"Prince Ali" is a song from Disney's 1992 animated feature film Aladdin, written by Alan Menken (music) and Howard Ashman (lyrics) sung by Robin Williams as Genie.
Summary[]
Genie performs the song as he introduces the city of Agrabah to Aladdin's royal alter-ego, Prince Ali Ababwa. During the song, Genie imitates a parade commentator. The parade leads them to The Sultan's Palace, where Sultan decides to let them in. Jafar tries to stop him by holding the door shut, but the parade was able to enter when Abu (in his elephant form) kicks it open crushing Jafar and Iago in the process. The song ends with Jafar dragging the parade out of the palace and shutting the door.
There would later be a reprise in which Jafar (Jonathan Freeman) exposes and banishes Aladdin in his moment of triumph after wishing to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world.
Lyrics[]
Chorus: Make way for Prince Ali!
Say hey! It's Prince Ali!
Genie: Hey! Clear the way in the old Bazaar
Hey you! Let us through! It's a bright new star!
Oh come! Be the first on your block to meet his eye!
Make way! Here he comes!
Ring bells! Bang the drums!
Are you gonna love this guy?!
Prince Ali! Fabulous he!
Ali Ababwa
Genuflect, show some respect
Down on one knee!
Now, try your best to stay calm
Brush up your Sunday salaam
Then come and meet his spectacular coterie
Prince Ali! Mighty is he!
Ali Ababwa
Strong as ten regular men,
definitely!
He faced the galloping hordes
A hundred bad guys with swords
Who sent those goons to their lords?
Why, Prince Ali!
Men: He's got seventy-five golden camels (Genie: Don't they look lovely, June?)
Women: Purple peacocks, he's got fifty-three (Genie: Fabulous, Harry. I love the feathers.)
Genie: When it comes to exotic-type mammals
Has he got a zoo?
I'm telling you,
Chorus: It's a world-class menagerie
Genie: Prince Ali! Handsome is he, |
Harem Girls: There's no question this Ali's alluring |
Chorus: He's got ninety-five white Persian monkeys
Guards: He's got the monkeys,
let's see the monkeys
Chorus: And to view them he charges no fee
Women: He's generous, so generous
Chorus: He's got slaves, he's got servants and flunkies
Proud to work for him
Bow to his whim,
love serving him
They're just lousy with loyalty to Ali!
Prince Ali!
All: Prince Ali! Amorous he!
Ali Ababwa
Genie: Heard your princess was a sight lovely to see
And that, good people, is why,
he got dolled up and dropped by
Chorus: With sixty elephants, llamas galore
With his bears and lions
A brass band and more
With his forty fakirs,
his cooks and bakers
His birds that warble on key
Make way
For Prince Ali!
(Spoken only in the film version)
Jafar: Oh, princess, there's someone I'm dying to introduce you to.
Aladdin: Jafar! Get your hands off her!
Jafar: Prince Ali
Yes, it is he
But not as you know him!
Read my lips
And come to grips
With the reality
Yes, meet a blast from your past,
Whose lies were too good to last!
Say hello to your precious Prince Ali!
(Spoken only in the film version)
Iago: Or should we say "Aladdin"?
Jasmine: Ali?
Aladdin: Jasmine...
Jasmine: What?
Aladdin: I-I tried to tell you. I'm just a...
Jafar: So Ali
Turns out to be
Merely Aladdin!
Just a con
Need I go on?
Take it from me
His personality flaws,
Give me adequate cause,
To send him packing on a one-way trip
So his prospects take a terminal dip!
His assets frozen!
The venue chosen!
It's the ends of the earth! Whoopee!
So long!
(Spoken only in the film version)
Iago: Good bye, see ya!
Jafar: Ex-Prince, Ali!
(Cackles wickedly)
Jafar: Prince Ali
Yes, it is he
But not as you know him!
Read my lips
And come to grips
With the reality
Yes, meet a blast from your past,
Whose lies were too good to last!
Say hello to your precious Prince Ali!
(Instrumental Solo)
So Ali
Turns out to be
Merely Aladdin!
Just a con
Need I go on?
Take it from me
His personality flaws,
Give me adequate cause,
To send him packing on a one-way trip
So, his prospects take a terminal dip!
And all that remains
Is tied up and chained
For the rest of eternity!
So long!
Ex-Prince, Ali!
Kassim: Hail, your attention I crave
Oh ye people of Agrabah
This is your lucky day
Hail, high and low, great and small
Lucky people of Agrabah,
Someone's coming to call
(Take it away Babkak)
Babkak: Someone who tamed the cyclops
Then fought forty thieves single handed
He's richer than Krisos
Omar: He goes where he pleases
Kassim: And this time he's chosen your land
Oh, oh-woah
Your land
Uh come on!
