This song is what Aladdin wishes he was instead of what he is. I saw some of the first DVD commentary, and I think the song is about Aladdin's interior riches. In real life, Aladdin could never make it with a princess, because he's poorer than dirt and that's not how things usually work out.
In the original story and in Disney's movie, the appeal is that Aladdin goes from zero to hero to zero to hero. Real life is like this, fortunes do rise and fall very quickly.
This is one of my favorite songs of all time for its smart lyrics, using really clever and complex words that post a challenge to little kids. I puzzled over these lyrics for years before I looked up all the odd words.
At some point near the end of the film, Aladdin learns some sort of lesson about being his real self and not Prince Ali. But a lot in movies like this is "Life is pain - anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something". The better lesson is that in real life, people should marry people of similar economic backgrounds and put a lot of work into setting up a lifelong marriage. What's more, in real life, princesses are only desirable to princes - as royalty and rich people are the most spoiled, selfish and mean people on the planet. What's more, when the power is shifted in favor of the wife from the get-go, it adds unnecessary stress to the equation. Better the man be richer, and better to not let your life be decided by emotions and undue familiarity.
This song is what Aladdin wishes he was instead of what he is. I saw some of the first DVD commentary, and I think the song is about Aladdin's interior riches. In real life, Aladdin could never make it with a princess, because he's poorer than dirt and that's not how things usually work out.
In the original story and in Disney's movie, the appeal is that Aladdin goes from zero to hero to zero to hero. Real life is like this, fortunes do rise and fall very quickly.
This is one of my favorite songs of all time for its smart lyrics, using really clever and complex words that post a challenge to little kids. I puzzled over these lyrics for years before I looked up all the odd words.
At some point near the end of the film, Aladdin learns some sort of lesson about being his real self and not Prince Ali. But a lot in movies like this is "Life is pain - anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something". The better lesson is that in real life, people should marry people of similar economic backgrounds and put a lot of work into setting up a lifelong marriage. What's more, in real life, princesses are only desirable to princes - as royalty and rich people are the most spoiled, selfish and mean people on the planet. What's more, when the power is shifted in favor of the wife from the get-go, it adds unnecessary stress to the equation. Better the man be richer, and better to not let your life be decided by emotions and undue familiarity.