Music Video

Poor Unfortunate Souls Lyrics – The Little Mermaid

Soundtrack Album: Classic Disney

Poor Unfortunate Souls Text

URSULA
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.

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 'cross the coals
Yes I've had the odd complaint
But on the whole I've been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls

Have we got a deal?

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

URSULA
But you'll have your man, heh heh. Life's full of tough choices, isn't it? Heh heh.
Oh, and there is one more thing.
We haven't discussed the subject of payment.

ARIEL
But I don't have-

URSULA
I'm not asking much, just a token really, a trifle!
What I want from you is - your voice.

ARIEL
But without my voice, how can I-

URSULA
You'll have your looks, your pretty face.
And don't underestimate the importance of body language, ha!

The men up there don't like a lot of blabber
They think a girl who gossips is a bore!
Yes on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word
And after all dear, what is idle prattle for?
Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation
True gentlemen avoid it when they can
But they dote and swoon and fawn
On a lady who's withdrawn
It's she who holds her tongue who get's a man

Come on you poor unfortunate soul
Go ahead!
Make your choice !
I'm a very busy woman and I haven't got all day
It won't cost much
Just your voice!
You poor unfortunate soul
It's sad but true
If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet
You've got the pay the toll
Take a gulp and take a breath
And go ahead and sign the scroll
Flotsam, Jetsam, now I've got her, boys
The boss is on a roll
This poor unfortunate soul

Beluga sevruga
Come winds of the Caspian Sea
Larengix glaucitis
Et max laryngitis
La voce to me

Now, sing!

ARIEL
Aah...

Keep singing!

Classic Disney

Soundtrack Lyrics for Cartoon, 2003

Track Listing

›A Whole New World

Brad Kane and Lea Salonga

›Circle Of Life

Elton John

›Beauty And The Beast

Angela Lansbury

›Under the Sea

Samuel E. Wright

›Hakuna Matata

Elton John

›Kiss The Girl

Samuel E. Wright

›I Just Cant Wait To Be King

Elton John

›Poor Unfortunate Souls

The Little Mermaid

Julie Andrews

Dick Van Dyke

Julie Andrews

Hayley Mills

The Beach Boys & Annette Funicello

›The Ugly Bug Ball

Burl Ives

›The Spectrum Song

Paul Frees

›Colonel Hathis March

J. Pat O'Malley

›A Whale Of A Tale

Kirk Douglas

›You Can Fly You Can Fly You Can Fly

Jud Conlon Chorus

›The Work Song

Jimmy MacDonald

›A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

Ilene Woods

›Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

James Baskett

›Dance Of The Reed Flutes (Instrumental)

Tchaikovsky

›Love Is A Song

Donald Novis

›Some Day My Prince Will Come

Adriana Caselotti

›Minnies Yoo Hoo

Mickey Mouse

›Be Our Guest

Jerry Orbach and Angela Lansbury

›Can You Feel The Love Tonight

Elton John

Jodi Benson

Brad Kane

Richard White

Paige O'Hara and Robby Benson

›Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Julie Andrews

›Candle On The Water

Al Kasha

›Main Street Elecrical Parade

Baroque Hoedown

›The Age Of Not Believing

Angela Lansbury

›The Bare Neccesities

Phil Harris and Bruce Reitherman

›Feed The Birds (Tuppence A Bag)

Julie Andrews

›Best Of Friends

Pearl Bailey

›Let's Go Fly A Kite

David Tomlinson

›It's A Small World ( After All )

The Mellomen

›The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room

The Mellomen

›Mickey Mouse Club March

Mickey Mouse

›On The Front Porch

Burl Ives

›The Second Star To The Right

The Mellomen

›Evrybody Has A Laughing Place

James Baskett and Nick Stewart

›Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

Verna Felton

›So This Is Love

Ilene Woods

›When You Wish Upon A Star

Cliff Edwards

›Heigh-Ho

The Seven Dwarfs

›Who's Afriad Of The Big Bad Wolf?

