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A list of composers to popular Disney films can be found here:
Alan Menken (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas)
Hans Zimmer (The Lion King)
Mark Mancina (Tarzan, Brother Bear)
Michael Giacchino (Ratatouille)
James Newton Howard (Atlantis)
Jerry Goldsmith (Mulan)
Oliver Wallace (Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Dumbo)
Randy Newman (A Bug's Life, Cars, Monsters Inc., Toy Story)
Thomas Newman (WALL-E)
The Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Jungle Book, The Aristocats and The Tigger Movie)
Music from the crust band Disneÿ from the Czech Republic should be tagged as Disneÿ.
Poor Unfortunate Souls
Disney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The only way to get what you want...
...is to become a human yourself!
Ariel:
(Gasps with excitement) Can you do that?
Ursula:
That's what I do...
It's what I live for.
To help unfortunate merfolk,
Like yourself...
Poor souls with no one else to turn to...
(singing) 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
True?
Yes!
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
Ursula (spoken) :
Now here's the deal
I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human
for three days, got that? three days.
Now listen this is important before the sun sets on the third day
you've got to get dear old princie to fall in love
with you that is he's got to kiss you,
not just any kiss the kiss of true love
if he does kiss u before the sun sets on the on the third day
you'll remain human permanently
if he doesn't you turn back
into a mermaid and you belong to me.
Sebastian (spoken) :
No Ariel!
Ursula (spoken) :
Have we got a deal?
Ariel:
If I become human...
I'll never be with my father or sisters again.
Ursula:
That's right
But, you'll have, your man. (laughs slyly)
Life's full of tough choices, i'nnit? (laughs slyly)
Oh!
And there is, one, more, thing!
We haven't discussed the subject of payment.
Ariel: But I don't have any -
Ursula:
I'm not asking much.
Just a token, really!
A trifle!
you'll never even miss it
What I want from you is . . .
...Your voice.
Ariel (spoken) :
my voice?
Ursula (spoken) :
You've got it sweet cakes
No more talking, singing, zip
Ariel (spoken) :
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
Yes, on land it's much preferred
For ladies not to say a word
And after all, dear, what is idle prattle 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 gets her 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 a bridge, my sweet
You've got to 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 Sea
Larengix glaucitis
Et max laryngitis
La voce to me
Now, sing!
ARIEL
Aah...
Keep singing!
The song “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from Disney’s The Little Mermaid tells the story of Ariel, a mermaid who wants to become human to be with Prince Eric. Ursula, a sea witch who has been ostracized from society, offers to help Ariel. Ursula uses her magic to transform Ariel into a human for three days, giving Ariel a chance to make the prince fall in love with her, but at a cost. Ursula wants Ariel’s voice in exchange for human legs, claiming that body language is all Ariel will need to win the prince’s heart. In the end, Ariel agrees to the deal, but Ursula ends up taking advantage of her newfound ability to speak.
The song is memorable for its powerful melody, catchy tune, and the performance by the voice actors, Pat Carroll (as Ursula) and Jodi Benson (as Ariel). But beyond its catchy beat, the lyrics of the song are insightful, as they highlight themes such as self-worth and sacrifice. The lyrics show how people can be taken advantage of, even by those who offer to help them, and how difficult it can be to determine which choices are truly the best ones.
Line by Line Meaning
The only way to get what you want...
Becoming a human is the only option to fulfill your desires.
My dear, sweet child, That's what I do... It's what I live for. To help unfortunate merfolk, Like yourself... Poor souls with no one else to turn to...
Ursula's purpose is to assist the merfolks who are in agony and have nowhere to go.
I admit that in the past I've been a nasty
Ursula accepts that she was not a pleasant person in the past.
But you'll find that nowadays I've mended all my ways Repented, seen the light and made a switch True? Yes!
Ursula claims that she has reformed and no longer has an evil intention.
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)
Ursula has mastery in magic and uses it to help the people who are unhappy and sad.
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
Ursula aids those who are in want and agony by using her magic.
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
Ursula dislikes when people can't fulfill her demands and punishes them in return but for the most part, she has been helping the people selflessly.
Now here's the deal I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days, got that? three days. Now listen this is important before the sun sets on the third day you've got to get dear old princie to fall in love with you that is he's got to kiss you, not just any kiss the kiss of true love if he does kiss u before the sun sets on the on the third day you'll remain human permanently if he doesn't you turn back into a mermaid and you belong to me.
Ursula makes a deal with Ariel to turn her into a human for three days in exchange for her voice. The deal requires Ariel to make the prince fall in love with her and kiss her before the third day's sunset to remain human forever; otherwise, she will become Ursula's possession.
But, you'll have, your man. (laughs slyly) Life's full of tough choices, i'nnit? (laughs slyly) Oh! And there is, one, more, thing! We haven't discussed the subject of payment.
Ursula promises Ariel that she will have her man, but in return, she has to pay the price with her voice, which Ursula considers a small price.
I'm not asking much. Just a token, really! A trifle! you'll never even miss it What I want from you is . . . ...Your voice.
Ursula asks for Ariel's voice in exchange for the potion to turn her into a human, which Ariel deems a small request.
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!
Ariel is concerned about losing her voice and how she'd communicate. Ursula assures her that she'd still be pretty and could communicate through gestures and actions.
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!
Ursula pressures Ariel to make a choice and give her voice to receive the potion quickly.
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 gets her man
Ursula tells Ariel that men prefer quiet women who don't talk much.
This poor unfortunate soul...
Ursula refers to Ariel as a poor unfortunate soul.
If you want to cross a bridge, my sweet You've got to 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
Ursula compares the exchange to the cost of crossing a toll bridge and urges Ariel to sign the contract. Her henchmen, Flotsam and Jetsam, are excited that Ursula has trapped Ariel.
Beluga sevruga Come winds of the Caspian Sea Larengix glaucitis Et max laryngitis La voce to me Now, sing! Aah... Keep singing!
Ursula uses an incantation to take Ariel's voice and keep it for herself. She commands Ariel to sing, keeping her promise to turn her into a human.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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