Many 'The Little Mermaid' Lyrics Have Been Changed for Live Action Movie, Reason Why Explained (& New Songs Are Coming, Too!)

Alan Menken, who composed Disney’s most recognizable scores and songs, really enjoyed collaborating with Lin-Manuel Miranda on the live-action version of The Little Mermaid.

For the first song they worked on together, Alan said, “We discussed with [director] Rob Marshall what he wanted. One was the Prince Eric song, called ‘Wild Uncharted Waters.’ Then, there was the song for Ariel when she has her legs (doesn’t have a voice), and she’s singing her thoughts about all the firsts she is noticing for the first time.”

Alan added, “there was a number called ‘Scuttlebutt’ for Scuttle and Sebastian.”

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“It’s this harebrained [song for them] trying to figure out what’s going on because they hear rumors that the prince has decided to marry. They think it must be Ariel but of course it’s Ursula in the form of Vanessa. It’s all this delicious imagination. Lin‘s lyrics are to die for,” Alan told Vanity Fair.

Alan also revealed why some lyrics from the original The Little Mermaid have been upated. “There are some lyric changes in “Kiss the Girl” because people have gotten very sensitive about the idea that [Prince Eric] would, in any way, force himself on [Ariel].

“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,” he added.

Alan also shared whether the live-action will adapt songs from The Little Mermaid Broadway musical.

“There was a song, ‘Her Voice’ for the Broadway show. But Rob really wanted a new song for this moment of waves and all the wildness of what’s out there in the ocean. [Ariel] represented that to [Prince Eric]; she being the girl who saved his life.”

The live-action version of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey will be released in theaters May 26, 2023.

Last year, Lin-Manuel Miranda was announced to be cast in Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians.