Alternate Lyrics

Alternate Lyrics

Fathoms Below Version 1

The opening song of the movie used to be longer and more explanatory to give the audience more background story. Eventually they thought it was too long; most of the lyrics were cut. In this version, Eric appeared to be more playful and Grimsby more protective. Some of the verses are now used in the Broadway musical.

***

[Sailors]

Heave ho, heave ho

I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue
And it's hey to the starboard, heave-ho
Brave sailor beware, for a big 'un's a-brewin'
In mysterious fathoms below

Heave-ho, heave-ho

I'll sing you a song of the king of the sea
And it's hey to the starboard, heave-ho
The ruler of all of the oceans is he
In mysterious fathoms below

Fathoms below, below
From whence wayward westerlies blow
Where Triton is king and his merpeople sing
In mysterious fathoms below

Eric: Isn't this great?

Grimsby: Yes, delightful.

Eric: The salty sea air, the wind blowing in your face... I love it!

Grimsby: You love it? I'm about to heave-ho myself!

[Sailors]

Heave-ho, heave-ho

I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue
And it's hey to the starboard, heave-ho
Look out lad, a mermaid be waiting for you
In mysterious fathoms below

Grimsby: Eric, please! Get your royal keister down from there!

Eric: Oh, Grim, nothing's going to... woah!

Grimsby: Eric, Eric! It is not at all princely... Oh, I loathe storms!

Sailor #1: Hmph! This ain't no storm. That's a storm! Way out there...

[Sailor #1]

The king of the ocean is angry
So trouble's a-brewin' out there
I'm tellin' you lad, when King Triton is mad
How the waves will buck, rock to and fro
Hold on, good luck, as down you go

[Sailors]

For Triton is king of the bottomless blue
And it's hey to the starboard, heave-ho
Beware of the magic his merpeople do
In mysterious fathoms below

Heave-ho, heave-ho

Eric: Who are they singing about, sailor? Who is King Triton?

Sailor: Why, ruler of the merpeople, lad! And a powerful lord is he!

Eric: The merpeople?

Sailor: Aye, and they live down there, with the bodies of fish and the rest of 'em human! Yes, that's what fifty years at sea will do to you. Make fun if you like! But I've seen 'em! Blast!

Fathoms Below Version 2

This early version of the song revealed more backstory. Gradually the idea of Ursula being King Triton's sister was scrapped so the lyrics were changed. Some of the verses are now used in the Broadway musical.

***

[Sailors]

I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue
And it's hey to the starboard, heave-ho
Look out lad, a mermaid be waiting for you
In mysterious fathoms below

Eric: Ah, isn't this great? The salty sea air, the wind blowing in your face... Ah, perfect day to be at sea!

Grimsby: Oh yes, delightful...

Sailor #1: A fine strong wind and a following sea, King Triton must be in a friendly type mood.

Eric: King Triton?

Sailor #1: Why, ruler of the merpeople lad. Thought every good sailor knew all about him!

[Sailors]

I'll sing you a song of the king of the sea
And it's hey to the starboard, heave-ho
The ruler of all of the oceans is he
In mysterious fathoms below

Grimsby: Hmph, merpeople! Eric, pay no attention to this nautical nonsense.

Sailor #1: But it ain't nonsense, it's the truth. There's a whole world of merpeople under the sea.

Sailor #2: King Triton's the ruler...

Sailor #3: He's got seven fair daughters...

Sailor #4: And a witch of a sister named Ursula.

Eric: Ursula?

Sailor #4: Evil and ugly, and hungry for power. King Trion need banished her off into exile. And there she lives now, just biddin' her time.

[Sailor #4]

Fathoms below in the ocean
Lives Ursula witch of the sea
She plots and she schemes and she wickedly dreams
Of the day when she'll return once more
Return to rule the ocean floor

[Sailors]

She wants to be queen of the bottomless blue
And it's hey to the starboard, heave-ho
So Triton beware there's a big 'un' a-brewin'
In mysterious fathoms below

Part of Your World

This version shows us that Ariel is knowledgeable about human things. She knows them by their real names!

***

[Ariel]

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 whatzits 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 dancing
Walkin' around on those
What do you call them, oh, feet

Flippin' your fins you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'
Strollin' 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
Where they breathe free
Wish I could be, part of that world

[Differences end here.]

Part of Your World (reprise)

This version of the song is much more melancholy. It expresses how far Ariel is willing to go to achieve her dreams, and it also shows us the fact that Ariel used to be less confident or positive.

***

[Ariel]

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 out of these waters
What would I pay
To spend a day holding your hand

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

Poor Unfortunate Souls

Some dialogue that explained more about Ursula were cut. Several verses of the song did not make it as well.

***

Ursula: Flotsam, Jetsam, you divine little rascals. Mmm, I see you brought a customer. Come in, come in my child. We musn't lurk in doorways. It's rude. One might question your upbringing. Oh! Oh! Is that how they're wearing their hair back at the palace nowadays? Of course, I wouldn't know. I've been banished forever by your dear old daddy, reduced to living in this wretched rubble for all eternity. And for what? Just because I was ambitious? Because I made a few pitiful attempts to elevate my station in life?

Ariel: You tried to overthrow my father.

Ursula: Oh haha, I think that is a blown-up version, at any rate. I've reformed. I only do good these days. Now, then. You're here because you have a thing for this human. This, err, prince fellow. Not that I blame you. He is quite a catch, isn't he? Well angel fish, the solution to your problem is simple. The only way to get what you want, is to become a human yourself.

