Ursula (spoken):
The only way to get what you want...
...is to become a human yourself!
Ariel:
(Gasps with excitement) 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...
(singing) 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 dear lady, please don't laugh
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, the 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
Ursula (spoken) :
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 old princie to fall in love
with you that is he's got to kiss you,
not just any kiss the kiss of true love
if he does kiss u before the sun sets on the 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 (spoken) :
No Ariel!
Ursula (spoken) :
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. (laughs slyly)
Life's full of tough choices, i'nnit? (laughs slyly)
Oh!
And there is, one, more, thing!
We haven't discussed the subject of payment.
Ariel: But I don't have any -
Ursula:
I'm not asking much.
Just a token, really!
A trifle!
you'll never even miss it
What I want from you is . . .
...Your voice.
Ariel (spoken) :
my voice?
Ursula (spoken) :
You've got it sweet cakes
No more talking, singing, zip
Ariel (spoken) :
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 gets her 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 a bridge, my sweet
You've got to 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!
The only way to get what you want...
...is to become a human yourself!
Ariel:
(Gasps with excitement) 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...
(singing) 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 dear lady, please don't laugh
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, the 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
Ursula (spoken) :
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 old princie to fall in love
with you that is he's got to kiss you,
not just any kiss the kiss of true love
if he does kiss u before the sun sets on the 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 (spoken) :
No Ariel!
Ursula (spoken) :
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. (laughs slyly)
Life's full of tough choices, i'nnit? (laughs slyly)
Oh!
And there is, one, more, thing!
We haven't discussed the subject of payment.
Ariel: But I don't have any -
Ursula:
I'm not asking much.
Just a token, really!
A trifle!
you'll never even miss it
What I want from you is . . .
...Your voice.
Ariel (spoken) :
my voice?
Ursula (spoken) :
You've got it sweet cakes
No more talking, singing, zip
Ariel (spoken) :
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 gets her 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 a bridge, my sweet
You've got to 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!
song info:
Verified yes
LanguageEnglish
GenreMusical
Rank−
Duration00:04:49
Charts
Copyright ©
Writer
Lyrics licensed byLyricFind
Added
Last updatedSeptember 4th, 2022
About"Poor Unfortunate Souls" is a song from the Walt Disney Pictures animated film The Little Mermaid. Written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken and performed by Pat Carroll, "Poor Unfortunate Souls" is sung to Princess Ariel by Ursula the Sea Witch. In a style that combines Broadway theatre with Burlesque, Ursula uses the song to seduce Ariel into trading her voice for the chance to temporarily become human.
Howard Ashman recorded a version of the song with himself in the role of Ursula, to send to Carroll to convince her to take the role, which it did. This version was released in the four-CD set The Music Behind the Magic. Carroll admits that she borrowed some of the inflections she used in the song from Ashman's performance, and that he had been delighted she had done so.
"Poor Unfortunate Souls" is also noteworthy for Ursula's incantation at the end of the song actually being sung, rather than merely recited. Accompanied by Gothic organ music, the spell features words somewhat twisted from normal everyday words, only strung together extremely quickly:
Beluga, Sevruga
Come winds of the Caspian Sea
Larynxes, glossitis
Et Max Laryngitis
La voce to me
A short reprise of this song is featured later in the original Disney movie being sung by Vanessa (Jodi Benson). This reprise is sometimes referred to as "Vanessa's Song". It was included in The Legacy Collection: The Little Mermaid, released as a two-disc album on November 24, 2014, to coincide with the film's twenty-fifth anniversary.
Two versions of a full reprise of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" were written for the Broadway adaptation. The first version, used for the demo workshop and performed by Emily Skinner, contains lyrics implying that it is meant to be sung before Ursula transforms herself into Vanessa, with the spell incantation:
Mascara, tiara
Yea, winds of the tropics appear
Catharsis, lavorious
Et qua manicures
mutato me here!
The above demo reprise was scrapped when Ursula's temporary transformation into Vanessa was removed from the storyline of the Broadway show. It was replaced with a different reprise, sung by Ursula to King Triton to force him into taking Ariel's place in the agreement.
Carroll's original rendition of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" was included on a 1995 compilation CD of songs performed by or about various Disney villains called Rascal Songs. The CD was released as part of a four-disc Disney song series as a McDonald's promotional item.
Howard Ashman recorded a version of the song with himself in the role of Ursula, to send to Carroll to convince her to take the role, which it did. This version was released in the four-CD set The Music Behind the Magic. Carroll admits that she borrowed some of the inflections she used in the song from Ashman's performance, and that he had been delighted she had done so.
"Poor Unfortunate Souls" is also noteworthy for Ursula's incantation at the end of the song actually being sung, rather than merely recited. Accompanied by Gothic organ music, the spell features words somewhat twisted from normal everyday words, only strung together extremely quickly:
Beluga, Sevruga
Come winds of the Caspian Sea
Larynxes, glossitis
Et Max Laryngitis
La voce to me
A short reprise of this song is featured later in the original Disney movie being sung by Vanessa (Jodi Benson). This reprise is sometimes referred to as "Vanessa's Song". It was included in The Legacy Collection: The Little Mermaid, released as a two-disc album on November 24, 2014, to coincide with the film's twenty-fifth anniversary.
Two versions of a full reprise of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" were written for the Broadway adaptation. The first version, used for the demo workshop and performed by Emily Skinner, contains lyrics implying that it is meant to be sung before Ursula transforms herself into Vanessa, with the spell incantation:
Mascara, tiara
Yea, winds of the tropics appear
Catharsis, lavorious
Et qua manicures
mutato me here!
The above demo reprise was scrapped when Ursula's temporary transformation into Vanessa was removed from the storyline of the Broadway show. It was replaced with a different reprise, sung by Ursula to King Triton to force him into taking Ariel's place in the agreement.
Carroll's original rendition of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" was included on a 1995 compilation CD of songs performed by or about various Disney villains called Rascal Songs. The CD was released as part of a four-disc Disney song series as a McDonald's promotional item.
Album Details
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