"Daughters of King Triton" is a song seen at the beginning of the Disney animated feature film, The Little Mermaid. It introduces and is sung by King Triton's six eldest daughters. It was supposed to be Ariel's debut in a concert, but she forgets to attend and the concert is quickly cut short.
Lyrics
Oh, we are the daughters of Triton
Great father who loves us and named us well:
Aquata,
Andrina,
Arista,
Attina,
Adella,
Alana
And then there is the youngest in her musical debut
A seventh little sister, we're presenting her to you
To sing a song Sebastian wrote, her voice is like a bell
She's our sister Ariel--
The comic adapation adapted this song with a new set of lyrics, skipping past the names of all the sisters and instead skipping from the first subject, to the final subject, being the introduction of Ariel.
The daughters of Triton are we.
Our Father has chosen each name for us well.
Now listen to our sister whose voice rings like a bell.
Her name is Arie--
The Broadway version is essentially the song with some extra lyrics for length. The outcome of the song is that Triton is left furious while Sebastian ponders where Ariel has gone.
MERSISTERS:
Ah, we are the daughters of Triton,
Great father who loves us,
And named us well,
Aquata
Andrina
Arista
Atina
Adella
Alana
And Ariel!
(Instrumentals)
In concert we hope to enlighten,
The heart of the merfolk,
With music's swell!
Aquata!
AQUATA:
Ahhh
MERSISTERS:
Andrina!
ANDRINA:
Ahhh
MERSISTERS:
Arista!
ARISTA:
Ahhh
MERSISTERS:
Attina!
ATTINA
Ahhh
MERSISTERS:
Adella
ADELLA:
Ahhh
MERSISTERS:
Alana!
ALANA:
Ahhh!
MERSISTERS:
And then there is the youngest
In her musical debut
Our seventh little sister
We’re presenting her to you
To sing a song Sebastian wrote
Her voice is like a bell
It’s our sister,
Ariel!
SEBASTIAN:
(spoken)
Oh, no. Where is she? Once more.
MERSISTERS
Sister, Ariel!
Deleted Scene: Backstage with Sebastian
This scene was to be opened in a different way from the final version. Originally it started with the girls practicing for their parts backstage. Sebastian then comes in to give the girls some last minute instructions until
coming to the realization that Ariel was missing. When upon asking where she was, Andrina told him that she wasn't anywhere to be seen, which quickly sends Sebastian into a panic.
Eventually Sebastian calms himself and tells the girls to get into their places while he stalls for time. However, when he tries to approach the king, a spotlight shines on him and his presence is made known to the entire concert hall. All Sebastian can do is sigh and get into his conductor's position as he prepares to start the show.
This scene was removed due to the creators deciding that it would be better to surprise the audience by keeping Sebastian and everyone else in the dark.
Trivia
- This is one of the few Disney songs that ends abruptly.
- In the scene prior to this song appearing; when King Triton rides over the crowd, merfolk versions of Donald, Goofy, and Mickey can be glanced within the crowd, as well as an animated Kermit the Frog.
- Prior to the third movie, the sisters' age were determined by their order of appearance in this song, with Aquata being assumed the oldest due to her being the first sister to give her name.