(Nobody's coming)
Babkak, Omar & Kassim: So here he is now with his band!
Dancers: Make way for Prince Ali
Say hey, hey, hey!
It's Prince Ali
Say hey!
Genie: Hey! Clear the way in the old Bazaar
Hey you, let us through!
It's a bright new star, oh
Come be first on your block
To meet his eye!
Make way,
Here he comes!
Ring bells! Bang the drums!
Are you gonna love this guy!
Make way! (Make way)
Make way! (Make way)
Make way!
Prince Ali! Fabulous he!
Ali Ababwa
Genuflect, show some respect
Down on one knee!
Now, try your best to stay calm
Brush up your Sunday salaam
Then come and meet his spectacular coterie
Prince Ali!
Mighty is he!
Ali Ababwa
Strong as ten regular men, definitely!
(That's right boys)
He once slew seventy Turks,
Mustaches, Sabres, real jerks!
Who gave those bad guys the works?
Why, Prince Ali!
(Yes he did!)
Prince, prince Ali
Prince Ali
Prince, prince Ali
Prince Ali!
Female Singer: He's got seventy-five golden camels (Sing it mama!)
Purple peacocks, he's got fifty-three
Genie: When it comes to exotic-type mammals
Has he got a zoo? I'm telling you
It's a world-class menagerie
(long verse cut in recent performances)
Wow!
Prince Ali, wonderful he,
Ali Ababwa
He's essayed quite a parade
For you to see (he's essayed a parade)
So get on out in that street
Got someone I wantcha to meet
Come one start kissing the feet
Of Prince Ali!
Say hey, hey!
Hey, hey!
Hey to prince Ali!
(One more time!)
Say hey, hey!
Hey, hey!
Hey to prince Ali!
Ba-badabada
(Sounding good fellas)
Ba-badabada
(Hit me one more time)
Ba-badabada
[Over the top] There's no question this Ali's impressive
Ba-badabada
Though, his entourage might be excessive
Ba-badabada
All those elephants at once can quite unnerve one
Ba-badabada
Still, the man gives a parade new meaning
And the sight of all those peacocks preening
He's a prince without a peer
And we deserve one!
(rest of verse uncut throughout recent performances)
There's no question this Ali's alluring |
Prince Ali, handsome is he, |
He's got ninety-five white Persian monkeys
(He's got the monkeys, let's see the monkeys)
And to view them he charges no fee
(He's generous, so generous)
He's got slaves, he's got servants and flunkies
(Proud to work for him)
They bow to his whim (love serving him)
They're just lousy with loyalty to Ali!
Prince Ali!
Prince Ali!
Amorous he!
Ali Ababwa
Heard your princess was a sight (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
Lovely to see
And that, good people, is why
He got dolled up and dropped by
Chorus: With sixty elephants, llamas galore
With his bears and lions
A brass band and more
With his forty fakirs, his cooks, his bakers
His birds that warble on key
Make way for Prince...
Prince Ali!
Say hey to Prince Ali! (Prince Ali)
Say hey, hey, hey to Prince Ali!
Badabadaba bow!
Badabadaba ba ba ba badow!
Sultan:
Hail! Your attention I pray
Oh, ye people of Agrabah!
This is our lucky day!
(spoken)
My noble subjects, Princess Jasmine has chosen Prince Ali to be her husband and our next Sultan!
Go, cry from the highest mountain tops
Rejoice, raise your voice
Pull out all the stops!
At last, we've a prince who should be glorified!
Ring bells, throw rice
Bang drums, bang them twice!
Ali's gonna wed his bride...!
Ensemble:
Prince Ali, yes it is he
Ali Ababwa
Favorite son, second to none
Obviously
Sultan:
Who made Her Majesty swoon
Who had her changing her tune
And not a moment too soon
Ensemble:
He's Prince Ali!
Chorus: Make way for Prince Ali!
Say hey! It's Prince Ali!
Genie: Hey! Clear the way in the old bazaar
Hey you! Let us through! It's a brand new star!
Oh come, be the first on your block to meet his eye!
Make way! Here he comes!
Ring bells! Bang the drums!
You're gonna love this guy!
Prince Ali! Fabulous he!
Ali Ababwa
Show some respect, boy, genuflect, down on one knee!
Now, try your best to stay calm
Brush up your Friday salaam
Then come and meet his spectacular coterie
Prince Ali! Mighty is he!
Ali Ababwa
Strong as ten regular men, definitely!
He's faced the galloping hordes
A hundred bad guys with swords
Who sent those goons to their lords?
Why, Prince Ali!
Fellas, he's got...
Men: He's got seventy-five golden camels
Genie: Woo, uh-huh! Now the ladies, what he got?
Women: Purple peacocks, he's got fifty-three
Genie: Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh!
