"To Be Free" is a song from Disney's franchise Aladdin, written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. It is the leitmotif for the Genie, though it was initially meant to be a ballad sung by the Genie in addition to "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali". Rather than have Genie sing a truthfully somber song, let alone three times almost back-to-back, the lyrics were cut, but the melody and abridged orchestrations remained, and appear on the film's soundtrack, also under the title "To Be Free." It would emphasize Genie’s desire to be free from his lamp after being trapped for so long. This was later incorporated into spoken dialogue after he and Aladdin escape the Cave of Wonders and stop at an oasis.
Lyrics[]
Lucky bird inside a gilded cage
Golden words spoke by an ancient sage
Everything you may have in life
Still, all you hold is dust
Must I yearn forever to be free?
Free to climb a tree and ponder
Free to wander
There's no desire I hold fonder
Than to be, simply me, to be free
How ungrateful is this lucky bird
Spurning privilege for one simple word
Freedom to stretch these golden wings
Freedom to touch the sky
Why one would ask would she want to be
Free to throw away a treasure
Born with pleasure
I'd sacrifice riches beyond measure
Just a girl, with a boy
What a perfect fantasy
To find love, to feel joy
To be really free
Trivia[]
- Though the song and concept was cut from the film, it would later find new life and be expanded in various spin-offs. The song and theme would appear in such media as Disney On Ice spectaculars, and Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular, as a musical theme and song for Jasmine, the song was given new lyrics by Alan Menken.
