The well-known song from the timeless Disney film The Little Mermaid is called Part of Your World. One of the soundtrack’s focal points, the song’s lyrics have a significant significance within the narrative. In the first act of the film, Ariel sings the song, expressing a desire to be more connected to the world above the ocean. It’s a wonderful scene in the movie where the lead character craves something she doesn’t even know she wants and can’t even put into words. Additionally, singer and actress Halle Bailey has expanded and reinterpreted the song in the 2023 version of the film. Let’s discuss the song’s significance in the story; the full lyrics are included at the end.
You can watch the official video released by Disney for the new version of Part Of Your World below.
The Little Mermaid song, Part Of Your World: the lyrics & the meaning
In Part Of Your World, Ariel describes her desire to be part of the world of humans. It’s crucial to understand her background: she is a mermaid who has always lived in the sea with an overbearing father. She longs to see what is beyond the river, but she never gets the chance. She can only communicate with the outside world by gathering small objects from the environment. She explains this at the song’s beginning while joking about all the small devices she has in her collection.
Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat?
Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?
Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl, the girl who has everything?
Look at this trove, treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
It’s crucial to understand her background: she is a mermaid who has always lived in the sea with an overbearing father. She longs to see what is beyond the river, but she never gets the chance. She can only communicate with the outside world by gathering small objects from the environment. She explains this at the song’s beginning while joking about all the small devices she has in her collection.
But who cares? No big deal, I want more
I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see, wanna see ’em dancin’
Walkin’ around on those—, what do you call ’em? Oh, 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? Ah, street
Ariel rejects her mermaid status since she doesn’t want to be one and doesn’t particularly enjoy being able to swim in all areas of the water. That prompts her to leave the house with a risky attitude, worrying her father. That seems to Ariel like a jail since she sees people as beings who can do anything they want because they don’t have parents to instruct them what to do.
Bet’cha on land they understand
Bet they don’t reprimand their daughters
Bright young women sick of swimmin’
Ready to standOut of the sea
Wish I could be part of that world
And so, the lyrics to Part of Your World actually imply this: Ariel aspires to be human so she can carry out human activities. She aspires to be something quite different from who she truly is, and this will propel her into the perilous adventures she will have throughout the film.
The complete lyrics
Below you can find the complete lyrics of the song Part Of The World, in the version interpreted by Ariel in the 2023 version of The Little Mermaid.
Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat?
Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?
Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl, the girl who has everything?
Look at this trove, treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Lookin’ around here, you think, “Sure, she’s got everything”
I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I’ve got whozits and whatzits galore
You want thingamabobs? I’ve got twenty
But who cares? No big deal, I want more
I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see, wanna see ’em dancin’
Walkin’ around on those—, what do you call ’em? Oh, 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? Ah, street
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
What would I give if I could live out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?
Bet’cha on land they understand
Bet they don’t reprimand their daughters
Bright young women sick of swimmin’
Ready to stand
I’m 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?
When’s it my turn?
Wouldn’t I love, love to explore that shore up above?
Out of the sea
Wish I could be part of that world