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"Arabian Nights" is the opening song from Disney's 1992 animated feature film Aladdin, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman which was performed by the Peddler (singing voice by the late Bruce Adler). Howard Ashman and Alan Menken had written several reprises, but they were ultimately cut from the final film.

An alternate version of the song utilizing lyrics from the original demo was later featured in The Return of Jafar, performed by Brian Hannan. This version was also used as the main titles theme for the Aladdin television series.

Aladdin and the King of Thieves features a reprise performed by Bruce Adler as the Peddler, which was originally recorded for the first film but unused.

Lyrics[]

Oh, I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where it's flat and immense/they cut off your ear
and the heat is intense/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, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
to another Arabian night

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 every hour or so
Where enchantment runs rampant
Yes, wild in the streets
Open Sesame, here we go!

Arabian nights like Arabian days
They tease and excite
Take off and take flight
They shock and amaze

Arabian nights like Arabian days
More often than not
are hotter than hot
in a lot of good ways

Pack your shield, pack your sword
You won't ever get bored
Though get beaten or gored, you might
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
to another Arabian night

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 the price is right
Well, salaam, worthy friend
Come back soon, that's the end
Till another Arabian night

Genie: (spoken) Salaam and good evening to you all dear friends
Welcome to the fabled city of Agrabah
City of flying carpets, soaring heroes, famous love ballads, and more glitz and glamour than any other fictional city in the world!

(sung) Oh, I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where it's flat and immense
and the heat is intense
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, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
to another Arabian night

(spoken) And of course you know what Agrabah is famous for
This magical lamp
Don't be fooled by its commonplace appearance
Like so many things it is not what on the outside, but what's on the inside that counts,
This lamp put Agrabah on the map
You've never been?
We can fix that!

(sung) Follow me to a place
where incredible feats
are routine every hour or so
Where enchantment runs rampant
Runs wild in the streets
Open Sesame, here we go!

See the dervishes dance
in ridiculous pants
And romance to your hearts delight

Genie and Company:
Come on down (Come on in)
Let the magic begin
It's another Arabian nights

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

Soloist:
In that magical land
that mystical place
there's a genie inside of every door

Men:
He'll do all of your bidding
Your wishes command

Genie:
It's demeaning, but hey, there you are!

Ladies:
Unbelievable, yes
And an ethical mess

Ensemble:
None the less
No ones very contrite

You come here and you come to a land where any mountain can move
A land of high intrigue
with tricky logistics
by prophets and mystics

Genie:
And I've got statistics that prove

All:
Arabian nights
Arabian nights

(dance break)

Genie:
(spoken) Agrabah, Come for the hummus, stay for the floor show
Even the poor people look fabulous
And everyone here has a minor in dance

And now for the softer side of Agrabah!

(harem dance)

All:
Arabian nights
Arabian nights

Genie:
And of course you must watch your step here in Agrabah
For danger lurks around every corner
And ugly bad guys, too.

All:
Arabian nights
Genie:
It's a city where a penniless nobody
Can turn out to be a noble somebody

All:
Arabian nights
Genie:
It's a place where a princess would give up her crown for true love
But her father, the Sultan is a stickler for the ancient ways
And our heroes pals are as thick as thieves
Adorable... but thieves

And oh, did I mention,
Everybody sings!

Full Company:
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

Arabian nights
Arabian nights
Arabian nights
Arabian nights!

Genie (Mariner):
Oh, imagine a land, it's a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where you wander among
Every culture and tongue
It's chaotic, 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, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
To another Arabian night

As you wind through the streets at the fabled bazaars
With the cardamom-cluttered stalls
You can smell every spice
While you haggle the price
Of the silks and the satin shawls

Oh, the music that plays
As you move through a maze
In the haze of your pure delight
You are caught in a dance
You are lost in the trance
Of another Arabian night

Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways

Arabian nights
Like Arabian dreams
This mystical land
Of magic and sand
Is more than it seems

There's a road that may lead you
To good or to greed through
The power your wishing commands
Let the darkness unfold
Or find fortunes untold
Well, your destiny lies in your hands

Cave of Wonders: (spoken) Only one may enter here.
One whose worth lies far within.
A diamond in the rough.

