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)
Beauty And The Beast
Howard Ashman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
cnd ever just as sure
cs the sun will rise
Oh oh oh oh
Whoa whoa oh oh
Ever just the same yeah
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
cs the sun will rise
Oh oh oh
Tale as old as time ooh ooh ooh
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Certain as the sun
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 Howard Ashman's song "Beauty and the Beast" tell the timeless story of two individuals who find themselves unexpectedly drawn together, despite their initial differences. The song highlights the transformative power of love and the beauty that can be found in looking beyond appearances.
The first verse introduces us to the familiar tale, emphasizing its age and enduring nature. It suggests that the story of love between a beauty and a beast is as true and unchanging as it can be. The lyrics also suggest that the characters were initially not close or intimate – they were "barely even friends." However, the line "then somebody bends unexpectedly" implies that a change occurs, and someone unexpectedly opens themselves up to the other.
The second verse suggests that this change is not drastic but still significant. It expresses that it is just a small alteration, perhaps a small act of vulnerability or understanding, but it causes both parties to feel a certain level of fear and not be fully prepared for what lies ahead. The lyrics highlight the duality of their emotions and the fear they harbor individually.
The chorus emphasizes the fact that love can be both predictable and surprising at the same time. It states that a love like this can be "ever just the same" and "ever a surprise." It solidifies the idea that this love story follows a pattern – just like the rising of the sun – but still manages to be unexpected in its own way.
The bridge of the song emphasizes the profound transformation and growth that love can bring. It suggests that discovering the ability to change and admitting one's faults allows for personal development and growth within the relationship. It also touches on the notion of acknowledging that one was wrong and learning from it.
The repetition of the last lines of the chorus at the end reinforces the idea that this tale is as old as time, and the love between beauty and the beast is as old as the song itself, highlighting the universality of the story and its timeless nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Tale as old as time
A story that has been passed down for generations
True as it can be
Completely genuine and authentic
Barely even friends
Only acquaintances with minimal connection
Then somebody bends
Suddenly, someone changes their behavior or perspective
Unexpectedly
In a surprising and unforeseen manner
Just a little change
A minor modification or adjustment
Small to say the least
To understate or downplay the significance of something
Both a little scared
Both feeling fearful or apprehensive
Neither one prepared
Neither person was ready or expecting
Beauty and the beast
Referring to two contrasting individuals
Ever just the same
Consistently unchanging or unchanged
Ever a surprise
Always capable of providing surprises or unexpected moments
Ever as before
Continuously like it was in the past
And ever just as sure
Firmly and unquestionably predictable
As the sun will rise
Similar to how the sun will inevitably appear each day
Oh oh oh oh
Expressing a melodic exclamation
Whoa whoa oh oh
An interjection denoting surprise or awe
Tune as old as song
Melody that has existed for an extended period of time
Bittersweet and strange
Simultaneously containing both pleasure and pain, and being unfamiliar
Finding you can change
Discovering the ability to transform or evolve
Learning you were wrong
Realizing that one's previous beliefs or actions were incorrect
Certain as the sun
Utterly confident and definite, like the rising sun
Rising in the east
Emerging from the eastern horizon
Tale as old as time
A narrative that has endured over the ages
Song as old as rhyme
A poetic composition as timeless as verses and rhymes
Beauty and the beast
Describing two contrasting individuals
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID BOWIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex S. Madsen
Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before and ever just as sure as the sun will rise
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
(Oh, oh, oh)
Tale as old as time (ooh, ooh, ooh)
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Certain as the sun
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
(Oh, oh, oh-oh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh)
Beauty and the beast
Thomas Stockley
"To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman 1950–1991."
Reuel Lucas
And a genie his freedom….
Carla Guajardo
He will always be deeply missed 💖
Ashley Bohnert
I saw that I enjoy that
Hernandez Jr Productions / MilchaelJoeJackson
tgstock1 Yup I saw that All The Way End Credits
tonsabarillo
It's amazing how Ashman pulled this off: It works perfectly even if it's sung by an enchanted teapot, and it's a love song that's sung by neither the loved nor the beloved. It is a spectator who sings about how she's seen this before, how the lovers are part of something larger than both of them. It takes genius to portray love so vividly and strongly without even using the word "love" itself.
oklu
Beautifully written comment.
sampea CAML
Amen, brother!
Gabychan13
I remember watching an interview with Angela Lansbusy & she said that as soon as she heard the demo for Beauty & the Beast she thought it was so wonderful that she felt bad about replacing Howard's singing voice with her own voice when she heard it.
MrGabeanator
@Douglas Roth wow