The World Above
Original Broadway Cast Lyrics


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This is where I belong,
Beneath the clear wide blue here!
I feel completely new here in the world above!
It's like my life was wrong
And somehow, now, at last I'm in
My own skin
Up here in the world above!
There's so much light here
Light and space!
The sun's so bright here
Upon my face!
It feels so right here
Warm as love...
Life seems to be




Almost calling to me
From this strange new world above!

Overall Meaning

The song "The World Above" from the musical The Little Mermaid is sung by the character Ariel as she discovers the world above the sea. The lyrics communicate a sense of wonder and excitement as she explores this new world. The first verse, "This is where I belong, Beneath the clear wide blue here!" is a reference to Ariel's connection to the ocean that has always been familiar and safe up until this moment. However, as she continues to sing, she expresses that being in the world above makes her feel "completely new" and as if her life was previously wrong. This suggests that she has found new meaning and purpose in exploring and experiencing the world above.


The second verse further describes the new world and its qualities that make Ariel feel alive. She sings about the light and space that surrounds her, emphasizing the brightness of the sun and how it feels warm on her face. The warmth and brightness are symbolic of the sense of acceptance and belonging that Ariel has discovered in the world above. The final lines of the song communicate Ariel's strong sense of connection to this new experience, as she feels that "life seems to be almost calling to me from this strange new world above!"


Overall, "The World Above" is a song that celebrates the transformative power of change and the excitement that comes with leaving one's comfort zone. It is a perfect encapsulation of Ariel's journey as she moves from the familiar to the unfamiliar and the joy that she finds in discovering new things about herself and the world.


Line by Line Meaning

This is where I belong,
I have finally found my place in the world, and it is right here below the clear, wide blue sky.


Beneath the clear wide blue here!
The sky above is so clear and wide, and I find comfort being under it.


I feel completely new here in the world above!
Being in this world above gives me a sense of rejuvenation and renewal.


It's like my life was wrong
My past life felt wrong, but now everything seems to make sense and fall into place.


And somehow, now, at last I'm in
After searching for so long, I am finally where I am meant to be.


My own skin
I am comfortable and confident in my own body and identity.


Up here in the world above!
This new world above has given me a higher perspective and has elevated my sense of self.


There's so much light here
This world is filled with so much light, which gives me a sense of positivity and hope.


Light and space!
This world is expansive and full of open space, allowing me to feel free and unrestricted.


The sun's so bright here
The brightness of the sun in this new world is overwhelming and exhilarating.


Upon my face!
Feeling the warmth of the sun on my face brings me great joy.


It feels so right here
Being in this world feels natural and correct, like I was meant to be here all along.


Warm as love...
The feeling of comfort and warmth I get from this new world is reminiscent of the love I have felt in my life.


Life seems to be
After being here for some time, I have noticed that life itself seems different and more vibrant.


Almost calling to me
It feels like this world is beckoning me to seize every opportunity and live life to the fullest.


From this strange new world above!
Everything about this new world is foreign to me, but I am eager to explore and discover all it has to offer.




Writer(s): Glenn Evan Slater, Alan Menken

Contributed by Adeline J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@patriaangelicaaquino3318

Ariel:
This is where I belong,
Beneath the clear wide blue here!
I feel completely new here in the world above!
It’s like my life was wrong
And somehow, now, at last I’m in
My own skin
Up here in the world above!

There’s so much light here
Light and space!
The sun’s so bright here
Upon my face!
It feels so right here
Warm as love...
Life seems to be
Almost calling to me
From this strange new world above!



@lindsayboudreau8398

search A-Z ST LYRICS sharing



The World Above
Ariel
Little Mermaid Soundtrack

Play "The World Above"



Ariel:
This is where I belong,
Beneath the clear wide blue here!
I feel completely new here in the world above!
It’s like my life was wrong
And somehow, now, at last I’m in
My own skin
Up here in the world above!

There’s so much light here
Light and space!
The sun’s so bright here
Upon my face!
It feels so right here
Warm as love...
Life seems to be
Almost calling to me
From this strange new world above!



All comments from YouTube:

@shannonwhitaker5

I really like how the Broadway version makes it much clearer that she's not just giving up her voice for a guy; she belongs in the world above, and I love that the Broadway version shows that.

@antifagoat6591

Ariel has to discover how much agency she actually has in the Broadway version. I really like that message, especially for little girls. As much as I love the animated film, it can be read as a little dated for female agency.

@frannyc7248

The movie shows it too when she sings 'part of your world' people are just to stupid to see it.

@shannonwhitaker5

@@frannyc7248 well, yes, Part of Your World definitely shows that she wants to be where the humans are for other reasons than a guy, but the rest of the movie is much less good at showing it than PoYW. The Broadway show shows it in several different places beyond PoYW

@butters5824

It’s like people don’t remember the song is “Part of THAT World.” She had the chance to be with Eric, said no and only went to Ursula after the blowout fight with her father. She literally pleaded to him that Eric would’ve died had she not acted to which Triton responded essentially “better off.” I think people want so badly for 1989 viewpoints to be outdated that they forget how the actual movie went…

@gillianday4804

If there is a Live-Action film of Disney's The Little Mermaid, let there be broadway music as its soundtrack

@Ccarbe

Yeah, and that destruction scene would be less aggressive when King Triton only destroys the Grotto
and blaming Ariel for being so much like her mother. In fact, he might say,
"You are so much like your other. She was but nothing more than a fool, and so are you."

@cbismarck07

Unfortunately, it's not going to happen. The live-action The Little Mermaid will feature new songs by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

@LaKellita

It won't. They never include these.

@savannahb6307

@@cbismarck07 Stan Lin.

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