You know the feeling. The brass section kicks in with that bombastic, royal fanfare, and suddenly you’re marching through the streets of Agrabah. It’s loud. It’s chaotic. It is, quite frankly, one of the greatest character introductions in cinema history. When we talk about the lyrics for Prince Ali, we aren't just talking about a catchy tune from a 1992 Disney flick. We’re talking about the swan song of Howard Ashman, a man who basically saved Disney animation before his tragic death.
He was a genius.
Most people just hum along to the "Make way for Prince Ali" part, but if you actually sit down and look at the wordplay, it’s insane. Ashman, along with composer Alan Menken, used this song to do something very specific: they turned a lie into a spectacle. The lyrics aren’t just praising a prince; they are selling a fake persona. Every rhyme is a brick in the wall of Aladdin's new, fabricated identity.
The Genius Behind the Lyrics for Prince Ali
Howard Ashman was dying while he wrote these lines. Think about that for a second. While he was physically wasting away from complications of AIDS, he was writing some of the most energetic, hilarious, and vibrant lyrics ever put to film. He didn't live to see the final version of Aladdin, but his DNA is in every syllable.
The song is structured as a "patter song," a style popularized by Gilbert and Sullivan. It’s fast. It’s wordy. It requires a performer—originally the incomparable Robin Williams—to juggle accents and personas at breakneck speed.
Honestly, the sheer volume of "stuff" mentioned in the song is meant to overwhelm. You’ve got seventy-five golden camels, purple peacocks, and a literal menagerie. The lyrics use hyperbole to distract the citizens of Agrabah (and the audience) from the fact that this "Prince" was a street rat ten minutes ago.
Why the "Brush up your Sunday Salaam" line matters
There is a specific line in the lyrics for Prince Ali that always sticks out to me: "Brush up your Sunday salaam." It’s weird, right? Salaam is a greeting, but "Sunday" doesn't really fit the setting of an Islamic-inspired city.
Ashman did this on purpose.
He loved mixing high-brow Broadway sensibilities with anachronistic jokes. It bridges the gap between the mythical setting and the modern audience. It’s the same reason the Genie mentions "Saturday night" in "Friend Like Me." These lyrics aren't trying to be historically accurate; they are trying to be entertaining. They want you to feel the frantic, slightly desperate energy of the Genie trying to make Aladdin look legit.
Comparing the 1992 Original and the 2019 Remake
When Will Smith took over the role for the live-action remake, people were nervous. How do you follow Robin Williams? You don't. You do your own thing.
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The lyrics for Prince Ali remained largely the same in the 2019 version, but the vibe shifted. While Williams’ version was a chaotic one-man show, Smith’s version felt more like a grand hip-hop parade.
Interestingly, there were some subtle tweaks to the lyrics over the years for various reasons. In some versions of the soundtrack, lines have been cleaned up to be more culturally sensitive. For instance, the original 1992 theatrical release of Aladdin had a controversial line in the opening song "Arabian Nights" that was changed for home video. While "Prince Ali" didn't face the same level of scrutiny, the way it’s performed today often emphasizes the spectacle over the "Orientalist" tropes of the early 90s.
- The Original: Fast, manic, filled with dozens of different character voices.
- The Remake: Slower tempo, more focus on the visual scale, and a "Big Willie Style" charisma.
- The Broadway Show: Features even more ensemble singing and literal "showstopper" choreography.
The Wordplay You Probably Missed
Let's look at the rhyme scheme. Ashman was a master of the internal rhyme.
"He's got the monkeys! Let's see the monkeys!"
That’s the simple stuff. But then you get: "He faced the galloping hordes / A hundred bad guys with swords / Who sent those goons to their lords? / Why, Prince Ali!"
It’s rhythmic. It’s punchy. It’s easy to memorize because the rhymes land exactly where your brain expects them to, yet the imagery—goons being sent to their "lords"—is just sophisticated enough to not feel like a "kids' song."
And then there's the humor. "Adjust your veil / Prepare to gawk and grovel and gaze at Prince Ali!" The alliteration of the "G" sounds creates a stuttering, excited effect. You can almost feel the crowd pushing forward.
The Narrative Function of the Song
In musical theater, a song should always move the plot forward. It shouldn't just be a "break" from the story.