Pinto Colvig

›Colors Of The Wind

Judy Kuhn

›You've Got A Friend In Me

Randy Newman

›Be Prepared

Jeremy Irons

›Out There

Tony Jay and Tom Hulce

Jeff Bennett

René Auberjonois

David Ogden Stiers

Danny Elfman

Paul Terry

›Heffalumps And Woozles

The Mellomen

Richard White

Angela Lansbury

Julie Andrews

Louis Prima and Phil Harris

›Oo-De-Lally

Roger Miller

›Are We Dancing?

John Davidson, Lesley Ann Warren

›Once Upon A Dream

Mary Costa and Bill Shirley

›Bella Notte

George Givot

›Following The Leader

John Darling

›Trust In Me

Sterling Holloway

›The Ballad Of Davy Crockett

Bill Hayes

›I'm Professor Ludwig Von Drake

Paul Frees

›Pink Elephants On Parade

The Sportsmen

›Little April Shower

Disney Studio Chorus

›The Silly Song (Dwarfs Yodel Song)

Otis Harlan, Billy Gilbert, Pinto Colvig, Roy Atwell, and Scotty Mattraw

›One Last Hope

Danny DeVito

›A Guy Like You

Charles Kimbrough

›On The Open Road

Bill Farmer

›Just Around The Riverbend

Judy Kuhn

›Home

Susan Egan

›Fantasmic (Instrumental)

Disneyland

›Oogie Boogie's Song

Ken Page

›I Will Go Sailing No More

Randy Newman

›Substitutiary Locomotion

Angela Lansbury

›Stop, Look and Listen! / I'm No Fool!

Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards

›Love

Nancy Adams

›Thomas Omalley Cat

Phil Harris

›Thats What Friends Are For

J. Pat O'Malley

›Winnie The Pooh

The Disney Chorus

›Femininity

Deborah Walley

›Ten Feet Off The Ground

Buddy Ebsen and Lesley Ann Warren

›The Siamese Cat Song

Peggy Lee

›Enjoy It

Maurice Chevalier

›Although I Dropped $100,000 (I Found A Million Dollars In Your Smile)

Paul Frees

›Give A Little Whistle

Cliff Edwards

›Oh Sing Sweet Nightingale

Eleanor Audley

›I Wonder

Mary Costa

›Looking For Romance

Larry Morey

›Baby Mine

Betty Noyes

›I'm Wishing/One Song

Adriana Caselotti

February, 24th 2024

"Poor Unfortunate Souls" from Disney's The Little Mermaid is a song that has fascinated audiences simce its release in 1989, performed by Pat Carroll, the voice of Ursula. This song is notable for its Broadway and Burlesque style, marking a significant point in Ursula's attempt to seduce Ariel into trading her voice for a chance to become human. The song was initially conceptualized differently, with Alan Menken and Howard Ashman first penning a song titled "Silence Is Golden" for Ursula. After reassessment, they revised it into "Poor Unfortunate Souls," a decision tthat gave the song its memorable and menacing charm. Pat Carroll described the recording process as intense, stating that she drew much of Ursula's character from Ashman's own interpretation of the song during the pitch. Over the years, "Poor Unfortunate Souls" has become more than just a villain's theme; it's a cultural icon. Ursula, despite being the antagonist, is celebrated for her confidence and command, traits that have inspired many. This complexity has led to Ursula being seen in a more positive light, not just as a villain but as an embodiment of empowerment for some fans. The live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid made changes to the lyrics of "Poor Unfortunate Souls," sparking debate among fans and critics. These changes were intended to modernize the song's message and avoid potentially misogynistic interpretations, focusing more on Ariel's desire to explore the world above rather than just obtaining a man. Alan Menken, the song's composer, mentioned that the revisions were made to ensure the song did not discourage young girls from speaking out, acknowledging Ursula's manipulation in the process. While some argue that these changes might diminish Ursula's villainy, others see them as a necessary adaptation to fit contemporary sensibilities. Ursula's role as a beloved character complicates her portrayal, blending narrative villainy with cultural admiration. The evolution of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from its original composition to its live-action adaptation reflects changing attitudes towards gender representation and the complexity of interpreting a character like Ursula, whose villainy is as nuanced as it is overt.

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