Be Our Guest Text
Ma 'chere Mademoiselle,
It is with deepest pride, and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight.
And now we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents - your dinner!
Be our guest! Be our guest!
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin 'round your neck cherie,
And we'll provide the rest
Soup du jour
Hot hors d'oeuvres
Why, we only live to serve
Try the grey stuff
It's delicious!
Don't believe me?
Ask the dishes!
They can sing they, can dance
After all, Miss, this is France
And a dinner here is never second best
Go on, unfold your menu
Take a glance and then you'll
Be our guest, Oui, our guest, Be our guest!
LUMIERE AND CHORUS
Beef ragout
Cheese soufflé, Pie and pudding "en flambe"
LUMIERE
We'll prepare and serve with flair!
A culinary cabaret
You're alone
And you're scared
But the banquet's all prepared
No one's gloomy or complaining
While the flatware's entertaining.
We tell jokes, I do tricks
With my fellow candlesticks
CHORUS
And it's all in perfect taste
That you can bet
Come on and lift your glass
You've won your own free pass to
Be our guest
LUMIERE
If you're stressed
It's fine dining we suggest
CHORUS
Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest!
LUMIERE
Life it so unnerving
For a servant who's not serving.
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon
Ahh those good old days when we were useful
Suddenly, those good old days are gone.
Ten years we've been rusting
Needing so much more than dusting
Needing exercise, a chance to use our skill
Most days we just lay around the castle
Flabby, fat, and lazy
You walked in and oopsie daisy
MRSPOTTS.
It's a guest It's! a guest
Sakes alive well, I'll be blessed
Wine's been poured and thank the Lord
I've had the napkins freshly pressed
With dessert, she'll want tea
And my dear that's fine with me.
While the cups do their soft-shoeing
I'll be bubbling, I'll be brewing
I'll get warm, piping hot
Heaven's sakes! Is that a spot?
Clean it up!
We want the company impressed
CHORUS
We've got a lot to do!
MRS POTTS.
Is it one lump or two?
For you, our guest!
CHORUS
Be our guest
MRS POTTS.
Be our guest!
CHORUS
Be our guest
Be our guest
Be our guest
CHORUS
Be our guest! Be our guest!
Our command is your request
It's been years since we've had anybody here
And we're obsessed!
With your meal,
With your ease,
Yes indeed, we aim to please.
While the candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you,
We'll keep going
Course by course,
One by one.
'Til you shout "Enough, I'm done!"
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest
Tonight you'll prop your feet up,
But for now, let's eat up
Be our guest!
Be our guest!
Be our guest!
Please, be our guest!
The first song is from the inhabitants of the castle, where the viewer and the listener become acquainted with the peculiarities of each of them. Candlestick-Frenchman, restless mom-wardrobe, little boys-cups, and other inhabitants, who persuaded the girl to stay in the castle, giving this as a major festive thing. As if her life would re-begin as a permanent holiday. The orchestra played this pop amazingly, especially in the moment of 1:40, when it felt like a break to another mood.
Song Overview
Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach & The Chorus deliver vibrant energy in the 'Be Our Guest' lyrics in the music video.
Song Credits
Producers: Howard Ashman, Alan Menken
Composer: Alan Menken
Lyricist: Howard Ashman
Release Date: 1991-10-29
Genre: Soundtrack, Musical Theatre, Children's Music
Label: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution Inc., Walt Disney Records
Orchestration: Danny Troob
Arrangers: Alan Menken, Danny Troob
Conductor: David Friedman
Language: English, with French phrases
Album: Beauty and the Beast (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)
Song Meaning and Annotations
Vivid theatricality in Angela Lansbury and Jerry Orbach's performance of 'Be Our Guest'.
"Be Our Guest" is a gleeful, theatrical celebration, brimming with playful exuberance and culinary charm. Sung by the enchanted castle staff—led by the effervescent candelabra Lumière, portrayed by Jerry Orbach—the song warmly invites Belle to relish a lavish meal. It’s like a Broadway show erupting spontaneously from dinnerware and furniture—a delightful metaphor for hospitality and long-awaited company.
The opening lines set the scene with an elegant flourish:
"Ma chère mademoiselle, it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight."
Lumière’s invitation, spoken with a French flair, immediately frames the verses as a light-hearted homage to sophisticated dining.
Verse 1 dives into a cheerful parade of French delicacies:
"Soup du jour, hot hors d'oeuvres Why, we only live to serve Try the grey stuff, it's delicious Don't believe me? Ask the dishes"
Humorously, "grey stuff" is both vague and tantalizing—precisely the whimsical absurdity Disney excels at.
Chorus delivers infectious energy, encapsulating the joy of serving:
"Be our guest, be our guest, put our service to the test"
It's an anthem to hospitality—cheerful and earnest, a welcome with arms wide open and table overflowing.
Bridge reveals deeper sentiments of nostalgia and longing among the enchanted residents:
"Life is so unnerving for a servant who's not serving... Ah, those good old days when we were useful"
Here, "Be Our Guest" cleverly reflects a bittersweet undertone beneath its upbeat surface—showing characters yearning for a purpose beyond mere enchantment.
Similar Songs
A screenshot from the joyful 'Be Our Guest' music video.
"Under the Sea" – Samuel E. Wright (The Little Mermaid)
This upbeat melody similarly dives into lively spectacle and culinary metaphors. Like "Be Our Guest," it uses vibrant imagery and a catchy rhythm to charm listeners into its joyful underwater world. Both songs, penned by Howard Ashman, skillfully blend humor and warmth to celebrate life’s pleasures with animated flair.
"Friend Like Me" – Robin Williams (Aladdin)
Robin Williams’ performance shares the flamboyant, comedic enthusiasm found in "Be Our Guest." With a similar theatrical vibe, both songs boast magical, over-the-top scenarios designed to dazzle and entertain. Both numbers cleverly personify the power of friendship and hospitality through whimsical theatrics and charismatic vocal performances.
"Hakuna Matata" – Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella (The Lion King)
Though more laid-back, this carefree anthem matches the celebratory essence of "Be Our Guest." Both songs express a liberating spirit—one invites listeners to dine worry-free, the other to live worry-free. Each tune balances catchy melodies with playful storytelling, cementing their legacy as iconic Disney favorites.
Questions and Answers
A lively visual scene from 'Be Our Guest'.
Who originally sings the "Be Our Guest" lyrics?
Jerry Orbach primarily sings as Lumière, accompanied by Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts and the castle chorus.
What inspired the whimsical food references in the song?
Lyricist Howard Ashman humorously referenced classic French cuisine, reinforcing the song's playful and sophisticated mood.
What is the significance of the "grey stuff"?
Originally just a playful mystery, Disney later introduced it as an actual dessert—cookies-and-cream mousse—served at their theme parks.
Was "Be Our Guest" always intended for Belle?
No, originally it was intended to welcome Belle’s father Maurice. Producers decided it worked better narratively when addressing Belle directly.
Did Angela Lansbury perform in character as Mrs. Potts?
Absolutely—her warm, motherly performance is integral to the song's inviting charm and gentle humor.
Fan and Media Reactions
"Pure Disney magic—still makes me smile every single time!"— EmilyH92
"Best performance in any Disney film, hands down."— MovieBuff24
"Timeless and endlessly entertaining, Jerry Orbach's finest hour."— ClassicDisneyFan
