"Part of Your World", also known as "Part of That World", is a song from Disney's 1989 animated feature film The Little Mermaid. It was written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman, and performed by Jodi Benson as Ariel. It serves as the leitmotif of both Ariel's character and the film as a whole.
Summary[]
It's first heard in the opening titles and again in the end credits.
It is sung by Ariel (Jodi Benson), the title character, while in her secret grotto, which holds all of her treasures, most of which are human objects. It reveals how she dreams of leaving her ocean world behind and becoming a human to be with Prince Eric. Ariel imagines what it would be like to live in the human world with him, and she yearns to see the prince happy with her. Ariel also expresses her curiosity about being part of his world and fascination with his everyday life. She is determined to make her dream a reality, imagining that someday she will be part of the human world and with the prince she loves. While singing, she is unknowingly being watched by Sebastian, who had been tasked with watching over Ariel by King Triton.
After rescuing and falling in love with Eric, a human, Ariel reprises the song, during which she shows an even greater drive to live life upon land.
It is later sung by Ursula, disguised as Vanessa, when she hypnotizes Eric.
Lyrics[]
First[]
Originally, the song was going to have more specific lyrics on the objects in Ariel's grotto, but then it was decided that since Scuttle was her provider of information, she wouldn't really know the names of these objects.
This version of the song was used in the Disney's Sing-Along Songs video Circle of Life. A shorter version using the final verse from the reprise was featured in Mickey's PhilharMagic.
In the 2023 live-action remake, "Part of Your World" is the first song to be performed in the film.
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 ev'rything?
Look at this trove, treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Looking around here you'd think, sure, she's got ev'rything
I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty
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'd ya call 'em? Oh, feet
Flippin' your fins you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'
Strollin' along down the… 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
Outta 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
And 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
(spoken) Maybe he's right. Maybe there is something the matter with me. I just don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad.
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 ev'rything?
Look at this trove, treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Looking around here you'd think, sure, she's got ev'rything
I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty
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'd ya call 'em? Oh, feet
Flippin' your fins you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'
Strollin' along down the… 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
Outta 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
And 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
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 whooz-its and whats-its galore
You want thing-a-mabobs? 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 the...
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
outta 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
And 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
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
Copper and bronze and fine leather and gold
Paper and china and books
Look, feathers and everything
I should start an aquatic museum
I've got gadgets and whats-its galore
All these fish'd pay money to see 'em
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 the...
What's that word again? Street
Up where they walk
Up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Where they breathe free
Wish I could be
part of that world
What would I give
if I could live
outta 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
And 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
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?
I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I've got whooz-its and whats-its galore
You want thing-a-mabobs? 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
When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love,
love to explore that shore up above?
Watch and you'll see,
someday I'll be
part of your world
(spoken) If only I could make my father understand. I just don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be so bad.
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 whooz-its and whats-its galore
You want thing-a-mabobs? 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 the...
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
outta 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
And 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
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 whooz-its and whats-its galore
You want thing-a-mabobs? 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 the...
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
outta 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
And 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
Reprise[]
Before the finalized version was made, an alternate version of the reprise was made into a Demo sung by Alan Menken. In this version, Ariel sings of how much she longs to be with Eric but realizes that they can't be together and gives him a kiss before diving back under the waves.
This version was removed due to the filmmakers having written Ariel as being so lovesick after the storm that it was considered inappropriate for the song to be so tragic.
The comic adaptation of the Little Mermaid took a different route with the lyrics of this song. Snippets of it can follow the melody of the original, but it is mostly new.
For the 2023 live-action remake, a second reprise was written, with the additional lyrics provided by Lin-Manuel Miranda. In the film, Ariel sings it off-screen after learning that Eric is planning to get engaged to Vanessa, until Scuttle reveals the latter's true identity as disguised Ursula.
What would I give to live where you are?
What would I pay to stay here beside you?
What would I do to see you smiling at me?
Where would we walk, where would we run
If we could stay all day in the sun?
Just you and me
And I could be
Part of your world
(instrumental bridge)
I don't know when, I don't know how
But I know something's starting right now
Watch and you'll see
Some day I'll be
Part of your world
What would I give to live where you are?
What would I pay, to stay here beside you?
What would I do to see you smiling at me?
Now there's a dream, now there's a goal
Now there's a need I'll never control
I won't get free
'Till I can be
Part of your world
What would I give
If I could live
Outta these waters
What would I pay
To spend a day
Holding your hand
(instrumental bridge)
I'd give my life, I'd sell my soul
'Cause I can feel I'll never be whole
But I can see
I'll never be
Part of your world
I'd give anything to live in your world
I'd pay any price to stay close to you
Your hand in mine
Life would be fine
Here in your world
Somewhere in time
Somehow I'm sure
I'll live in your world
Risking it all
Only to fall
Back where I started
Back near the shore
Back to before
You took my hand
Betcha on land
They understand
And they don't strand you brokenhearted
What did I give to live where you are?
Where do I go with nowhere to turn to?
Finale[]
The final version of the song played during Ariel and Eric's wedding after the defeat of Ursula. Ariel meets with her father to say goodbye one last time. She and him hug, and she whispers the words, "I love you, Daddy." After which the chorus begins.
Alan Menken and Howard Ashman developed another demo, possibly earlier than the storyboarded version. In this demo, judging from the build-up of the music Ariel is slowly coming out of the water. She also approaches the beginning of the song in a more inquisitive manner than both the chorus and storyboarded versions.
Now we can walk, now we can run
Now we can stay all day in the sun
Just you and me
And I can be
Part of your world
Now can we walk? Now can we run?
Now can we stay all day in the sun?
