The Little Mermaid’s Poor Unfortunate Souls lyrics: What are the new lyrics?

The Little Mermaid is set to swim onto the big screen on Friday, May 26. The live-action adaptation of the classic Disney film has been the buzz of the entertainment world since the first look at the new telling of this tale hit the internet. Adults and kids alike are excited for the movie to hit theaters. Ariel’s story has more than one memorable song that fans have been singing since 1989, but moviegoers should prepare for some lyric changes as they head out to watch the film.

Ahead of its release, there were reports that songs like “Kiss the Girl” and the ever iconic “Poor Unfortunate Souls” would either have lyric tweaks or entire parts taken out in order to update the songs to this modern age. You can click here for the changes to “Kiss the Girl,” but as for “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” here’s what we know about how the song has been updated.

The Little Mermaid (2023): The new Poor Unfortunate Souls lyrics

Deadline reports that in an interview with Vanity Fair, Alan Menken had the following to say about the changes to The Little Mermaid song:

"We have some revisions in ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ regarding lines that might make young girls somehow feel that they shouldn’t speak out of turn, even though Ursula is clearly manipulating Ariel to give up her voice."

So the part of the song where Ursula starts talking about the men on land not liking women who talk has been taken out of the song. You’ll also notice that Ursula’s words on Ariel using her “pretty face” and the importance of body language are also not present. Instead you’ll find Ursula pushes Ariel into making her choice with the lines, “Fine then. Forget about the world above. Go back home to daddy and never leave again.”

By doing this, the implication that Ariel is choosing to give up her underwater life for a man is no longer there in “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and rather that she’s doing it so she can experience life on land. You can read the full lyrics below.

According to Genius:

"[URSULA]I admit that in the past, I’ve been a nastyThey weren’t kidding when they called me, well, a witchBut you’ll find that nowadaysI’ve mended all my waysRepented, seen the light, and made a switchTrue? YesAnd I fortunately know a little magicIt’s a talent that I always have possessedAnd here lately, please don’t laughI use it on behalf of the miserable, lonely, and depressedPatheticPoor unfortunate soulsIn pain, in needThis onе longing to be thinnerThat one wants to gеt the girlAnd do I help them?Yes, indeedThose poor unfortunate soulsSo sad, so trueThey come flocking to my cauldronCrying, “Spells, Ursula, please!”And I help themYes, I doNow, it’s happened once or twiceSomeone couldn’t pay the priceAnd I’m afraid I had to rake ’em ‘cross the coalsYes, I’ve had the odd complaintBut on the whole, I’ve been a saintTo those poor unfortunate souls(spoken)So here’s the deal: I’ll whip up a little potion to make you human for three days. Got that? Three days. Before the sun sets on the third day, you and the princey must share a kiss— and not just any kiss: the kiss of true love. If you do, you will remain human permanently. But if you don’t, you’ll turn back into a mermaid— and you belong to me. We got a deal?[ARIEL, spoken]I don’t know.[URSULA, spoken]Life’s full of tough choices, in’it?[ARIEL, spoken]No, this is wrong. I can’t do this.[URSULA, spoken]Fine then. Forget about the world above. Go back home to daddy and never leave again.(sung)Come on, you poor unfortunate soulGo ahead! Make your choiceI’m a very busy woman and I haven’t got all dayIt won’t cost muchJust your voiceYou poor unfortunate soulIt’s sad, but trueIf you want to cross a bridge, my sweetYou’ve got to pay the tollPluck a scale from off your tailA drop of blood inside the bowl!Flotsam, Jetsam, now I’ve got her, boysThe boss is on a roll!This poor unfortunate soulBeluga! Sevruga!Come winds of the Caspian Sea!Amnesia, glossitis et max laryngitisLa voce to me![URSULA, spoken]Now, sing![ARIEL]Ah, ah, ah, ah[URSULA, spoken]Keep singing![ARIEL]Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah"

The Little Mermaid hits theaters Friday, May 26. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more news and coverage about the live-action film. We’ll keep you posted on when the movie will hit Disney+ later this summer.