Genie (Mariner):
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
They seem to excite
Take off and take flight
To shock and amaze

Continued in the film version:
Cave of Wonders: (spoken) Seek thee out the diamond in the rough.

Genie (Mariner):
Arabian nights
'Neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes

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 several 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

Deleted Reprises[]

Initially, a longer composition, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's 1990 score treatment incorporated several reprises sung by The Genie of the Ring, who served as the story's narrator in the original treatment (although under the guise of the Peddler). The first reprise introduces The Wicked Wazir (later to be named Jafar) as the story's main antagonist. The second is sung as Wazir takes Aladdin to The Cave of Wonders posing as his uncle. The third plays as someone - presumably Aladdin - is locked in the dungeon, awaiting death. For the fourth and final reprise, The Genie of the Ring bids the audience farewell; this reprise was sung by The Peddler at the end of King of Thieves.

In the palace, right here
Lived a wicked vizier
The adviser 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, boo hiss
Further proof, dears, that this
Is another Arabian night

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

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 shock of your awful plight
You should sleep, but you don't
'cause you know that you won't
See another Arabian night

So it goes, short and sweet
Now they live 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
Till another Arabian night

Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • Due to its extensive use, the song may be considered the main theme for the Aladdin franchise. This is heavily supported by the fact that this song is also used as the theme song for the Aladdin TV series.
  • When the film was first released to cinemas, the lyrics "Where they cut off your ear / If they don't like your face" drew criticism from a number of Arab representation groups, claiming it promoted a racial stereotype of Muslim countries. Due to the line being considered offensive, the lyrics were changed to "Where it's flat and immense / And the heat is intense" for all subsequent releases. It is unknown whether Menken or lyricist Tim Rice wrote that extra lyric, seeing how it was never heard in the original demo. The original lyric is only heard on the first soundtrack, along with the Disney Read-Along book and cassette Aladdin: Adventures in the Cave of Wonders, while the Special Edition soundtrack released in 2004 retains the intended lyric.
    • In the live-action version, the line is now "Where you wander among every culture and tongue."
  • In the Broadway musical and the 2019 live-action remake, the song is sung by Genie instead of the Peddler (even though it is hinted that they are both the same character).
  • A parody of the song is seen on the playlist of Judy Hopps' music player under the name "Ara-bunny Nights" in Zootopia.
  • The melody for the song can be heard in the teaser for the live-action remake. In the final film, the original lyrics were changed in order to tone down some references to violence. Two lyrics for that version were even sourced from The Return of Jafar version.
  • The King of Thieves version is a slightly different re-working of the deleted fourth reprise; the lyrics were altered to reflect changes made to the stories (mostly Aladdin living in the palace after his wedding, contrary to an early version where Jasmine would give up her status as a princess and come live with Aladdin in the end, reflected by the original lyric "Now they live down the street").


v - e - d
Aladdin Logo
Media
Films: Aladdin (video/soundtrack) • The Return of Jafar (video) • Aladdin and the King of Thieves (video/soundtrack) • Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your DreamsAladdin (2019) (video/soundtrack) • Aladdin 2

Shows: Aladdin: The Series • "Hercules and the Arabian Night" • Great Minds Think 4 ThemselvesA Poem Is...
Books: Comic bookAladdin's QuestA-Mazing AladdinJasmine's Magic CharmRoyal WeddingsAladdin: One True LoveJasmine: The Missing CoinJasmine the MatchmakerDisney Princess BeginningsThe Art and Making of AladdinAladdin: Far From AgrabahThe Magic Carpet's Secret
Video Games: Video gameNasira's RevengeActivity CenterDisney's MathQuest With AladdinAladdin PinballDisney InfinityDisney Infinity: 2.0 EditionKingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts IIKingdom Hearts 358/2 DaysKingdom Hearts codedKingdom Hearts χKingdom Hearts Unchained χ/Union χDisney Enchanted TalesDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Magic KingdomsDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion KingDisney POP TOWNDisney Classic Games CollectionDisney Speedstorm

