Prologue
Ashman and Menken Lyrics
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In an early year of a decade not too long before our own
The human race suddenly encountered a deadly threat to its very existence
And this terrifying enemy surfaced as such enemies often do
In the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places
Little shop, little shoppa horrors
Little shop, little shoppa terror
No, oh, oh, no-oh!
Little shop, little shoppa horrors
Bop sh'bop, little shoppa terror
Watch 'em drop! Little shoppa horrors
No, oh, oh, no-oh!
Shing-a-ling, what a freaky thing to be happening!
Look out, look out, look out, look out!
Shang-a-lang, feel the sturm and drang in the air
Yeah!
Sha-la-la, stop right where you are
Don't you move a thing
You better (tellin' you, you better)
Tell your mama something's gonna get her
She better (everybody better beware!
Oh, here it comes, baby
Tell the world, baby
Oh oh, oh no
Oh, hit the dirt, baby
Tell the world, baby, oh oh, no, oh oh, no
Alley oop, hurry off to school child, I'm warnin' you
(Look out, look out, look, out, look out)
Run away, child you gonna pay if you stay, yeah
Look around, something's comin' down down the street for you
You betcha, you betcha, you betcha butt, you betcha
Best believe it, something's come to get ya
You betcha, you better watch your back in this town
Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah!
Comma, comma, comma
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 Prologue to Little Shop of Horrors by Ashman and Menken begins with setting the stage for the upcoming horror story. The song starts by narrating the time and the era, which is mentioned as an early year of the decade before the present. It goes on to describe how the human race was threatened and encountered a deadly threat unexpectedly. This terrifying enemy surfaced in the most innocent and unassuming of places, alerting the audience to the horror storyline that is soon to follow.
After setting the stage for the story, the song shifts gears into a more upbeat and rock-and-roll style. The lyrics of the song suddenly start using terms like "little shop of horrors" and "call a cop." These are symbolic of the upcoming horror that is about to unfold. The song builds on the story's mystery by using terms like "Shing-a-ling" and "Sha-la-la," giving the song a peculiar and spunky vibe. It touches on themes of chaos and impending danger for the listeners, warning them "everybody better beware."
The entire prologue, with its ominous undertones building up to the upbeat and rock-heavy tune, is a perfect introduction to the story that follows. It gives the listeners a sneak peek into the horror that is to come while building excitement around the musical.
Line by Line Meaning
On the twenty-first day of the month of September
One day in September
In an early year of a decade not too long before our own
In the past, not too long ago
The human race suddenly encountered a deadly threat to its very existence
An existential threat emerged that threatened humanity
And this terrifying enemy surfaced as such enemies often do
The enemy appeared like they always do
In the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places
In a place that seemed harmless
Alley oop, hurry off to school child, I'm warnin' you
Get to school before it's too late
(Look out, look out, look, out, look out)
Be careful
Run away, child you gonna pay if you stay, yeah
Leave now or face the consequences
Look around, something's comin' down down the street for you
Someone is coming for you
Sha-la-la, stop right where you are
Stop where you are
Don't you move a thing
Stay still
You better (tellin' you, you better)
You must
Tell your mama something's gonna get her
Warn your mother of what's coming
She better (everybody better beware!
Everyone should be alert
Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah!
Agreement or enthusiasm
Comma, comma, comma
Pause
Little shop, little shoppa horrors
The horrors of a small shop
Bop sh'bop, you'll never stop the terror
You can't escape the fear
Little shop, little shoppa horrors
The horrors of a small shop
No, oh oh, no, oh oh, no, oh oh, no
No, don't let it happen
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOWARD ELLIOTT ASHMAN, ALAN MENKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Marina-vx1lv
Era uma vez, num país distante
Um jovem príncipe que vivia num reluzente castelo
Embora tivesse tudo o que quisesse
O príncipe era mimado, egoísta, grosseiro
Mas numa noite de inverno uma velha mendiga veio ao castelo
E ofereceu a ele uma simples rosa em troca de abrigo para o frio
Repugnado pela feiura dela, o príncipe zombou da oferta e mandou a velhinha embora
Porém ela o aconselhou a não se deixar enganar pelas aparências
Pois a beleza está no interior das pessoas
E quando ele voltou a expulsá-la
Ela se transformou numa bela feiticeira
O príncipe tentou se desculpar mas era tarde demais
Pois ela percebeu que não havia amor no coração dele
E como castigo ela o transformou numa fera horrenda
E rogou uma praga no castelo e em todos que lá viviam
Envergonhado de sua monstruosa aparência
A fera se escondeu no castelo com um espelho mágico
Que era sua única janela para o mundo exterior
A rosa que ela ofereceu era encantada
E iria florescer até o vigésimo primeiro ano
Se ele aprendesse a amar alguém e fosse retribuído
Na época em que a última pétala caísse
Então o feitiço estaria desfeito
Senão, ele estaria condenado a permanecer fera para sempre
Com o passar dos anos ele caiu em desespero
E perdeu toda a esperança
Pois quem seria capaz de amar um monstro?
@brettlarch8050
Once upon a time, in a far away land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish and unkind.
But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress.
The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart. And as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast and placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there.
Ashamed of his monstrous form, the Beast concealed himself inside his castle with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his twenty-first year.
If he could learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time.
As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast
@TheBermudaMan
0:11 Always loved that little tune. It evokes the perfect "tragic fairy tale" ambience. Sorrow, loneliness, mystery, desolation & hope all wrapped up in the same fourteen notes.
@keithmofley8275
I'd say Sombor Wonder
@saraa350
Agreed! It reminds me a little of Across The Stars from the Stars Wars soundtrack. A tragic love story in seven notes
@wolfanimemackennag7975
Same! that little tune is just amazing!
@caitlynsitte707
I just saw the musical for the first time locally and absolutely fell in love with that little part because it’s echoed throughout the musical even in the background music. I’ve been trying to figure out how to find more of the music to know how many songs it’s featured in!
@treetree442
i watched this movie so many times as a little kid, it’s odd hearing that part today always makes the hair on the back of neck stand up.
@vanessasultana2602
Am I the only one who gets emotional with how beautiful this is?... It's like so beautiful it hurts?
@TheYazmanian
It makes me want to cry
@treefrog9194
No i completely understand
@alexsamoylov3996
Not only you