When it comes to exotic-type mammals
Everybody help me out!
Chorus: He's got a zoo
I'm telling you, it's a world-class menagerie
Genie: Prince Ali! Handsome is he, |
Harem Girls: There's no question this Ali's alluring |
Chorus: He's got ninety-five white Persian monkeys
Genie: He got the monkeys, a bunch of monkeys
Chorus: And to view them he charges no fee
Women: He's generous, so generous
Chorus: He's got ten-thousand servants and flunkies
Proud to work for him!
They bow to his whim love serving him
They're just lousy with loyalty to Ali! Prince Ali!
Prince A-
Genie: We're waiting for you! We're not going 'til you go! You can do it! There it is!
Everyone:
Prince Ali!
Amorous he! Ali Ababwa
Genie: Heard your princess was hot! Where is she?
And that, good people, is why he got all cute and dropped by
Chorus: With sixty elephants, llamas galore (Genie: For real!?)
With his bears and lions, a brass band and more (Genie: What?)
With his forty fakirs, his cooks, his bakers
His birds that warble on key
Genie and Chorus: Make way for Prince Ali!
Make way for Prince Ali!
Say hey! It's Prince Ali!
Prince Ali! Handsome is he,
Ali Ababwa
That physique! How can I speak?
Weak at the knee!
Well, get on out in that square
Adjust your veil and prepare
To gawk and grovel and stare at Prince Ali!
He's got ninety-five white Persian monkeys
(He's got the monkeys,
let's see the monkeys)
And to view them he charges no fee
(He's generous, so generous)
He's got slaves, he's got servants and flunkies
Proud to work for him
They bow to his whim,
love serving him
They're just lousy with loyalty to Ali!
Prince Ali!
(instrumental)
Prince Ali! Amorous he!
Ali Ababwa
Heard your princess was a sight lovely to see
And that, good people, is why,
he got dolled up and dropped by
With sixty elephants, llamas galore
With his bears and lions
A brass band and more
With his forty fakirs,
his cooks and bakers
His birds that warble on key
Make way
For Prince Ali!
Make way for Prince Ali!
Say hey! It's Prince Ali!
Hey! Clear the way in the old Bazaar
Hey you! Let us through! It's a bright new star!
Oh come! Be the first on your block to meet his eye!
Make way! Here he comes!
Ring bells! Bang the drums!
Are you gonna love this guy?!
Prince Ali! Mighty is he!
Ali Ababwa
Strong as ten regular men,
definitely!
He faced the galloping hordes
A hundred bad guys with swords
Who sent those goons to their lords?
Why, Prince Ali!
He's got seventy-five golden camels (Genie: Watch where you step!)
Purple peacocks, he's got fifty-three (Genie: Who couldn't be proud of it?
When it comes to exotic-type mammals (Genie: Why mammals?)
Has he got a zoo?
I'm telling you,
It's a world-class menagerie
Prince Ali!
Prince Ali! Amorous he!
Ali Ababwa
Heard your princess was a sight lovely to see
And that, good people, is why,
he got dolled up and dropped by
With sixty elephants, llamas galore
With his bears and lions
A brass band and more
With his forty fakirs,
his cooks, his bakers
His birds that warble on key
Make way
For Prince Ali!
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- This was one of the last songs written by the late Howard Ashman. Tim Rice wrote the lyrics to its reprise which is not featured in the 2019 live-action remake.
- When the golden camels are mentioned, the Genie imitates a Thanksgiving Day parade commentator saying, "Don't they look lovely, June?" This was in reference to June Lockhart, who was a commentator for the CBS Thanksgiving Day Parade for five years in the 1970s. And when Genie says, "Fabulous, Harry, I love the feathers", this is a possible reference to journalist Harry Reasoner, who did the same duties for the ABC Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- This song was included on the tapes Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Circle of Life and Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Collection of All-Time Favorites: The Modern Classics. It was also included in the video game Just Dance 2014.
- In the Toronto production of the stage musical, the song pretty much followed the same arrangement as the film. When it played in Seattle, it was changed to a big band arrangement, which is what is heard in the current version.
- The live-action version has some lyrics changed in order to delete any reference to slavery.
- The phrase "brush up your Sunday Salam" was replaced by "Brush up your Friday Salam" in the live-action version, most likely due to Friday being the holy day of the week in Islam.
- The song mentions llamas, an animal not found in the Middle East but in South America.
- A MIDI version of the song is also used (most likely without permission) in the Indonesian-made mockbuster film Ali Baba and the Gold Raiders.
- In the live-action/animated hybrid Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers film, Pete from the Mickey Mouse universe is shown to be wearing Aladdin's Prince Ali attire during the filming of a bootleg version of the animated Aladdin film.
