Belle
Menken Alan (Demo)/O'Hara Paige (Final) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, can you imagine?
He asked me to marry him
Me, the wife of that boorish, brainless
Madame Gaston, can't you just see it?
Madame Gaston, his little wife, ugh
No sir, not me, I guarantee it
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell
And for once it might be grand to have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned
The lyrics of "Belle" describe the singer of the story, Belle's, longing for more than what her provincial life has to offer. She has been approached by Gaston and offered marriage, but she refuses due to his superficial and boorish nature. Instead, she dreams of adventure and excitement outside of her small hometown. She wants someone to understand her desires and see the potential that she knows exists within her.
The first two lines of the lyrics, "Is he gone? Oh, can you imagine?" refer to Gaston and his recent departure. Belle's response to his proposal indicates a sense of disgust at the prospect of becoming his wife. The repetition of "Madame Gaston," emphasizes the societal expectations placed on women to marry and become wives who are owned and defined by their husbands. However, Belle is refusing to conform to these roles and expectations. She is a strong and independent woman who desires more from life than simply becoming a wife and staying in her small town. The lyrics convey Belle's yearning for adventure and understanding, which ultimately sets the stage for the rest of the story.
Line by Line Meaning
Is he gone?
Expressing uncertainty about the absence of someone or something
Oh, can you imagine?
An exclamation showing disbelief or surprise
He asked me to marry him
Referring to a proposal of marriage from a specific individual
Me, the wife of that boorish, brainless
Referencing the character flaws of a specific individual
Madame Gaston, can't you just see it?
A rhetorical question calling attention to a certain image or scenario
Madame Gaston, his little wife, ugh
Expressing disgust or aversion toward a particular situation or person
No sir, not me, I guarantee it
Asserting a personal conviction or belief with assurance
I want much more than this provincial life
Expressing dissatisfaction with the status quo and desiring something greater
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
Expressing a desire for excitement and a specific location
I want it more than I can tell
Desiring something with great intensity and beyond the ability to articulate fully
And for once it might be grand to have someone understand
Expressing a need for empathy and connection with another individual
I want so much more than they've got planned
Rejecting the predetermined path set before them and seeking an alternative path
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Walt Disney Music Company, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HOWARD ELLIOTT ASHMAN, ALAN MENKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind