Howard Ashman | Poor Unfortunate Souls [Basic Synth Demo/From "The Little Mermaid"] Lyrics (Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection: The Little Mermaid)

• Artist: Howard Ashman
• Album: Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection: The Little Mermaid

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The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself.

ARIEL
Can you do that?

URSULA
My dear, sweet child. Thats what I do. Its 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 Ive been a nasty
They werent kidding when they called me, well, a witch
But youll find that nowadays
Ive mended all my ways
Repented, seen the light, and made a switch
To this
And I fortunately know a little magic
Its a talent that I always have possessed
And dear lady, please dont 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 its happened once or twice
Someone couldnt pay the price
And Im afraid I had to rake em cross the coals
Yes Ive had the odd complaint
But on the whole Ive been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls

Have we got a deal?

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

URSULA
But youll have your man, heh heh. Lifes full of tough choices, isnt it? Heh heh.
Oh, and there is one more thing.
We havent discussed the subject of payment.

ARIEL
But I dont have-

URSULA
Im 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
Youll have your looks, your pretty face.
And dont underestimate the importance of body language, ha

The men up there dont like a lot of blabber
They think a girl who gossips is a bore
Yet on land its much prefered for ladies not to say a word
And after all dear, what is idle babble for?
Come on, theyre not all that impressed with conversation
True gentlemen avoid it when they can
But they dote and swoon and fawn
On a lady whos withdrawn
Its she who holds her tongue who gets a man

Come on you poor unfortunate soul
Go ahead
Make your choice
Im a very busy woman and I havent got all day
It wont cost much
Just your voice
You poor unfortunate soul
Its sad but true
If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet
Youve got the pay the toll
Take a gulp and take a breath
And go ahead and sign the scroll
Flotsam, Jetsam, now Ive got her, boys
The boss is on a roll
This poor unfortunate soul

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

Now, sing

ARIEL
Aah...
Keep singing

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Howard Ashman | Poor Unfortunate Souls [Basic Synth Demo/From "The Little Mermaid"] Lyrics (Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection: The Little Mermaid) Music Video