The lyrics for Prince Ali serve a massive narrative purpose. They establish the power of the Genie. Up until this point, we’ve seen the Genie do some tricks in a cave. But here, he rewrites reality on a city-wide scale. He creates an army, a zoo, and a history for a man who doesn't exist.
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The lyrics also highlight Aladdin’s discomfort. While the Genie is singing about how "world-class" and "fabulous" he is, Aladdin is just sitting on top of an elephant looking terrified. The contrast between the boastful lyrics and the protagonist's actual state of mind is where the comedy lives.
Cultural Impact and Global Translations
Because Aladdin was a global phenomenon, these lyrics have been translated into dozens of languages. It’s a nightmare for translators. How do you keep the rhyme "Ali Ababwa" and "Generous, so is he" in French or Japanese?
In the French version ("Prince Ali"), the lyrics maintain that same bouncy rhythm, focusing on the "extraordinaire" nature of the character. In every language, the core remains: he is big, he is wealthy, and you should be impressed.
It’s a song about branding.
In a way, "Prince Ali" is the first great "influencer" anthem. He arrives with a pre-packaged image, a list of assets, and a hype man (the Genie) who refuses to let anyone see the "real" person behind the curtain. It’s meta. It’s smart. It’s why we’re still dissecting it in 2026.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
People often think Robin Williams ad-libbed the whole thing.
Not true.
While Robin certainly added his own flair, "growls," and "noises," he stuck very closely to Ashman's written lyrics. The structure was too precise to mess with. If you change a line in a patter song, the whole thing falls apart like a house of cards. The "improv" feel was a testament to Williams' skill, but the foundation was pure, calculated songwriting.
Another misconception is that the song is "about" Aladdin. It’s not. It’s about the perception of Aladdin. Notice that Aladdin himself doesn't sing a single word during this number. He is a silent prop in his own parade. This sets up the third act of the movie, where he has to realize that the "Prince Ali" persona is a cage.
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Why the Song Ranks So High in the Disney Canon
There’s a reason this song is always on the "Best Disney Songs" lists. It’s the energy. It’s the fact that it manages to be a comedy number and a grand anthem at the same time.
If you look at modern Disney songs—think Frozen or Encanto—you can see the influence. Lin-Manuel Miranda has openly talked about how Howard Ashman influenced his style. The fast-paced, information-dense lyrics in songs like "We Don't Talk About Bruno" owe a huge debt to the path blazed by the lyrics for Prince Ali.
It’s about the "I Want" song being turned on its head. Usually, the hero sings about what they want. Here, the sidekick sings about what the hero should want to be.
How to Master the "Prince Ali" Energy in Your Own Performance
If you’re looking to perform this—maybe at karaoke or for a theater audition—the secret isn't in hitting the notes perfectly. It’s in the breath control.
- Focus on the consonants. The "P" in Prince, the "B" in Ababwa. Make them pop.
- Change your voice for the "crowd" parts. When the lyrics shift to the old men or the young ladies, lean into those caricatures.
- Don't rush the ending. The "Prince Aliiiiiiiii!" finale needs to be earned.
The lyrics for Prince Ali are a masterclass in storytelling through song. They are dense, funny, and deeply cynical if you look at them from Jafar’s perspective, yet utterly joyous from the perspective of the kids in the audience. That’s the magic of Ashman. He could write for everyone at once.
To really appreciate the craft, listen to the "Demo" versions available on the Aladdin Special Edition soundtracks. You can hear Howard Ashman himself singing the lyrics, playing all the parts, and providing the blueprint for what would become an immortal piece of pop culture history. It’s a bittersweet experience, knowing he never saw the finished animation, but his voice—through these words—is literally louder than a hundred bad guys with swords.
Next time you hear it, don't just listen to the melody. Listen to the story being sold to you. It’s a brilliant, glittering lie, wrapped in some of the best rhymes ever put to paper.
Take Action: Analyze the Craft
To get the most out of this classic, try these steps:
- Listen to the Howard Ashman demo: Search for the "Prince Ali" demo tapes to hear the original intent behind every syllable.
- Read the lyrics without music: Strip away the brass and the drums. Notice the internal rhymes and the way the rhythm is built into the words themselves.
- Compare versions: Watch the 1992, 2019, and Broadway versions back-to-back to see how different performers interpret the same set of words to create different characters.