"Very Good Advice" is a sad song from the 1951 Disney animated feature film Alice in Wonderland. It is performed by Alice and The Judd Conlon Chorus off-screen during the end, who becomes hopelessly lost in Wonderland (which, by this time, Alice has realized a world where everything is nonsense isn't as good as she thought) and tearfully fears that she will never return home again.
Kathryn Beaumont also performed this song in character as Alice during her and Sterling Holloway's appearance on The Fred Waring Show (with Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians) to promote the film. This is the only song from this version to be on the soundtrack to Tim Burton's adaptation, in this case, being covered by Robert Smith.
Lyrics[]
Alice: I give myself very good advice
But I very seldom follow it
That explains the trouble that I'm always in
Be patient is very good advice
But the waiting makes me curious
And I'd love the change
Should something strange begin
Well, I went along my merry way
And I never stopped to reason
(crying)
I should have known there'd be a price to pay
Someday
Chorus: Someday
Alice: (crying) Someday
Chorus: Someday
Alice: I give myself very good advice
But I very seldom follow it
(sobbing)
Will I ever learn to do the things I should?
(sobbing)
Chorus: Will I ever learn...
Learn to do the things I should?
I give myself very good advice
But I very seldom follow it
That explains the trouble that I'm always in
Be patient is very good advice
But the waiting makes me curious
And I'd love the change
Should something strange begin
I'm sure that I know right from wrong
And I have the best intentions
Life should be such a merry song
But no... not so...
I give myself very good advice
But I very seldom follow it
Will I ever learn to do the things I should?
Trivia[]
- The scene of Alice's encounter in Tulgey Wood, including this song, is left out of several book adaptations, likely for its emotional dissonance from the rest of the film.
- The episode, "Alice's First Day in Wonderland" from Alice's Wonderland Bakery has the song, "Who Am I?" which plays out similarly to this song when her great granddaughter also gets lost, except, unlike the original film, nobody cries.
Videoes[]
