"Arabian Nights" is the opening song from Aladdin, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman. It 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, which was originally recorded for the first film.
Arabian Nights pops up in the movie's score quite often, primarily used as a theme for Jafar.
Lyrics
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. (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
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
Arabian Night!
<poem> Genie (spoken) Salam 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 it's common place appearance, Like so many things it's 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 epic romance,
Ensemble None the less, No one buried contrite,
You come here and you, Come to a land where any mountain can move, A land of high intrigue, Like 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)
And of course you must watch your step here in Agrabah, For danger lurks around every corner,
It's a city where a penniless nobody, Can turn out to be a noble somebody,
Where a Princess would give up her crown for true love, But her father is a stickler for the old 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!Deleted Reprises
Initially a longer composition, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken 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 advisor 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...”
Aladdin and the King of Thieves reprise
This last reprise is sung by the Peddler at the end of Aladdin and the King of Thieves. It is a slightly different version of the fourth deleted 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 version's lyric "Now they live down the street").
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--
'Til another Arabian night!…
Arabian Niiiiiiight!
Trivia
- When the film was first released to cinemas, the line, "Where it's flat and immense and the heat is intense" was originally, "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face". Due to the line being offensive, it was changed shortly after being released. It's 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, while the Special Edition soundtrack retains the intended lyric.
- In the Broadway musical, the song is sung by Genie instead of the Peddler, (Even though it's hinted they're both the same character).
Videos
