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It is sung by Ariel (Jodi Benson), one of the main characters, while in her hidden grotto, which holds all of her treasures, most of which are human objects. It reveals how she longs to be human and live in their culture, and how she's tired of being a mermaid living under the sea. While singing, she is unknowingly being watched by Sebastian, who had been tasked with watching over Ariel by King Triton.
After rescuing and falling in love with Eric, a human, Ariel reprises the song, during which she shows an even greater drive to live life upon land.
It is later sung by Ursula, disguised as Vanessa when she hypnotizes Eric.
Lyrics[]
First[]
Originally, the song was going to have more specific lyrics on the objects in Ariel's grotto, but then it was designed that since Scuttle was her provider of information, she wouldn't really know the names of these objects.
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?
Looking around here, you'd think
Sure, she's got everything
I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I've got whooz-its and whats-its galore
You want thing-a-mabobs? 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'
Strolling along down the...
What's that word again? 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
outta these waters?
What would I pay
to spend a day
warm on the sand?
Betcha on land
they understand
Bet they don't reprimand their daughters
Bright young women,
sick of swimmin',
ready to stand
And 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
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
Copper and bronze and fine leather and gold
Paper and china and books
Look, feathers and everything
I should start an aquatic museum
I've got gadgets and whats-its galore
All these fish'd pay money to see 'em
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'
Strolling along down the...
What's that word again? Street
Up where they walk
Up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Where they breathe free
Wish I could be
part of that world
Reprise[]
Before the finalized version was made, an alternate version of the reprise was made into a Demo sung by Alan Menken. In this version, Ariel sings of how much she longs to be with Eric but realizes that they can't be together, and gives him a kiss before diving back under the waves.
This version was removed due to the filmmakers having written Ariel as being so lovesick after the storm that it was considered inappropriate for the song to be so tragic.
The comic adaptation of the Little Mermaid took a different route with the lyrics of this song. Snippets of it can follow the melody of the original, but it is mostly new.
What would I give to live where you are?
What would I pay to stay here beside you?
What would I do to see you smiling at me?
Where would we walk?
Where would we run?
If we could stay all day in the sun?
Just you and me, and I could be part of your world
(Instrumentals)
I don't know when, I don't know how
But I know something's starting right now
Watch and you'll see, someday I'll be part of your world
What would I give to live where you are?
What would I pay, to stay here beside you?
What would I do to see you, smiling at me?
Now there's a dream!
Now there's a goal!
Now there's a need I'll never control!
I won't get free,
'till I can be,
part of your world!
What would I give, if I could live out of these waters?
What would I pay, to spend a day holding your hand?
(Instrumentals)
I'd give my life
I'd sell my soul
'Cause I can feel I'll never be whole
But I can see,
I'll never be,
Part of your world
I'd give anything to live in your world
I'd pay any price to stay close to you
Your hand in mine
Life would be fine,
here in your world!
Somewhere in time
Somehow I'm sure,
I'll live in your world!
Finale[]
The final version of the song played during Ariel and Eric's wedding day after the defeat of Ursula. Ariel meets with her father to say goodbye one last time. She and him hug, and she whispers the words, "I love you, Daddy." After which the chorus begins.
Alan Menken and Howard Ashman developed another demo, possibly earlier than the storyboarded version. In this demo, judging from the build-up of the music Ariel is slowly coming out of the water. She also approaches the beginning of the song in a more inquisitive manner than both the chorus and storyboarded versions.
Jodi Benson sang the song in the dark to get that "under the sea" feeling.
The part where Ariel reaches through the hole in the roof was the final shot to be completed for the film. It took four tries to get its optical effects right.
The song was nearly cut because Jeffrey Katzenberg felt that it was "boring", as well as being too far over the heads of the children for whom it was intended. It was only through the insistence of Howard Ashman and Glen Keane that it was included in the movie.
Alan Menken and Howard Ashman discovered that the song shared contextual and rhythmic similarities with another one of their songs: "Somewhere That's Green" from Little Shop of Horrors, leading them to humorously call it "Somewhere That's Dry".
