McDonald became a three-time Tony Award winner by the age of 28 โ for her performances in Carousel, Master Class, and Ragtime. She won her fourth in 2004 for her role in A Raisin in the Sun.
McDonald has recorded four solo albums for Nonesuch Records. Her first, the 1998 Way Back to Paradise, featured songs written by a new generation of musical theatre composers who had achieved varying degrees of prominence in the 1990s, particularly Michael John LaChiusa, Adam Guettel and Jason Robert Brown. Her subsequent albums, How Glory Goes and Happy Songs, have featured more traditional theater and cabaret songs along with some songs by these new composers. Her fourth album, Build a Bridge, features songs from the jazz/pop canon, from composers as diverse as Laura Nyro, Elvis Costello, Nellie McKay, Neil Young, Rufus Wainwright, John Mayer and Randy Newman.
Beauty and the Beast
Audra McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Winter turns to spring
Famine turns to feast
Nothing left to say
Beauty and the Beast
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 lyrics of Audra McDonald's song "Beauty and the Beast" convey a sense of timelessness and universality. The first two lines, "Tale as old as time, tune as old as song," establish that the story and the song have been retold and sung countless times throughout history. The next line, "Bittersweet and strange," suggests that the story is both beautiful and sad, and that there is something mysterious and enchanting about it.
The next two lines, "Finding you can change, learning you were wrong," suggest that the story is about transformation and redemption. The idea is that through their relationship, both Beauty and the Beast learn important lessons about themselves and the world, and are ultimately transformed by their love for each other.
The final three stanzas, "Winter turns to spring, famine turns to feast, nature points the way, nothing left to say, Beauty and the Beast," "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," bring the song to a close with a sense of inevitability and timelessness. The idea is that the story and the song will continue to be told and sung for many years to come, and that the eternal themes of love, redemption, and transformation will continue to resonate with audiences everywhere.
Line by Line Meaning
Tale as old as time
This story has been told for ages, it's not something new.
Tune as old as song
The melody is familiar and simple just like a traditional song.
Bittersweet and strange
The story has both happy and sad moments making it a unique blend of emotions.
Finding you can change
Discovering that someone or something can alter your outlook on life.
Learning you were wrong
Recognizing that someone's previous beliefs or assumptions were incorrect.
Winter turns to spring
Time does not stand still, everything changes and transitions to the next season of life.
Famine turns to feast
There will be periods of lack as well as abundance.
Nature points the way
There are natural cycles to life that dictate what is to come.
Nothing left to say
Sometimes words cannot express what we feel, especially in intense emotional moments.
Beauty and the Beast
This is a story of love and acceptance for who someone is, not what they look like.
Certain as the sun
A statement that is known to be true, like the rising and setting of the sun.
Rising in the east
A specific direction that the sun will always follow, just like the story of Beauty and the Beast has a set path.
Song as old as rhyme
A comparison to how stories and songs have been passed down through generations and are deeply ingrained in our culture.
Beauty and the Beast
Reiterating the title of the song and the message it conveys.
Tale as old as time
The final line is a reminder that while life moves forward, we can always reflect back on stories and lessons from the past.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Howard Elliott Ashman, Alan Menken
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chantal Rodriguez Mรคner
Oh, how divine
Glamour, music and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking, thrilling array
Every prince, every dog has his day
Let us sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world
Ainun Amelia
Oh, how divine
Glamour, music, and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking, thrilling array
Every prince, every dog has his day
And I'll sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world!
Frank Lesher
Here are the lyrics for the song, if anyone is interestedOh, how divine
Glamour, music, and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking, thrilling array
Every prince, every dog has his day
And I'll sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world!
fe
Oh, how divine
Glamour, music and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking, thrilling array
Every prince, every dog has his day
Let us sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world!
I dont know how i did that that was hard to do and long
Ramsey Miller
Lyrics from "Beauty and the Beast"
Performed by Audra McDonald
Music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Tim Rice
Oh, how divine
Glamour, music and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking, thrilling array
Every prince, every dog has his day
Let us sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world!
MusicalTheatreFan2K22
I rewrote some lyrics for the one minute aria for Madame, for Samantha Bingley's interpretation, entitled, "Look At These Girls"
("Bring me my presents!")
("Sire, please accept this humble gift as a token of our appreciation.")
("Oh, just give it to me. A storybook?! You call this a present?!! Somebody's gotta have something better for me โ")
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance."
Look at these girls
Go ahead, sire, give one a whirl.
Weddings happen โ when I spot those pearls.
In one's a sign that enhances chances
she'll be your special one!
All on display,
in breathtaking thrilling array.
I assure you this might be your day,
and not only do they shine and look divine...
~THEY COME FROM OVER THE WORLD!~
(knock on door)
"I WASN'T FINISHED!!!"
nicoleloveswalt
When you have Audra McDonald in your musical film and only let her sing for forty seconds but let a dozen non-singers sing the rest of the time.
Ollie Lane
nicoleloveswalt Luke Evans has done Broadway, as has Emma Thompson but you're right about everyone else.
Tamir
Ollie Lane your forgetting about Josh gad
Tamir
nicoleloveswalt Audra also sings in the finale song and in days in the sun
Ollie Lane
Tamir Baldwin very true
MJC
nicoleloveswalt ... why don't we all judge it once we have seen it ... instead of hating on something we all know we're gunna see ! What's the point ? Shouldn't we just be happy they have made it now ?
Wonder Vizt
I really wish they made a full version of this song.
tobias's strawberry garden
same! its so good ughhh
Andrew W
I love how it starts so graceful and waltzy, and spirals into this dizzying cacophony. Gets the heart pumping
cirrus
Can I just say how wonderful a duo Garderobe and Cadenza are? Honestly, her voice is breathtaking and his harpsichord only enhances it...