Sebastian (Francis Jue) tries to get Ariel (Patti Murin) to listen to reason
"Under the Sea" is a song from Disney's 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid, composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman. The song was performed in the film by Samuel E. Wright. The track won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1989.
The song is a plea by the crab Sebastian imploring Ariel to remain sea-bound, and resist her desire to become a human in order to spend her life with Prince Eric, with whom she has fallen in love. Sebastian warns of the struggles of human life while at the same time expounding the benefits of a care-free life underwater. However, Ariel manages to sneak off with the aid of Flounder just before Sebastian's finale.
In 2007, the Broadway musical version uses this as the featured production number with the role of Sebastian played by Tituss Burgess. Because Burgess is a tenor (unlike the baritone Wright), the key of the song was raised from B-flat to D. The placing of the song is also moved to after the scene in which King Triton destroys Ariel's collection of "human stuff", where the purpose of the song was to cheer Ariel up.
In The Lion King, It is also used after Scar tells Zazu to sing something a little bouncy in it.
Lyrics[]
The Broadway version of "Under the Sea" takes place after Ariel's grotto has been destroyed. Sebastian uses the song to cheer Ariel up. A reprise of the song is played when Ariel leaves Sebastian.
SEBASTIAN (spoken):
(spoken)
Ariel, listen to me
The human world, it's a mess
Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there
(sung)
The seaweed is always greener
In someone else's lake
You dream about going up there
But that is a big mistake
Just look at the world around you
Right here on the ocean floor
Such wonderful things surround you
What more is you looking for?
Under the sea, under the sea
Darling its better down where its wetter
Take it from me
Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we're devoting full time to floating
Under the sea
Down here all the fish is happy
As after the waves they roll
The fish on the land ain't happy
They sad cause they're in the bowl
The fish in the bowl is lucky
They're in for a worser fate
One day when the boss get hungry
Guess who goin' be on the plate?
Wo-no, under the sea
Under the sea
Nobody beat us, fry us and eat us
In fricassee
We what the land folks loves to cook
Under the sea we off the hook
We've got no troubles, life is the bubbles
Under the sea
Under the sea
Since life is sweet here, we got the beat here
Naturally (Under the sea)
Even the sturgeon and the ray
They get the urge and start to play
We've got the spirit, you've got to hear it
Under the sea
The lute play the flute
The carp play the harp
The plaice play the bass and they soundin' sharp
The bass play the brass
The chub play the tub
The fluke is the duke of soul (yeah)
The ray, he can play the lings on the strings
The trout acting out
The blackfish she sings
The smelt and the sprat
They know where it's at
And oh, that blowfish blow!
(instrumental)
Ah, under the sea (under the sea)
Under the sea (under the sea)
When the sardine begin the beguine
It's music to me
What do they got, a lot of sand?
We've got a hot crustacean band
Each little clam here know how to jam here
Under the sea
Each little slug here cutting a rug here
Under the sea
Each little snail here know how to wail here
That's why it's hotter under the water
Yeah, we in luck here down under the muck here
Under the sea
Under the sea!
Reprise[]
SEBASTIAN & SEA CREATURES
The newt play the flute
The carp play the harp
The plaice play the bass
And they soundin sharp
The bass play the brass
The chub play the tub
The fluke is the duke of soul
SEBASTIAN
Yes he is.
SEBASTIAN & SEA CREATURES
The ray, he can play
The lings on the strings
The trout rockin? out
The blackfish, she sings
The smelt and the sprat
They know where it?s at
An' oh, that blowfish blow!
Under the sea
Under the sea
When the sardine begin the beguine
It?s music to me
What do they got, a lot of sand?
We got a hot crustacean band
SEBASTIAN & SEA CREATURES
Each little clam here know how to jam here, Under the sea
Each little slug here cutting a rug here, Under the sea
We got a hot crustacean band here, Under the sea
Each little snail here know how to wail here
That?s why it?s hotter under the water
Ya, we in luck here down in the muck here
Under the?
See, child, that?s what I?m talking about!
You got to put your back into it. Ariel! Hello? Uh oh.
Video[]
The Little Mermaid on Broadway OST - 13 - Under the Sea
The Little Mermaid on Broadway OST - 14 - Under the Sea (Reprise)
No. 13 Under the Sea-1545872531