In early prints of the Diamond Edition release, after Ariel sings "Out of the sea...", the next two shots of her floating back down and Flounder's sad face when she sang "Wish I could be..." were swapped. This had been fixed for later printings of the Diamond Edition and remained fixed for the Signature Collection release.
During the finale, Sebastian and Chef Louis were originally going to become friends, but Jeffery Katzenberg preferred them as enemies, and asked for the scene to be changed where Chef Louis gets his comeuppance.
This was the first proper Disney chorus since Robin Hood in 1973 and the filmmakers stated in the DVD commentary that they were unsure of using a Disney chorus out of the fear that it would be deemed "cheesy". This chorus would be repeated for the majority of the renaissance until The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1996.
The Swedish dub features Sissel Kyrkjebø, the Swedish Voice of Ariel, singing over the top of the chorus, as Ariel, holding her final note through the choirs vocalizing till Eric and Ariel kiss.
The title character in The Timekeeper references the song, saying, "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?"
Jodi Benson sang the song when she received her Disney Legend award in 2011.
When filming reference for the scene where Ariel rises from the rocks, Glen Keane would act out the scene as a way to give Sherri Lynn Stoner an idea of how the scene should play out.
The scene where Ariel sings the last verses of the song (in particular her causing a wave to crash behind her) was parodied in The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning with Marina Del Rey, who adopts a similar pose, only to be slammed down by the wave before threatening Scuttle.
An instrumental version of part of the song was heard while Giselle observed a fishtank in Enchanted, just before interacting with Sam, a character portrayed by Jodi Benson herself.
A brief allusion to the original tale was made in the lyrics nearing the end, as Ariel says "When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?" (in the original tale, mermaids were allowed to go up to the surface at age 15).
The song was included on the tape, Disney Sing Along Songs: Circle of Life.
"Of all the thingamabobs in this entire world. I never thought I'd get to wear a real... What's it called again? Oh yeah, shirt! [singing] I once had a dream that I might wear a shirt..."
In the DuckTales episode "The Lost Harp of Mervana!", Webby directly references the song by saying, "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?"
Television:The Little Mermaid (videography) • A Poem Is... • The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live! Video games:NES game • Sega Genesis Game • Ariel's Story Studio • Kingdom Hearts • Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories • Kingdom Hearts II • The Little Mermaid 2: Pinball Frenzy • Disney's The Little Mermaid: Magic in Two Kingdoms • Disney Emoji Blitz • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode Books:Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch • Official Comic Adaptation • Disney Comics • The Little Mermaid's Treasure Chest • Disney Princess Beginnings • Marvel Comics Music:The Legacy Collection • Sebastian from The Little Mermaid • Sebastian: Party Gras! • The Little Mermaid: Songs from the Sea • The Little Mermaid: Splash Hits Cancelled projects:Little Mermaid's Island
