Menken has collaborated with several renowned lyricists including Howard Ashman (1950-1991), Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz. He is best known for his work on several Disney animated features, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, Pocahontas, Aladdin, and Home on the Range. His first successful work was the 1982 off-Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors. Menken has received eight Academy Awards, and has one of the the highest film to Oscar ratio of anyone in the industry.
Howard Ashman ( May 17, 1950 - March 14, 1991) was an American playwright and movie music lyricist. Ashman first studied at Boston University and Goddard College (with a stop at Tufts University's Summer Theater) and then went on to achieve his master's degree from Indiana University in 1974. He collaborated with Alan Menken on several films, notably animated features for Disney, Ashman writing the lyrics and Menken composing the scores.
Ashman and Menken first worked on a 1979 musical adapted from Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. They also collaborated on Little Shop of Horrors with Ashman as director, lyricist, and librettist.
Along with Menken, Ashman was the co-recipient of two Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes and two Oscars. His second Academy Award in 1992 was awarded posthumuously for Best Song and was accepted by his partner, Bill Lauch. It was the first Academy Award given posthumously to someone who had died of AIDS.
Ashman died on March 14, 1991, at age 40, during the making of both Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. The song Proud of Your Boy was the one of the last songs ever written by Ashman, for Aladdin but was cut from the movie after the mother was taken out of the story. Ashman and Menken had finished the songs for Beauty and the Beast, but Tim Rice was brought in to finish the Aladdin songs with Menken. Beauty and the Beast was dedicated to him with the following:
To our friend, Howard,
Who gave a mermaid her voice,
and a beast his soul.
We will be forever grateful.
Howard Ashman
1950-1991
Beauty and the Beast
Alan Menken & Howard Ashman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before and ever just as sure as the sun will rise
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bitter sweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Certain as the sun
(Certain as the sun)
Rising in the east
(Tale as old as time)
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast
Tale as old as time
(Song as old as rhyme)
Beauty and the beast
The song "Beauty and the Beast" is a timeless classic, both in its storytelling and its musical composition. The opening lyrics, "Tale as old as time, true as it can be," instantly set the tone of the song as one of enduring love and familiarity. The following lines, "Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly," suggest a twist in the relationship between the titular characters that will shape the rest of the story.
As the song continues, it becomes clear that "Beauty and the Beast" is not just about the romantic love between two individuals, but about the transformative power of love in general. The lyrics describe a gradual change in the attitudes and beliefs of both the Beauty and the Beast, as they learn to see each other in a different light. The lines "Finding you can change, learning you were wrong" encapsulate this idea perfectly.
The final stanza of the song reinforces its message of the enduring nature of love, with the repetition of the lines "Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast." The song is both a celebration of love and a reminder of its transformative power, making it a classic that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.
Line by Line Meaning
Tale as old as time
The story being told is ancient and has stood the test of time.
True as it can be
The events of the story are completely accurate and truthful.
Barely even friends
The two main characters are not particularly close or familiar with each other at the beginning of the story.
Then somebody bends
One of the characters experiences a change of heart or perspective that moves the story in a new direction.
Unexpectedly
The character's change of heart or perspective takes everyone by surprise.
Just a little change
The character's transformation is subtle and doesn't seem like it should be a big deal.
Small to say the least
The transformation is not particularly significant or noticeable on the surface.
Both a little scared
Both characters are hesitant and unsure about what's happening.
Neither one prepared
Neither character feels fully equipped or ready to deal with the changes that are occurring.
Ever just the same
The story has a familiar pattern that repeats itself.
Ever a surprise
Despite the familiar pattern, there are still moments of unexpected development.
Ever as before and ever just as sure as the sun will rise
The pattern of the story is unchanging and inevitable, like the rising sun.
Tune as old as song
The melody of the story is a classic that has been around for generations.
Bitter sweet and strange
The story has elements of both happiness and sadness, along with some unusual twists.
Finding you can change
One of the characters discovers that they are capable of transformation and growth.
Learning you were wrong
One of the characters realizes that they were mistaken in their assumptions or beliefs.
Certain as the sun
The outcome of the story is absolutely guaranteed, like the sun rising in the east.
(Certain as the sun)
Reiterating the previous line for emphasis.
(Tale as old as time)
Repeating the primary theme of the story for emphasis.
Song as old as rhyme
The melody and rhythm of the story are classic and timeless.
Beauty and the beast
The title characters of the story are the beauty and the beast, who are the focus of the story's themes and messages.
Tale as old as time
Reiterating again that the story is a classic that has been told for generations.
(Song as old as rhyme)
Repeating the previous line for emphasis.
Beauty and the beast
Repeating the title for emphasis and to conclude the song.
Lyrics Š Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: HOWARD ELLIOTT ASHMAN, ALAN MENKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex S. Madsen
Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before and ever just as sure as the sun will rise
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
(Oh, oh, oh)
Tale as old as time (ooh, ooh, ooh)
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Certain as the sun
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast
(Oh, oh, oh-oh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh)
Beauty and the beast
Thomas Stockley
"To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman 1950â1991."
Reuel Lucas
And a genie his freedomâŚ.
Carla Guajardo
He will always be deeply missed đ
Ashley Bohnert
I saw that I enjoy that
Hernandez Jr Productions / MilchaelJoeJackson
tgstock1 Yup I saw that All The Way End Credits
tonsabarillo
It's amazing how Ashman pulled this off: It works perfectly even if it's sung by an enchanted teapot, and it's a love song that's sung by neither the loved nor the beloved. It is a spectator who sings about how she's seen this before, how the lovers are part of something larger than both of them. It takes genius to portray love so vividly and strongly without even using the word "love" itself.
oklu
Beautifully written comment.
sampea CAML
Amen, brother!
Gabychan13
I remember watching an interview with Angela Lansbusy & she said that as soon as she heard the demo for Beauty & the Beast she thought it was so wonderful that she felt bad about replacing Howard's singing voice with her own voice when she heard it.
MrGabeanator
@Douglas Roth wow