Menken and Ashman 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. Ashman and Menken had finished the songs for Beauty and the Beast, but Tim Rice was brought in to finish 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
Best known works:
* Aladdin (1992) (lyricist)
* Beauty and the Beast (1991) (lyricist) (executive producer) (dedicatee)
* The Little Mermaid (1989) (lyricist) (music producer)
* Little Shop of Horrors (1982) (lyricist)
Arabian Nights
Howard Ashman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the caravan camels roam
Where they cut off your ear
If they don't like your face
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home
When the wind's from the east
And the sun's from the west
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly to another Arabian night
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways
Arabian nights
'Neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes
The lyrics to Howard Ashman's song Arabian Nights are set in the desert, with the singer inviting the listener to a land where caravan camels roam. This is a land where they cut off someone's ear if they don't like their face, which is described as barbaric, but for the singer, it's home. The second stanza paints a beautiful picture of an oasis in the desert. When the wind is from the east, and the sun is from the west, and the sand in the glass is right, it's an invitation to come to the oasis. The singer tells the listener to fly on a carpet and hop on by to another Arabian night.
The chorus of the song Arabian Nights, like Arabian days, is hotter than hot in a lot of good ways, under Arabian moons, a foolish person could easily fall hard on the dunes. The lyrics romanticize the exotic culture of Arabia, shining a light on mythic stories from the Arabian Nights tales. Howard Ashman's lyrics expertly describe an Arabian setting with a touch of magic and fantasy. Even though the singer highlights the harsh realities of life in this culture, they also celebrate the beauty and magic of the setting.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I come from a land, from a faraway place
I hail from a distant land that's far away
Where the caravan camels roam
Where the camels of caravans roam
Where they cut off your ear
Even ears can be cut off here
If they don't like your face
If they don't like the look of your face
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home
It may seem savage, but it still is home
When the wind's from the east
If the breeze blows from the east
And the sun's from the west
And the sun sets in the west
And the sand in the glass is right
And the sand in the hourglass is aligned
Come on down, stop on by
Come over here and pay a visit
Hop a carpet and fly
Jump on a flying carpet
To another Arabian night
To experience yet another Arabian night
Arabian nights
The nights of Arabia
Like Arabian days
Just like the Arabian days
More often than not
Mostly, more frequently than not
Are hotter than hot
Are blazing and steaming hot
In a lot of good ways
In many positive ways
Arabian nights
The nights of Arabia
'Neath Arabian moons
Under the Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
An unguarded fool
Could fall and fall hard
Could take a tumble and fall hard
Out there on the dunes
Out in the sandy dunes
Contributed by Sarah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Clef Math
[HOWARD]
(spoken)
Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue,! Dialogue, dialogue! More dialogue! Dialogue! And a joke!
(verse 1)
[BOTH]
(sung)
Oh, I come from a land
From a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where they cut off your ear
If they don't like your face
It's barbaric. But hеy, it's home
When the wind's from thе East
And the sun's from the West
And the sand on your glass is right
Come on down, come on in
Let the magic begin
It's another Arabian night
Oh, I come from a land
Where intrigue is in style
And adventure is status quo
Where they hack off your lips
If they don't like your smile
It's the law. Did I make it? No
See the dervishes dance
In ridiculous pants
Then romance to your hearts delight
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
To another Arabian night
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
They tease and excite, ♫
Take off and take flight, ♫
They shook and amaze
Arabian nights
Like Arabian noons
The thrills that one seeks
One finds with the sheiks
The geeks and the goons
(verse 2)
In that magical place
In that mystical land
There's a genie in every jar
He'll do all your bidding
Your wish his command; it's demeaning
But hey, there you are
Arabian nights
[ALAN]
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In several ways
Arabian nights
'Neath Arabian moons
A guy off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
(vocalizes)
Arabian nights
Like Arabian (vocalizes)
Follow me to a place
Where incredible feats
Are routine-I don't know- every hour or so
Where enchantment runs rampant
Yes, wild in the streets
Open Sesame. Here we go
Pack your shield, pack your sword
You won't ever get bored
Though get beaten or gored you might
Call it mad, call it crazed
But let Allah be praised
It's another
Arabian night,
Arabian nghts....
GatorGirl04
Hands down one the GREATEST lyricist of ALL TIME. Howard was truly a gift and he was just beginning to showcase his genius he before he went on to write for the angels. The enchantment and magic he created for so many generations is to be forever cherished. Thank you Mr. Ashman for thinking it not robbery to share your gift so graciously with the world. Amazing uploads giagia!!! Thanks soooo much!
oklu
I love their hilarious dialogue...... Oh how much I love you Alan and Howard. Your passinate partnership will remain forever
violet schmiolet
"DIALOGUE. DIALOGUE, DIALOGUE." How adorable is it Howard hasn't quite finished the lyrics, either, so there're a few places where he just throws filler words in?
MrGabeanator
dummy lyrics they're fun
MrGabeanator
@Kristin Rae Fernandez lol
Clef Math
[HOWARD]
(spoken)
Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue,! Dialogue, dialogue! More dialogue! Dialogue! And a joke!
(verse 1)
[BOTH]
(sung)
Oh, I come from a land
From a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where they cut off your ear
If they don't like your face
It's barbaric. But hеy, it's home
When the wind's from thе East
And the sun's from the West
And the sand on your glass is right
Come on down, come on in
Let the magic begin
It's another Arabian night
Oh, I come from a land
Where intrigue is in style
And adventure is status quo
Where they hack off your lips
If they don't like your smile
It's the law. Did I make it? No
See the dervishes dance
In ridiculous pants
Then romance to your hearts delight
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
To another Arabian night
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
They tease and excite, ♫
Take off and take flight, ♫
They shook and amaze
Arabian nights
Like Arabian noons
The thrills that one seeks
One finds with the sheiks
The geeks and the goons
(verse 2)
In that magical place
In that mystical land
There's a genie in every jar
He'll do all your bidding
Your wish his command; it's demeaning
But hey, there you are
Arabian nights
[ALAN]
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In several ways
Arabian nights
'Neath Arabian moons
A guy off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
(vocalizes)
Arabian nights
Like Arabian (vocalizes)
Follow me to a place
Where incredible feats
Are routine-I don't know- every hour or so
Where enchantment runs rampant
Yes, wild in the streets
Open Sesame. Here we go
Pack your shield, pack your sword
You won't ever get bored
Though get beaten or gored you might
Call it mad, call it crazed
But let Allah be praised
It's another
Arabian night,
Arabian nghts....
oklu
By the way Alan's performance on the piano is insane
Diego Diaz de Chile
Just saw the documentary on Disney plus on Howard and I have nothing but mad respect for this guy, RIP One of the best lyricist, etc...
Jordan Briskin
This demo is also available on "The Music Behind the Magic: The Artistic Genius of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice", to the best of my knowledge.
Zefferwindow
Actually, it really isn't. The first 24 seconds or so of the demo are on "Music Behind the Magic" before it transitions into the (altered) theatrical recording. I can only assume they didn't include the full demo because of the content. They'd already had to alter the theatrical version of "Arabian Night" because it was (supposedly) culturally insensitive. So they probably were afraid of the reaction this song might get if it were attached to a "Disney" collection.