Disney Parks
Arabian CoastCaravan CarouselCastle of Magical DreamsDisney Animation BuildingGarden of the Twelve FriendsIt's a Small WorldKaribuni MarketplaceLe Passage Enchanté d'AladdinMickey's PhilharMagicPLAY!Sorcerers of the Magic KingdomStorybook Land Canal BoatsThe Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)The Magic Carpets of AladdinVoyage to the Crystal Grotto

Entertainment: Aladdin: A Musical SpectacularBelieve! Sea of DreamsCinderella's Surprise CelebrationCinderellabration: Lights of RomanceDisney's BelieveDisney Dreams: An Enchanted ClassicFeel the MagicGolden Fairytale FanfareMickey's Magical CelebrationMickey's Magical Music WorldMickey and the MagicianMickey and the Wondrous BookOnce Upon a MouseRoyal Princess Music CelebrationThe Magic Lamp TheaterThe Starlit Princess WaltzVillains Tonight!
Restaurants: Aladdin's Oasis
Shops: Adventureland Bazaar
Parades: A Million Splashes of ColourAladdin's Royal CaravanCelebrate A Dream Come True ParadeDisney's FantillusionDisney's Magical Moments ParadeDisney Adventure Friends CavalcadeDisney Carnivale ParadeDisney Stars on ParadeDreaming Up!Dreams.... And Shine Brighter!Happiness is Here ParadeMagic HappensMove It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street PartyMickey's New Year's Eve ParadeMickey's Soundsational ParadeMickey's Storybook ExpressMickey and Friends CelebrationThe Wonderful World of Disney ParadeTokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade: DreamLightsNightfall GlowDisney Harmony in Color! Parade
Fireworks: Believe... There's Magic in the StarsDisney Dreams!Disney EnchantmentDisney in the StarsFantasy in the SkyHappily Ever AfterHarmoniousIgnite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and LightIlluminate! A Nighttime CelebrationMickey's Mix MagicMomentousOnce Upon a Time Remember... Dreams Come TrueWishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney DreamsWonderful World of AnimationWorld of ColorWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney Color-Fest: A Street Party!Disney Pirate or Princess: Make Your Choice
Summer: Disney's Summer Oasis SplashStitch and Friends Summer SurpriseStitch's Summer Dance Bash
Halloween: Disney's Maleficious Halloween PartyDisney Villains Wicked GatheringFrightfully Fun ParadeHappy HallowishesHocus Pocus Villain SpelltacularIt's Good to be Bad with the Disney VillainsJack Skellington’s Villainous GatheringKooky Spooky Halloween NightRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeThe Disney Villains Halloween ShowtimeThe Villains WorldVillains Mix and MingleVillains Night Out!
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeRoyal Christmas Wishes

Characters
Original: AladdinGenieJasmineAbuMagic CarpetThe SultanRajahJafarIagoThe PeddlerRazoul The Royal GuardsGazeemPrince AchmedHarem GirlsFarouk

Sequels: Abis MalAbis Mal's ThugsCassimSa'LukForty ThievesThe Oracle
TV Series: SadiraMercQueen HippsodethScaraKing PectorThe MukhtarKing MamoodEdenSultan Pasta Al-DenteDhandiHamedPharabuPrince UncouthmaGeneral GoudaBrawnhildaBudRuntaThundraQueen KimblaSydneyBrisbaneKoala KidMachanaFasirRiders of RamondSamir the "Destroyer"SquirtCaptain Al BahtrossPrince WazooAjed Al-GebraicAmalAbnor MalMechaniclesScooterMaraudersZorastoMozenrathXerxesKhartoumSiroccoShamanMirageHaroud Hazi BinFashoomSaleenArmandAyam AghoulEvil AladdinCaliph KapokSootinaiDaru TavelevilMalchoDominus TuskAl Muddy SultanAl MuddyAzizMinos and FatimaNefir HasenufNefir's ImpsArbutusMagmaAmuk MoonrahChaosEvil GenieScourge of the DesertAmin DamoolaFrigeedAnubisSahkata, Razili, and FaridaSand MonsterSand SharkMothiasDing and OopoQueen DelucaKing ZahbarQueen Deluca's BrothersThe Great RiftMamluksKileemThe EtherealZin and ZangKutatoUnkbuutDestane
Enchanted Tales: AneesaHakeemSaharaSharma
Video game characters: NasiraBizarrahVery Ankh-Amman
Deleted Characters: ZenaGenie of the RingJasmine's MotherBabkak, Omar, and Kassim
Remake: DaliaPrince AndersHakim