Sequel:Melody • Tip and Dash • Alex • Morgana • Cloak and Dagger • Undertow • Hammerhead Shark • Flounder's Guppies • Baby Penguin • Ursula and Morgana's Mother Prequel:Queen Athena • Marina Del Rey • Benjamin • The Catfish Club Band • Stevie • Electric Eels Little Mermaid's Island:Sandy • Scales TV Series:Urchin • Gabriella • Ollie • Dudley • Pearl • Pearl's Mother • Manta • Little Evil • Daniel • Moray • Simon • Lobster Mobster and Da Shrimp • The Sorceress • Glowfish • Ebb and Flo • Empreror Sharga • and the Sharkanians • Octopid • Brain Sponge • Zeus • Spot the Killer Whale • Crab Scouts • Hans Christian Andersen • Lucky • Thor • Augustus • Stormy the Giant Seahorse • The Magical Wishing Starfish • Howling Hairfish • Apollo • Archimedes • Seaclops • Neptune Comic Book:Indigo • Marlin the Magician • Jenny Remake:Perla • Karina
Season One: "Whale of a Tale" • "The Great Sebastian" • "Stormy" • "Urchin" • "Double Bubble" • "Message in a Bottle" • "Charmed" • "Marriage of Inconvenience" • "The Evil Manta" • "Thingamajigger" • "Red" • "Beached" • "Trident True" • "Eel-Ectric City"
Season Two: "Resigned to It" • "Calliope Dreams" • "Save the Whale" • "Against the Tide" • "Giggles" • "Wish Upon a Starfish" • "Tail of Two Crabs" • "Metal Fish" • "T'ank You For Dat, Ariel" Season Three: "Scuttle" • "King Crab" • "Island of Fear" • "Land of the Dinosaurs" • "Heroes" • "The Beast Within" • "Ariel's Treasures" • "A Little Evil"
TV Series:Just a Little Love • You Got to be You • The Edge of the Edge of the Sea • The Lobster Mobster's Mob • The Beddy Bye Blues • Sing a New Song • In Harmony • This is the Life • Never Give Up • You Wouldn't Want to Mess with Me • The Sound of Laughter • Daring to Dance • Just Give Me a Chance • Evil Lullaby Musical:She's in Love • Human Stuff • Positoovity • I Want the Good Times Back • Storm at Sea • Daddy's Little Angel • Her Voice • The World Above • The Contest • If Only • Beyond My Wildest Dreams • Sweet Child • One Step Closer • All Good Things Must End Songs from the Sea:The Sea Kingdom • What's It Like to Be a Mermaid? • The Scuttle Strut • There's Only One Ariel • He's a Friend • At the Mermaids' Ball • Party With Me • My Room in the Sea • Dreaming • H2O, What a Feeling! • We Share the Earth • Where Mermaids Dwell Splash Hits: Sea-Floor Strut • Please Don't Wake the Whale • Reef with a View • In My Blue Backyard • Home is Deleted:Silence is Golden • Gonna Get My Wish Other:One Dance • A Mermaid Song
Books:Once Upon a Time: Shadow of the Queen • Once Upon a Time: Out of the Past • Once Upon a Time: Red's Untold Tale • Once Upon a Time: Regina Rising
Season One: "Pilot" • "The Thing You Love Most" • "Snow Falls" • "The Price of Gold" • "That Still Small Voice" • "The Shepherd" • "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" • "Desperate Souls" • "True North" • "7:15 A.M." • "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" • "Skin Deep" • "What Happened to Frederick" • "Dreamy" • "Red-Handed" • "Heart of Darkness" • "Hat Trick" • "The Stable Boy" • "The Return" • "The Stranger" • "An Apple Red as Blood" • "A Land Without Magic"
Season Two: "Broken" • "We Are Both" • "Lady of the Lake" • "The Crocodile" • "The Doctor" • "Tallahassee" • "Child of the Moon" • "Into the Deep" • "Queen of Hearts" • "The Cricket Game" • "The Outsider" • "In the Name of the Brother" • "Tiny" • "Manhattan" • "The Queen Is Dead" • "The Miller's Daughter" • "Welcome to Storybrooke" • "Selfless, Brave and True" • "Lacey" • "The Evil Queen" • "Second Star to the Right" • "And Straight On 'Til Morning" Season Three: "The Heart of the Truest Believer" • "Lost Girl" • "Quite a Common Fairy" • "Nasty Habits" • "Good Form" • "Ariel" • "Dark Hollow" • "Think Lovely Thoughts" • "Save Henry" • "The New Neverland" • "Going Home" • "New York City Serenade" • "Witch Hunt" • "The