Arabian Nights is the opening song of the animated movie Aladdin, with music by Alan Menken and the lyrics by Howard Ashman. The song is sung by the late Bruce Adler as the Peddler, who is heading to Agrabah to show off his merchandise.
Several reprises were written for this song, where the Peddler would be commenting on the plot. None of these made the final cut. The final reprise, however, was added into the film Aladdin and the King of Thieves as the ending song.
Lyrics[]
Oh, I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where it's flat and immense
and the heat is intense
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home
When the wind's from the east
And the sun's from the west
And the sand in the glass is right
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
to another Arabian night
Arabian Nights like Arabian days
More often than not
are hotter than hot
in a lot of good ways
Arabian Nights 'neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
could fall and fall hard
out there on the dunes
Follow me to a place where incredible feats are routine every hour or so
Where enchantment runs rampant
Yes, wild in the streets
Open Sesame, here we go!
Arabian Nights
like Arabian Days
They tease and excite
Take off and take flight
They shock and amaze
Arabian Nights
Like Arabian Days
More often than not
are hotter than hot
in a lot of good ways
Pack your shield, pack your sword
You won't ever get bored
Though get beaten or gored, you might
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
to another Arabian Night
Arabian Night!
Follow me to a place where incredible feats are routine every hour or so
Where enchantment runs rampant
Yes, wild in the streets
Open Sesame, here we go!
Arabian Nights
like Arabian Days
They tease and excite
Take off and take flight
They shock and amaze
Arabian Nights
Like Arabian Days
More often than not
are hotter than hot
in a lot of good ways
Pack your shield, pack your sword
You won't ever get bored
Though get beaten or gored, you might
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
to another Arabian Night
So it goes, short and sweet
They were wed down the street
May their marriage be truly blessed
Happy end to the tale
And tomorrow's a sale
So I'd better go home and rest
Here's a kiss and a hug
Sure you don't need a rug?
I assure the price is right
Well, salaam, worthy friend
Come back soon, that's the end
Till another Arabian night
Genie: (spoken) Salam and good evening to you all dear friends Welcome to the fabled city of Agrabah City of flying carpets, soaring heroes, famous love ballads, and more glitz and glamour than any other fictional city in the world!
(sung) Oh, I come from a land, from a faraway place Where the caravan camels roam Where it's flat and immense and the heat is intense It's barbaric, but hey, it's home
When the wind's from the east and the sun's from the west and the sand in the glass is right Come on down, stop on by Hop a carpet and fly to another Arabian night
(spoken) And of course you know what Agrabah is famous for This magical lamp Don't be fooled by it's common place appearance Like so many things it's not what on the outside, but what's on the inside that counts, This lamp put Agrabah on the map You've never been? We can fix that!
(sung) Follow me to a place where incredible feats are routine every hour or so Where enchantment runs rampant Runs wild in the streets Open Sesame, here we go!
See the dervishes dance in ridiculous pants And romance to your hearts delight
Genie and Company: Come on down (Come on in) Let the magic begin It's another Arabian Nights
Arabian Nights, like Arabian days More often than not are hotter than hot in a lot of good ways
Arabian Nights, 'neath Arabian moons a fool off his guard could fall and fall hard out there on the dunes
Soloist: In that magical land that mystical place there's a genie inside of every door
Men: He'll do all of your bidding Your wishes command
Genie: It's demeaning but hey, there you are!
Ladies: Unbelievable, yes And an ethical mess
Ensemble: None the less No ones very contrite
You come here and you come to a land where any mountain can move A land of high intrigue with tricky logistics by prophets and mystics
Genie: And I've got statistics that prove
All: Arabian nights Arabian nights
(dance break)
Genie: (spoken) Agrabah, Come for the hummus, stay for the floor show Even the poor people look fabulous And everyone here has a minor in dance
And now for the softer side of Agrabah!
(harem dance)
And of course you must watch your step here in Agrabah For danger lurks around every corner
It's a city where a penniless nobody Can turn out to be a noble somebody
Where a Princess would give up her crown for true love But her father is a stickler for the old ways
And our heroes pals are as thick as thieves Adorable... But thieves
And oh did I mention, Everybody sings!
Full Company: Arabian Nights like Arabian days More often than not are hotter than hot in a lot of good ways
Arabian Nights 'neath Arabian moons A fool off his guard Could fall and fall hard Out there on the dunes
Arabian Nights Arabian Nights Arabian Nights
Arabian Nights!
Genie: Oh, imagine a land, it's a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where you wander among
Every culture and tongue
It's chaotic, but hey, it's home
When the wind's from the east
And the sun's from the west
And the sand in the glass is right
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
To another Arabian night
As you wind through the streets at the fabled bazaars
With the cardamom-cluttered stalls
You can smell every spice
While you haggle the price
Of the silks and the satin shawls
Oh, the music that plays
As you move through a maze
In the haze of your pure delight
You are caught in a dance
You are lost in the trance
Of another Arabian night
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways
Arabian nights
Like Arabian dreams
This mystical land
Of magic and sand
Is more than it seems
There's a road that may lead you
To good or to greed through
The power your wishing commands
Let the darkness unfold
Or find fortunes untold
Well, your destiny lies in your hands
Cave of Wonders: (spoken) Only one may enter here.
One whose worth lies far within.
A diamond in the rough.
Genie: Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
They seem to excite
Take off and take flight
To shock and amaze
Arabian nights
'Neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes
Videos[]
Songs | |
---|---|
Original | Arabian Nights | One Jump Ahead | Friend Like Me | Prince Ali | A Whole New World |
The Return of Jafar | I'm Looking Out for Me | Nothing in the World (Quite Like a Friend) | Forget About Love | You're Only Second Rate |
King of Thieves | There's a Party Here in Agrabah | Out of Thin Air | Welcome to the Forty Thieves | Father and Son | Are You In or Out |
Enchanted Tales | More Than a Peacock Princess | I've Got My Eyes on You |
Deleted songs | Humiliate the Boy | Proud of Your Boy | Why Me? | Count on Me | Call Me a Princess | Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim | High Adventure | My Finest Hour | To Be Free |
Broadway | A Million Miles Away | These Palace Walls | Somebody's Got Your Back | Diamond in the Rough |