Ariel: Can you do that?

Ursula: My dear sweet child. That's what I do, it's what I live for. To help unfortunate merfolk, like yourself. Poor souls with no one else to turn to.

[Ursula]

I admit that in the past I've been a nasty
They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch
But you'll find that nowadays
I've mended all my ways
Repented, seen the light and made a switch
True? Yes

And I fortunately know a little magic
It's a talent that I always have possessed
And here lately, please don't laugh
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, lonely and depressed
Pathetic

Poor unfortunate souls
In pain
In need
This one longing to be thinner
That one wants to get the girl
And do I help them
Yes, indeed

Those poor unfortunate souls
So sad
So true
They come flocking to my cauldron
Crying, spells, Ursula please
And I help them
Yes, I do

Now it's happened once or twice
Someone couldn't pay the price
And I'm afraid I had to rake 'em across the coals
Yes, I've had the odd complaint
But on the whole I've been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls

Ursula: Now, here's the deal. I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days. Got that? Three days. Now listen, this is important. Before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get dear ol' princey to fall in love with you. That is, he's got to kiss you. Not just any kiss. A special kiss, the kiss of true love. If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you'll remain human, permanently. If he doesn't, you turn back into a mermaid, and you belong to me.

Sebastian: No Ariel! Don't be stupid. Don't listen to her! She-

Ursula: Have we got a deal?

Ariel: If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again.

Ursula: That's right. But you'll have your man. Life's full of tough choices, isn't it?

[Ursula]

Come on, I know you need a little magic
And magic is my specialty du jour
Don’t just stand there looking sick
Would I kid you, play a trick
Like I told you, I don’t do that anymore

So I think you ought to take my little bargain
Yes, I think you ought to make my little deal
Sure it’s hard to leave your life, but you could be a prince’s wife
Why don’t you let me take that dream and make it real

Come on, you poor unfortunate soul
Poor child, poor fish
Aren’t you glad you brought your problem to a lady you can trust
Won’t you let me grant your wish

You poor unfortunate soul
Poor sweet, poor dear
Aren’t you in luck that I’m ready with a potion and a plan
Aren’t you glad you came and asked if I could help you, and I can
When a mermaid comes to Ursula, she always gets her man
You poor unfortunate soul

Ursula: Oh oh, I almost forgot. We haven't discussed the subject of payment.

[Differences end here.]

Silence Is Golden

This catchy song didn't quite suit the coherence of the movie well enough.

***

[Ursula]

You won’t sing, you won’t speak
Not a word, not a sqeak
Not a peep, not a squeal
That’s the price, love, that’s the deal

But silence
Silence is golden my dear
Up there they hate chatter
So what does it matter
If you become mute
Nobody likes a loudmouth

I mean it, silence
Silence is golden my dear
Don’t you think you should try it
They’ll say
She’s so quiet, so shy and so cute

Well, take it or leave it
That’s all, that’s the bargain
Go on, take a stand, make a choice
Remeber you’ll get the legs
And the lungs and the prince
All I get is the voice

And you’ll be silent
But silence is golden, sign here
There’s no choice for you since
You’re in love with a prince
But relax, I’ve been told
Silence is gold

Ariel: I'll do it! Yes I'll sign.

[Ursula]

Beluga, Sevruga
Come winds of the Caspian Sea
Laryngitis, glaucitis
Et max laryngitis
La voce to me

Now here it goes
Ankles and toes
Almost complete
Legs and feet
Enjoy it, deploy it
This form yours to keep
There I’ve done it, you’re human
Good luck and breathe deep, dear

Les Poissons

The last verse of this song was cut and replaced by zoot-alors, I have missed one, sacre bleu, what is this...

***

Chef Louis: Today we will discuss the preparation of that favourite food- fish. Or as we say in my country- les poissons.

[Chef Louis]

Les poissons, les poissons
How I love les poissons
Love to chop and to serve little fish

First I cut of their heads
Then I pull out their bones
Ah mais oui, ca c'est toujours delish

Les poissons, les poissons
Hee hee hee, hoh hoh hoh
With the cleaver I hack them in two I pull out what's inside
And I serve it up fried
God, I love little fishes, don't you

Here's something for tempting the palate
Prepared in the classic technique
First you pound the fish flat with a mallet
Then you slash through the skin
Give the belly a slice
Then you rub some salt in
'Cause that makes it taste nice

Chef Louis: Oh for a special treat, you must try the shell fish. Oh the shell fish are the best of these creatures. The clam is excellent, the lobster is extraordinary. And best of all, ladies and gentlemen, best of all, is the crab. Oh the crab.

[Chef Louis]

I'll give you a special demonstration
Of my special preparation
First you nab the crab
Then you crush the crab
Then you stuff the crab

Happy Ending Version 1

Originally, after King Triton fulfills her daughter's dream, Ariel sings before running into Eric's arms.

***

[Ariel]

Now can we walk
Now can we run
Now can we stay all day in the sun
Yes it was me
Please let me be
Part of your world

Happy Ending Version 2

After the battle of Ursula, the following takes place before King Triton then does his magic.

***

Ariel: Oh Daddy. Daddy I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.

King Triton: It's alright, sweetheart. It's alright.

King Triton: That human saved my life.

[Ariel]

Now we can walk
Now we can run
Now we can stay all day in the sun