(instrumental bridge)
Yes, it was me
Please, let me be
Part of your world
Ensemble:
And now at last,
love has surpassed
each tribulation!
Mermaid and man
finally can
join and be one!
Now they can smile,
walking the aisle,
here at their wedding celebration!
Eric:
Sailing forward!
Ariel:
Standing steady!
Both:
Starting life, completely ready!
Ensemble:
And now they can be who they're meant to be!
Now they can gaze on a new horizon!
Here between ocean and sky!
Forever and on!
Now they can walk
Now they can run
Now they can stay all day in the sun!
[alternate: Now that at last their story's begun!]
Eric:
Just you and me!
Ariel:
And I will be!
All:
Part of your world!
Ariel:
Now we can walk, now we can run
Now we can stay all day in the sun
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- Jodi Benson's favorite moment from The Little Mermaid was when she recorded the song "Part of Your World". She sang the song in the dark to get that "under the sea" feeling.
- The part where Ariel reaches through the hole in the roof was the final shot to be completed for the film. It took four tries to get its optical effects right.
- The song was nearly cut because Jeffrey Katzenberg felt that it was "boring", as well as being too far over the heads of the children for whom it was intended. It was only through the insistence of Howard Ashman and Glen Keane that it was included in the movie.
- Alan Menken and Howard Ashman discovered that the song shared contextual and rhythmic similarities with another one of their songs: "Somewhere That's Green" from Little Shop of Horrors, leading them to humorously call it "Somewhere That's Dry".
- In early prints of the Diamond Edition release, after Ariel sings "Out of the sea...", the next two shots of her floating back down and Flounder's sad face when she sang "Wish I could be..." were swapped. This had been fixed for later printings of the Diamond Edition and remained fixed for the Signature Collection release.
- During the finale, Sebastian and Chef Louis were originally going to become friends, but Jeffery Katzenberg preferred them as enemies, and asked for the scene to be changed where Chef Louis gets his comeuppance.
- A music video of the song featuring scenes from the movie and live action recordings of Jodi Benson was released in 1997 to promote the rerelease of The Little Mermaid soundtrack
- It was also featured during the entire end credits of the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection release of The Little Mermaid also to promote the soundtrack's rerelease.
- This was the first proper Disney chorus since Robin Hood in 1973 and the filmmakers stated in the DVD commentary that they were unsure of using a Disney chorus out of the fear that it would be deemed "cheesy". This chorus would be repeated for the majority of the renaissance until The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1996.
- The Swedish dub features Sissel Kyrkjebø, the Swedish voice of Ariel, singing over the top of the chorus, as Ariel, holding her final note through the choirs vocalizing until Eric and Ariel kiss.
- The title character in The Timekeeper references the song, saying, "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?"
- Jodi Benson sang the song when she received her Disney Legend award in 2011.
- In Kinect: Disneyland Adventures, this was Ariel's song in the Disney Princess Fantasy Faire minigame.
- When filming reference for the scene where Ariel rises from the rocks, Glen Keane would act out the scene as a way to give Sherri Lynn Stoner an idea of how the scene should play out.
- The scene where Ariel sings the last verses of the song (in particular her causing a wave to crash behind her) was parodied in The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning with Marina Del Rey, who adopts a similar pose, only to be slammed down by the wave before threatening Scuttle.
- A Muzak version of part of the song was heard while Giselle observes a fish tank in Enchanted, just before interacting with Sam, a character portrayed by Jodi Benson herself.
- A brief allusion to the original tale was made in the lyrics nearing the end, as Ariel says "When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?" (in the original tale, mermaids were allowed to go up to the surface at age 15).
- In The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, it is sung at the end by country singer Chely Wright.
- The song's tune was also played at the end of the movie when Melody used the trident to dissolve the wall between the sea and the castle so everyone can be together again just before they sang "Here on the Land and Sea".
- For Kingdom Hearts II, it was sung by Ariel twice. The first time was when she rescued Eric, and the second was in a minigame.
- It is featured in the Once Upon a Time episode "Poor Unfortunate Soul", sung by Ursula.
- In Zootopia, a parody of the song is seen on Judy Hopps' music player playlist under the name "Part of Your Wool".
- In Ralph Breaks the Internet, Ariel briefly sings a parody of the song when talking with Vanellope about wearing a shirt.
- "Of all the thingamabobs in this entire world. I never thought I'd get to wear a real... What's it called again? Oh yeah, shirt! [singing] I once had a dream that I might wear a shirt..."
- In the DuckTales episode "The Lost Harp of Mervana!", Webby directly references the song by saying, "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?"
- In 2021, Apple Inc. used the song in a commercial.
- An instrumental of the song is featured as the opening for the theme of The Little Mermaid TV series, followed by "Under the Sea", "Kiss the Girl", "Under the Sea" again, then once more, "Part of Your World" and ending with "Under the Sea" once more.
- In the 2022 Disney+ film Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers while not physically sung, the song was alluded during the scene where Jimmy the Polar Bear is planning to capture Flounder, he holds up a fork and tells him, "How about this? Isn't it neat?" (indirect reference to one of Ariel's lines during the song) just as he offers the fork to Jimmy and says, "Come on, fellas. This is a genuine Dinglehopper", just before Jimmy captures him.
- In Disenchanted, during the song "Perfect", Morgan Philip sits atop a wagon in a pose similar to Ariel as water splashes behind her from a woman with a bucket in homage to the final shot from the reprise of the song.
- The song was also included in the Mickey's Fun Songs volume, Beach Party at Walt Disney World after the girls of the Fun Songs Kids encounter Ariel (played by Jodi Benson like in the movie) on the rock, but the first part of the first verse was removed.
External links[]
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