The Story and Meaning Behind 'Part of Your World' Lyrics from The Little Mermaid

The Story Behind "Part of Your World"

Written by the legendary Disney music duo Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, "Part of Your World" has become one of the most iconic and beloved songs from a Disney animated film. First heard in the 1989 classic The Little Mermaid, this ballad is sung by the mermaid princess Ariel as she expresses her deep desire to live life above the ocean as a human.

Let's take a closer look at the history and meaning behind the lyrics to this unforgettable anthem of longing and dreams.

How "Part of Your World" Came Together

When Disney began working on adapting the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" into an animated feature film in the late 1980s, they tapped the brilliant songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken to create the music. The two had found huge success with their songs for the previous Disney film The Little Shop of Horrors.

Ashman decided that the mermaid Ariel should have a "I Want" song early in the film, where she expresses her fascination with the human world above the sea and her desire to become part of it. But originally the song didn't quite land for the Disney executives.

The original version, titled "Part of His World," focused more on Ariel's desire for the handsome human prince Eric rather than her general longing to join the human world. After some feedback, Ashman revised the song to be less about Eric and more about Ariel's obsession with all things human.

The new version, now titled "Part of Your World," proved to be much more impactful and emotional. When paired with gorgeous animation and Jodi Benson's vocals, it became the heartfelt anthem that we know and love today.

A Closer Look at the Lyrics

Let's dive into the lyrics of "Part of Your World" and what they reveal about Ariel and her journey in the film:

Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?

In the opening lines, Ariel swims through her grotto full of human artifacts she's collected from shipwrecks and longs to know more about them and the world they come from.

I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see, wanna see 'em dancin'
Walkin' around on those (Whad'ya call 'em?) oh, feet

Ariel then expresses her desire to join humans in the world above and experience human things like dancing and walking on feet.

Flippin' your fins you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'
Strollin' along down a (What's that word again?) street

The lyrics emphasize how Ariel's mermaid tail limits her and that she'll need human legs to really move about and dance.

Up where they walk, up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wanderin' free, wish I could be
Part of that world

Ariel longs to leave the sea behind and live freely up in the human world under the sun, even just for a day.

What would I give if I could live
Outta these waters?

She then sings about everything she'd be willing to sacrifice for the chance to leave her underwater life.

Betcha on land they understand
Bet they don't reprimand their daughters
Bright young women, sick o' swimmin'
Ready to stand

Ariel feels that humans would understand her desire to break free and follow her dreams better than her controlling father King Triton.

And ready to know what the people know
Ask 'em my questions and get some answers
What's a fire and why does it (What's the word?) burn?

If she lived among humans, Ariel could finally learn the answers to all the questions she has about the mysterious human world.

When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?

Ariel longs for her chance to experience life on land and find her place among the humans.

Out of the sea
Wish I could be
Part of that world

In the soaring final chorus, Ariel powerfully expresses her heart's deepest desire - to leave her mermaid life behind forever and walk on land.

Why "Part of Your World" Resonates

"Part of Your World" connects with audiences both young and old because it articulates that universal feeling of longing for something more. Ariel dreams of leaving behind the familiar for a world of new possibilities, new discoveries, and new freedoms.

Her curiosity, adventurous spirit, and desire for self-determination are inspiring. Even though she is a mermaid, fans see themselves in her song and identify with her hopes and passions.

Ultimately, "Part of Your World" is about going after your dreams no matter how impossible they may seem. It is a song that encourages us all to explore our horizons and make our own wishes come true.

Breakdown of "Part of Your World" Lyrics

Let's take a closer, line-by-line look at the lyrics to this anthemic ballad from The Little Mermaid:

Look at this stuff
Ariel surveys the human objects in her grotto with fascination.

Isn't it neat?
She is enthralled by these unfamilar items.

Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Though extensive, she still longs for more human things.

I wanna be where the people are
Ariel wants to leave her underwater world and join humans above.

I wanna see, wanna see 'em dancin'
She longs to watch people dancing with legs.

Walkin' around on those (Whad'ya call 'em?) oh, feet
She is fascinated by the human anatomy which is foreign to her.

Flippin' your fins you don't get too far
Ariel feels limited by her mermaid tail.

Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'
She knows she needs human legs to fully move about and dance.

Strollin' along down a (What's that word again?) street
Simple human words and places also intrigue her.

Up where they walk, up where they run
She longs to leave her ocean home for the world above.

Up where they stay all day in the sun
She dreams of basking in the sun on land all day like humans.

Wanderin' free, wish I could be
Ariel envies the freedom of movement humans have.

Part of that world
Her deepest desire is to join the human world she's obsessed with.

What would I give if I could live
She'd sacrifice anything to make her dream come true.

Outta these waters?
Ariel imagines leaving the ocean permanently.

Betcha on land they understand
She believes humans would support her dreams better than King Triton.

Bet they don't reprimand their daughters
She feels humans give their daughters more freedom.

Bright young women, sick o' swimmin'
She's tired of the same old life underwater.

Ready to stand
Ariel is eager and ready to stand up on land.

And ready to know what the people know
She wants answers to all her questions about humans.

Ask 'em my questions and get some answers
Among humans her curiosity could finally be satisfied.

What's a fire and why does it (What's the word?) burn?
Just one example of the many mystifying human things she longs to understand.

When's it my turn?
She's tired of waiting and wants her chance now.

Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?
Ariel deams of venturing up to the surface world.

Out of the sea
She wants to leave the ocean behind.

Wish I could be
More than anything, she wishes she could make her dream come true.

Part of that world
To become part of the magnificent human world above the sea.

The Enduring Power of "Part of Your World"

In just a few short minutes, "Part of Your World" manages to capture so many universal feelings - longing, curiosity, frustration, hope, and determination. Generations have connected with Ariel's struggle between the draw of the familiar and the urge to explore new frontiers.

Both an impactful story song and a sweeping musical number, it is a Broadway-style ballad infused with Disney magic. Coupled with stunning animation and Benson's mesmerizing vocals, it's no surprise that "Part of Your World" has become one of Disney's most adored and inspiring anthems, encouraging fans to go after their own dreams for over 30 years.

FAQs

Who wrote the song "Part of Your World"?

The iconic ballad "Part of Your World" was written by the legendary Disney music composer duo of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken for the 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid.

Why did Disney originally reject "Part of Your World"?

The original version titled "Part of His World" focused too much on Ariel's desire for Prince Eric. Disney asked Ashman to revise it to emphasize her general longing for the human world above the sea.

How did "Part of Your World" become such a classic Disney song?

"Part of Your World" resonates with the universal feelings of longing and curiosity. Paired with gorgeous animation and Jodi Benson's vocals, it became one of Disney's most inspirational and beloved anthems.