Episodes
Season One: Getting the Bugs OutMudder's DayFowl WeatherThe Prophet MotiveMuch Abu About SomethingMy Fair AladdinTo Cure a ThiefNever Say NefirRaiders of the Lost Shark

Season Two: "Air Feather Friends" • "Bad Mood Rising" • "Do the Rat Thing" • "The Vapor Chase" • "Garden of Evil" • "Some Enchanted Genie" • "Web of Fear" • "Plunder the Sea" • "Strike Up the Sand" • "Sneeze the Day" • "I Never Mechanism I Didn't Like" • "Forget Me Lots" • "Scare Necessities" • "SandSwitch" • "Lost and Founded" • "Moonlight Madness" • "The Flawed Couple" • "Rain of Terror" • "Dune Quixote" • "That Stinking Feeling" • "The Day the Bird Stood Still" • "Of Ice and Men" • "Opposites Detract" • "Caught by the Tale" • "Elemental, My Dear Jasmine" • "Beast or Famine" • "Smolder and Wiser" • "The Game" • "Poor Iago" • "The Spice is Right" • "The Animal Kingdom" • "Power to the Parrot" • "The Sands of Fate" • "Hero with a Thousand Feathers" • "The Citadel" • "Snowman is an Island" • "The Secret of Dagger Rock" • "In the Heat of the Fright" • "Witch Way Did She Go?" • "The Seven Faces of Genie" • "The Wind Jackals of Mozenrath" • "A Clockwork Hero" • "Mission: Imp Possible" • "Stinker Belle" • "Sea No Evil" • "Shadow of a Doubt" • "Smells Like Trouble" • "The Way We War" • "Night of the Living Mud" • "Egg-stra Protection" • "A Sultan Worth His Salt" • "Heads, You Lose" • "The Love Bug" • "When Chaos Comes Calling" • "Genie Hunt" • "Armored and Dangerous" • "The Lost Ones" • "Eye of the Beholder" • "Shark Treatment" • "Black Sand" • "Love at First Sprite" • "Vocal Hero" • "The Lost City of the Sun" • "As the Netherworld Turns" • "Seems Like Old Crimes" • "From Hippsodeth, with Love" • "Destiny on Fire" • "The Return of Malcho"
Season Three: "The Hunted" • "Riders Redux" • "The Book of Khartoum" • "While the City Snoozes" • "Two to Tangle" • "The Ethereal" • "The Shadow Knows" • "The Great Rift"

Locations
AgrabahCave of WondersThe Sultan's PalaceThe Vanishing IsleOdiferousThe Isle of GalifemMorbiaOld Wizard's Lab
Objects
Golden Scarab BeetleJafar's Snake StaffGenie's LampJafar's LampEden's BottleMozenrath's GauntletCrystal of IxBlue Rose of ForgetfulnessTree of RenewalEmerald of KhufuCassim's DaggerThe Oracle's ScytheHand of Midas
Songs
Original: Arabian NightsOne Jump AheadFriend Like MePrince AliA Whole New World

The Return of Jafar: I'm Looking Out for MeNothing in the World (Quite Like a Friend)Forget About LoveYou're Only Second Rate
King of Thieves: Party in AgrabahOut of Thin AirWelcome to the Forty ThievesFather and SonAre You In or Out?
Enchanted Tales: More Than a Peacock PrincessI've Got My Eyes on You
Deleted: Humiliate the BoyProud of Your BoyWhy Me?You Count on MeCall Me a PrincessBabkak, Omar, Aladdin, KassimHigh AdventureMy Finest HourTo Be FreeDesert Moon
Broadway: A Million Miles AwayThese Palace WallsSomebody's Got Your BackDiamond in the Rough
Remake: Speechless

See also
MusicalFriend Like IagoThe Disney AfternoonDisney RenaissanceAs Told by Emoji
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