Belle
Richard E. White Lyrics
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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 to Richard White Chorus & Paige O'Hara's song "Belle" describe the inner conflict of Belle, a young woman who craves more than the mundane life that her provincial town offers. Belle has been proposed to by Gaston, a man who she deems boorish and brainless. In the chorus, she imagines herself as "Madame Gaston," the wife of Gaston but quickly rejects the idea. She wants more from life than to be the wife of a small-town man who is obsessed with himself.
Belle desires adventure beyond the small town, and she expresses this desire in the second verse. She wants to experience the great wide somewhere and wants it more than she can express. She further wishes for someone to understand and relate to her desires, as she wants much more than the plans that the people around her have. The lyrics portray Belle as a woman who is unabashedly independent and free-spirited, unafraid to express her desires in defiance of societal expectations.
Overall, the lyrics of "Belle" speak to the universal desire for adventure and the pursuit of something greater than oneself. It also highlights the struggles that come with trying to pursue change and go against what society deems acceptable.
Line by Line Meaning
Is he gone?
Did he leave? Is he not here anymore?
Oh, can you imagine?
Wow, can you even believe it?
He asked me to marry him
He proposed to me and asked me to be his wife
Me, the wife of that boorish, brainless
I, the spouse of that rude, dull-witted person
Madame Gaston, can't you just see it?
Can't you envision me as the perfect, doting wife of Gaston?
Madame Gaston, his little wife, ugh
Being identified only as Gaston's wife doesn't sound appealing to me
No sir, not me, I guarantee it
No, I definitely don't want that, I promise
I want much more than this provincial life
I desire a life of adventure and excitement beyond this small town existence
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want thrilling experiences in far-off, unknown places
I want it more than I can tell
My desire for adventure is so great that I can't express it fully
And for once it might be grand to have someone understand
It would be wonderful if there was someone who truly comprehended my longing for more in life
I want so much more than they've got planned
I aspire to achieve more than what society or others have charted out for me
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