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
Legend Of The Lamp
Alan Menken & Howard Ashman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please, please, come closer
Ah, too close, a little too close
There, welcome to Agrabah, city of mystery, of enchantment
And the finest merchandise this side of the River Jordan, on sale today
Come on down
Look at this, yes, combination hookah and coffeemaker, also makes Julienne fries
It will not break, it will not, it broke.
This is the famous dead sea Tupperware
Listen, ah, still good
Wait, don't go
I can see that you're only interested in the exceptionally rare
I think, then, you would be most rewarded to consider this
Do not be fooled by its commonplace appearance
Like so many things, it is not what is outside, but what is inside that counts
This is no ordinary lamp
It once changed the course of a young man's life
A young man who like this lamp was more than what he seemed, a diamond in the rough
The opening lines of “Legend of the Lamp” are spoken by the charismatic and somewhat mysterious street merchant in Disney’s 1992 animated film Aladdin. The merchant addresses the viewer with the greeting “Ah, salaam and good evening to you, worthy friend” before inviting them to approach him and marvel at the abundance of treasures he is selling in Agrabah.
As he shows the various items, he demonstrates his charisma and charm with clever one-liners and jokes. However, the true focus of the scene is the moment when he reveals the lamp that will soon become the central object of Aladdin’s adventure. Though initially dismissed by Aladdin, who is searching for a way to impress the princess Jasmine, the lamp’s true value is made clear through its connection to the Genie who resides within.
The lyrics of “Legend of the Lamp” cleverly set up the story of Aladdin, emphasizing the importance of looking beyond appearances to see the true value of an object, or a person. It is also a catchy and memorable tune that showcases the talent of composers Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, who were known for their ability to create iconic songs for Disney musicals.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, salaam and good evening to you, worthy friend
Greeting the listener and expressing respect towards them
Please, please, come closer
Inviting the listener to inspect the merchandise
Ah, too close, a little too close
Humorous remark about the listener getting too close
There, welcome to Agrabah, city of mystery, of enchantment
Welcoming the listener to a magical city
And the finest merchandise this side of the River Jordan, on sale today
Promoting the quality of the merchandise for sale
Come on down
Encouraging the listener to explore and buy
Look at this, yes, combination hookah and coffeemaker, also makes Julienne fries
Highlighting the unique features of a product for sale
It will not break, it will not, it broke.
Joking about a product breaking after saying it won't
Oh, look at this, I have never seen one of these intact before
Expressing surprise and promoting the rarity of a product
This is the famous dead sea Tupperware
Describing the origin of a product as a selling point
Listen, ah, still good
Affirming the quality of a used product
Wait, don't go
Trying to keep the listener's attention
I can see that you're only interested in the exceptionally rare
Noting the listener's interest in unique products
I think, then, you would be most rewarded to consider this
Suggesting a valuable item for the listener to consider
Do not be fooled by its commonplace appearance
Warning the listener to not judge a product by its looks
Like so many things, it is not what is outside, but what is inside that counts
Promoting the idea that value comes from within
This is no ordinary lamp
Highlighting the uniqueness of the lamp
It once changed the course of a young man's life
Recounting a past event when the lamp was able to change someone's life
A young man who like this lamp was more than what he seemed, a diamond in the rough
Comparing the uniqueness of the lamp to a person who has hidden potential
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alan Menken
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind