Poor Unfortunate Souls

Disney, Pat Carroll

About Poor Unfortunate Souls

"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: 


Year:
2006
1,155 
#3

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The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself
Can you do that?

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
To this
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

Have we got a deal?
If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again
But you'll have your man
Life's full of tough choices, isn't it?
Oh, and there is one more thing
We haven't discussed the subject of payment
But I don't have-
I'm not asking much, just a token really, a trifle
What I want from you is your voice
But without my voice, how can I-
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
Yet on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word
And after all dear, what is idle babble 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 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
Aa-aa-aah, a-aa-aah
Keep singing!
Aa-aa-aah, a-aa-aah

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Disney

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), commonly referred to as Disney, is an American diversified multinational mass media corporation headquartered in Walt Disney Studios, Burbank, California, United States. It is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into live-action film production, television, and travel. Taking on its current name in 1986, The Walt Disney Company expanded its existing operations and also started divisions focused upon theatre, radio, music, publishing, and online media. In addition, it has created new divisions of t… more »

13 fans

Written by: Alan Menken, Howard Elliott Ashman

Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Disney Classification
"Poor Unfortunate Souls" is a song featured in the factory-smashing Disney animated movie "The Little Mermaid," released in 1989.
Composer/Famed Musician
The enchanting score and song is composed by Alan Menken, who is a well-known, award-winning Disney composer.
Significant Character Performance
It is performed by the movie's villain Ursula, voiced by Pat Carroll, this song is part of her scheme to trick Ariel into signing a contract that transforms her into a human.
Theatrical Schemes
The song can be classified as a Villain Song, which is a common feature in the Disney universe, where the villain captures an entertaining moment to elaborate on their schemes.
Composition Facts
The song imposes the theatrical style of a "cabaret" number, offering an atmospheric and deceitful mood matching Ursula's character.
Inspirational Art
"Poor Unfortunate Souls" inspired Broadway versions after the massive success of the film, with a live theatrical performance in the Broadway adaptation of "The Little Mermaid."
Song Message
The song presents the bleak and treacherous manipulation by Ursula to convince Ariel to give up her voice for a pair of human legs.
Popularity
This villainous Broadway-style song is one of Disney's most famous and beloved villain songs due to its catchy melody and charismatic performance.
Awards
While "Poor Unfortunate Souls" may not have won any significant awards, its composer, Alan Menken, bagged two Oscars for his work on "The Little Mermaid," one for Best Original Score and another for Best Original Song (notably for "Under the Sea").
Song Sequences
In terms of the movie sequence, "Poor Unfortunate Souls" marks the beginning of a pivotal transition in the film's plot, changing Ariel’s life forever.

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