Tower" • "Quiet Minds" • "It's Not Easy Being Green" • "The Jolly Roger" • "Bleeding Through" • "A Curious Thing" • "Kansas" • "Snow Drifts" • "There's No Place Like Home" Season Four: "A Tale of Two Sisters" • "White Out" • "Rocky Road" • "The Apprentice" • "Breaking Glass" • "Family Business" • "The Snow Queen" • "Smash the Mirror" • "Fall" • "Shattered Sight" • "Heroes and Villains" • "Darkness on the Edge of Town" • "Unforgiven" • "Enter the Dragon" • "Poor Unfortunate Soul" • "Best Laid Plans" • "Heart of Gold" • "Sympathy for the De Vil" • "Lily" • "Mother" • "Operation Mongoose" Season Five: "The Dark Swan" • "The Price" • "Siege Perilous" • "The Broken Kingdom" • "Dreamcatcher" • "The Bear and the Bow" • "Nimue" • "Birth" • "The Bear King" • "Broken Heart" • "Swan Song" • "Souls of the Departed" • "Labor of Love" • "Devil's Due" • "The Brothers Jones" • "Our Decay" • "Her Handsome Hero" • "Ruby Slippers" • "Sisters" • "Firebird" • "Last Rites" • "Only You" • "An Untold Story" Season Six: "The Savior" • "A Bitter Draught" • "The Other Shoe" • "Strange Case" • "Street Rats" • "Dark Waters" • "Heartless" • "I'll Be Your Mirror" • "Changelings" • "Wish You Were Here" • "Tougher Than the Rest" • "Murder Most Foul • "Ill-Boding Patterns" • "Page 23" • "A Wondrous Place" • "Mother's Little Helper" • "Awake" • "Where Bluebirds Fly" • "The Black Fairy" • "The Song in Your Heart" • "The Final Battle" Season Seven: "Hyperion Heights" • "A Pirate's Life"• "The Garden of Forking Paths" • "Beauty" • "Greenbacks" • "Wake Up Call" • "Eloise Gardener" • "Pretty in Blue" • "One Little Tear" • "The Eighth Witch" • "Secret Garden" • "A Taste of the Heights" • "Knightfall" • "The Girl in the Tower" • "Sisterhood" • "Breadcrumbs" • "Chosen" • "The Guardian" • "Flower Child" • "Is This Henry Mills?" • "Homecoming" • "Leaving Storybrooke"
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland: "Down the Rabbit Hole" • "Trust Me" • "Forget Me Not" • "The Serpent" • "Heart of Stone" • "Who's Alice?" • "Bad Blood" • "Home" • "Nothing to Fear" • "Dirty Little Secrets" • "Heart of the Matter" • "To Catch a Thief" • "And They Lived..."
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland: Wonderland Castle • The Mad Hatter's House • White Rabbit's House • Underland • Tulgey Wood Both series:Storybrooke • Maine • Enchanted Forest • Forbidden Fortress • Wonderland • Wonderland Maze • Agrabah • Sherwood Forest • The Sultan's Palace
Objects
Once Upon a Time: Once Upon a Time (Book) • Red Riding Hood • Maleficent's Staff • Magic Wand • Glass Slipper • Poisoned Apple • Spinning Wheel • Magic Lamp • Dark One's Dagger • Chipped Cup • Jefferson's Hat • Magic Beans • Captain Hook's Hooks • Enchanted Candle • Pixie Dust • Dreamshade • Salad Fork • Pandora's Box • Silver Slippers • Sorcerer Hat • Enchanted Broom • Trident • Enchanted Shell • Heroes and Villains (Book) • Merida's Bow • Magical Rose • Excalibur • Olympian Crystal • Cinderella's Dress • Golden Scarab Beetle • Rapunzel's Frying Pan • Magical Golden Flower • Shrinking Potion • Floating Lanterns • Tarot Cards • Maui's Fish Hook
Original Songs:Powerful Magic • The Queen Sings • Love Doesn't Stand a Chance • Revenge Is Gonna Be Mine • Wicked Always Wins • Charmings vs. Evil Queen • Emma's Theme • A Happy Beginning
Original Worlds:Destiny Islands • Traverse Town • Radiant Garden/Hollow Bastion • Disney Castle/Disney Town/Timeless River • Dive to the Heart • End of the World • Realm of Darkness • Twilight Town/Mysterious Tower • The World That Never Was • Castle That Never Was • Land of Departure/Castle Oblivion • Keyblade Graveyard • Daybreak Town/Scala ad Caelum