Arabian Nights
From Aladdin
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman
"Arabian Nights" was cut drastically during production from four verses
to one. Even that one verse was changed after the North American and
Australiasian theatrical releases. This is the full original version.
Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where they cut off your ear
If they don't like your face
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home
When the wind's from the east
And the sun's from the west
And the sand in the glass is right
Come on down, come on in
Let the magic begin
It's another Arabian night
Oh, I come from a land where intrigue is in style
And adventure is status quo
Where they hack off your lips
If they don't like your smile
It's the law, did I make it? No!
See the dervishes dance in ridiculous prance
Then romance to your heart's delight
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
To another Arabian night
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
They tease and excite
Take off and take flight
They shock and amaze
Arabian nights
Like Arabian noons
The thrills that one seeks
One finds with the sheiks
The geeks and the goons
In that magical place, in that mystical land
There's a genie inside ev'ry jar
He'll do all of your bidding, your wishes' command
It's demeaning but hey, there you are
Unbelievable, yes
An unethical mess
Nonetheless no one's very contrite
You come here and you've
Come to a land where any million can move
A land of high intrigue with tricky logistics
By prophets and mystics
And I've got statistics to prove
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways
Arabian nights
'Neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes
Follow me to a place where incredible feats
Are routine ev'ry hour or so
Where enchantment runs rampant
Gets wild in the streets
Open sesame and here we go
Pack your shield, pack your sword
You won't ever get bored
Though get beaten or gored you might
Call it mad, call it crazed
But let Allah be praised
It's another Arabian night
Arabian Nights (Reprise #1)
From _Aladdin_
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman
{Originally there were to have been four reprises of "Arabian Nights"
throughout the film. The first introduces Jafar.}
In the palace, right here, lived a wicked wazir
The advisor to Sultan Hamed
And this part-time magician, this amateur seer
Wished his boss, the good sultan, dead
He was charming and slick
But unspeakably sick
This despicable parasite
What a villain, bo hiss!
Further proof, dears, that this
Is another Arabian night
Arabian Nights (Reprise #2)
From _Aladdin_
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman
{The second of the reprises deals with the journey to the Cave of
Wonders.}
A contemptible skunk
Was this counterfeit "Unc"
But Aladdin he led, alas
On a journey insane
Through forbidden terrain
To a desolate mountain pass
And the trip that they had
Was so bad for our lad
That he gradually got uptight
And suspected - guess what?
This was possibly not
Just another Arabian night
Arabian Nights (Reprise #3)
From _Aladdin_
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman
{The story was changed a bit since this reprise was written.}
What a room, what a stink
This is doom, don't you think?
As the hours of the night crawl past
You've got rats in your cell
But you'll live with the smell
Till the dawn, when you'll breathe your last
Every tick of the clock
Says get set for the block
And the chock of your awful plight
You should sleep, but you don't
'Cause you know that you won't
See another Arabian night
Arabian Nights (Reprise #4)
From _Aladdin_
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman
{The final reprise was to have been right at the end of the film.}
So it goes, short and sweet
They were wed down the street
Doing just what they all do best
Happy end to the tale
And tomorrow's a sale
So I'd better go home and rest
Here's a kiss and a hug
Sure you don't need a rug?
I assure you the price is right
Well, salaam, worthy friend
Come back soon! that's the end
'Til another Arabian night!
Arabian Nights (Final reprise)
From _Aladdin_
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman
{This version of the fourth reprise was actually made into a master
sung by Bruce Adler. Replacing it with a reprise of "A Whole New World"
was a very late change.}
So it goes, short and sweet
They were wed down the street
May their marriage be truly blessed
Happy end to the tale
And tomorrow's a sale
So I'd better go home and rest
Here's a kiss and a hug
Sure you don't need a rug?
I assure you the price is right
Well, salaam, worthy friend
Come back soon! that's the end
'Til another Arabian night!
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