Although you will be with the man you love if you transform into a human, life is full of difficult choices, and you also need to consider the cost of transformation, which we have yet to discuss.
But I don't have-
I'm not asking much, just a token really, a trifle!
What I want from you is - your voice.
Although you may not have a lot to give, I only ask for a small token - your voice - which is necessary for the transformation process.
But without my voice, how can I-
You'll have your looks, your pretty face.
And don't underestimate the importance of body language, ha!
Although losing your voice may seem like a large sacrifice, you will still have your physical appearance which is important for attracting others, and can learn to communicate with your body instead.
Come on you poor unfortunate soul
Go ahead!
Make your choice!
I'm a very busy woman and I haven't got all day
It won't cost much
Just your voice!
You poor unfortunate soul
It's sad but true
If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet
You've got the pay the toll
Take a gulp and take a breath
And go ahead and sign the scroll
Flotsam, Jetsam, now I've got her, boys
The boss is on a roll
This poor unfortunate soul
You must make a choice if you wish to obtain what you desire - whether it is worth sacrificing your voice for transformation. The cost is small, but it must be paid. Once you make your decision, you must commit and sign the contract.
The men up there don't like a lot of blabber
They think a girl who gossips is a bore!
Yet on land it's much prefered for ladies not to say a word
And after all dear, what is idle babble for?
Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation
True gentlemen avoid it when they can
But they dote and swoon and fawn
On a lady who's withdrawn
It's she who holds her tongue who get's a man
Although people may value talkativeness in certain situations, on land it is often seen as more desirable for women to be quiet and reserved. Men are not necessarily impressed by conversation, but rather by someone who is mysterious and withholds information.
Now, sing!
Aah...
Keep singing
You must use your voice for the transformation to work properly, so sing as directed.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hasanaltay3737
watched the movie 2 times still cant get over with it's magic
@raphaellepepin2034
this movie is fabulous, I love it ❤️
@SuperWiiBros08
1:20 I like the use of friend like me in this
@niuk518
I’m so excited for Aladdin🤗
@V.B.N
I love the new movie Aladdin
@bsm10_01
BELOVED ALADDIN ❤
@jooniedundance2074
AWESOME!
@catalinatrivinomartinez9234
I'm excited 😍😍😍
@sanafa6697
Omy so amazing😍
@ShockeDLoN3R
undisputed