Lovely Lyrics: Part of Your World

The Little Mermaid opened in theaters 25 years ago today.  A quarter century, which seems crazy to me!  The movie marked the beginning of what is referred to as the "Disney Renaissance," a period of about ten years during which Disney's animated movies enjoyed popularity and profit after many years of disappointing box office returns.

I love The Little Mermaid.  Lovely story, beautiful animation, and wonderful music.  The soundtrack was written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, musical geniuses I have written about previously.  Part of Your World was almost cut from the film, but I for one am glad it was left in because I cannot imagine the movie with out it.  There are several great songs on the soundtrack, but this is definitely my favorite.

Ariel clearly possesses some of the classic Disney Princess qualities, which some people view as positive and others view as negative, and I am not going to debate those here.

What I love about Ariel is that she is a dreamer...she longs for adventure.  And my teenage self identified with her in a number of ways.  In the film, she is 16, and when the movie was released, I was 16.  She has a strict father she loves fiercely, and I had a strict father I loved fiercely.  She is in love with a handsome boy, and I was in love with a handsome boy.  Honestly, how innocent is the sixteen year old mind?!?

A few years ago, my sixth grade girls were talking about which Disney Princesses they liked, and they were NOT fans of Ariel.  According to them, "She is dumb to give up her voice for a boy."  As their teacher, I was impressed they were able to identify her flawed thinking and were strong, independent girls who didn't see themselves as needing to sacrifice their gifts for a boy.  They have a point, but there are other things that bothered me more - like why didn't she just write her name for Eric instead of making him guess?  She signed the contract with Ursula, so clearly she knows how to write her name!  But I happily overlook those kinds of things and appreciate the movie as a whole. So I remain a fan of Ariel!

While it is a "love story" in the sense that Ariel and Eric struggle to be together and end up getting married, it is also a love story between Ariel and King Triton - when he sacrifices himself to save his daughter?  25 years later, I cry during that scene whenever I watch the movie.  It never gets old.

So if you don't have the soundtrack, I highly recommend it.  In addition to the catchy songs, the score is beautiful.

Part of Your World

from The Little Mermaid

Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?

Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?

Wouldn't you think I'm the girl,

the girl who has everything?

Look at this trove, treasures untold,

How many wonders can one cavern hold?

Looking around here you'd think,

"Sure, she's got everything!"

I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty,

I've got whozits and whatzits galore,

You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty!

But who cares? No big deal. I want more!

I wanna be where the people are

I wanna see, wanna see 'em dancin'

Walkin' around on those...

What do you call 'em? Oh, feet!

Flippin' your fins you don't get too far,

Legs are required for jumpin', dancin',

Strolling along down a...

What's that word again? Street!

Up where they walk,

Up where they run,

Up where they stay all day in the sun,

Wanderin' free,

wish I could be

part of that world

What would I give if I could live out of these waters?

What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?

Betcha on land, they understand

Bet they don't reprimand their daughters…

Bright young women, sick of swimmin', ready to stand

I'm ready to know what the people know,

Ask 'em my questions and get some answers

What's a fire and why does it...

What's the word? Burn!

When's it my turn?

Wouldn't I love,

love to explore that shore up above?

Out of the sea,

wish I could be

part of that world

Music by Alan Menken

Lyrics by Howard Ashman

Happy Tails to you!