Aladdin Lyrics – All Songs from the Musical

“Aladdin Lyrics” – Soundtrack Guide & Song Meanings

Review

How can a fairy tale feel both ancient and aggressively Broadway?

That is the Aladdin trick, and it mostly works.

The lyrics chase one question, who gets to choose their life.

Aladdin steals bread, but he also steals a future.

Jasmine lives in velvet, but her words fight for oxygen.

The score speaks in classic musical comedy grammar, then pivots into pop romance.

Menken writes hooks that land like punchlines, then return as character proof.

Ashman and Rice keep the rhymes clean, and the stakes personal.

Beguelin’s added lyrics lean modern, and keep the jokes moving.

Even the opening number tells you the rules, fast.

The show loves meta humor, but it never abandons the heart beats.

Its core is an “I want” engine, with two people wanting opposite freedoms.

How It Was Made

The Broadway version opened March 20, 2014, after previews from February 26.

It plays at the New Amsterdam Theatre, and it is still running.

The book is by Chad Beguelin, built from the film’s spine.

Beguelin first chose Aladdin as a licensing assignment, not a Broadway bet.

Then Alan Menken asked to meet, with a clear mission.

Menken wanted more Howard Ashman material restored for the stage story.

That meant “lost” songs returning, but with new dramatic wiring.

Toronto previews forced hard rewrites, especially for Jasmine’s first solo.

“Call Me a Princess” failed, and the room searched for empathy.

Beguelin describes Menken finding a new melody in a hotel room.

That became “These Palace Walls,” Jasmine’s Act I desire in plain language.

The rewrite made her less cute, and more cornered.

The cast album arrived fast, digitally on May 27, 2014.

The physical release followed on June 17, 2014.

Key Tracks & Scenes

“Arabian Nights” (Genie)

The Scene:

Lights snap on like a marquee. The Genie hosts, grinning. Agrabah floods the stage in gold.

Lyrical Meaning:

This is a contract with the audience. The lyrics sell place, plot, and attitude in one breath.

“One Jump Ahead” (Aladdin)

The Scene:

Bright market light, fast footwork, guards closing in. He runs, jokes, and dodges, never stopping.

Lyrical Meaning:

He narrates survival as sport. The rhyme turns hunger into charisma, and guilt into swagger.

“Proud of Your Boy” (Aladdin)

The Scene:

The crowd clears. A softer pool of light finds him. The melody slows, and he speaks upward.

Lyrical Meaning:

This is the show’s moral center. He wants worth, not wealth, and he knows he keeps failing.

“These Palace Walls” (Jasmine)

The Scene:

Cold palace light, perfect lines, perfect manners. Jasmine sings against the décor like it is armor.

Lyrical Meaning:

She names captivity without begging for rescue. The lyric flips luxury into a cage with rules.

“A Million Miles Away” (Aladdin, Jasmine)

The Scene:

Night colors soften the square. Two strangers talk like friends. The city noise fades behind them.

Lyrical Meaning:

They bond through parallel loneliness. The language is about distance, and the distance is class.

“Friend Like Me” (Genie)

The Scene:

The lamp erupts in light. The stage becomes a nightclub. Tap rhythms and bursts of fire sell the pitch.

Lyrical Meaning:

It is a sales song with teeth. The lyrics promise power, but also reveal the Genie’s need to please.

“Prince Ali” (Genie, Company)

The Scene:

Trumpets, banners, and whip-fast costume swaps. The parade is pure spectacle. Aladdin rides his new lie.

Lyrical Meaning:

The rhyme is propaganda. The lyric builds a myth in real time, and dares the court to believe it.

“A Whole New World” (Aladdin, Jasmine)

The Scene:

The carpet lifts into dark blue. The city turns into stars. Their voices slow the evening down.

Lyrical Meaning:

They sing permission into existence. The words are simple, but the promise is radical for both.

Live Updates

As of January 2026, Aladdin is still running on Broadway.

Playbill lists 4,262 performances as of January 4, 2026.

Official ticket dates are posted through June 2026.

The official Broadway cast list includes Ainsley Melham as Aladdin.

Michael James Scott leads as Genie, with Sonya Balsara as Jasmine.

Dennis Stowe plays Jafar, with the trio restoring Aladdin’s street-family energy.

North American touring had a second run from October 2022 to May 12, 2024.

Internationally, Tokyo has Aladdin scheduled through June 30, 2026.

South Korea’s first run opened November 22, 2024, in Seoul.

It later moved to Busan as part of that Korean engagement.

The show keeps evolving through casting, but the lyric map stays steady.

Notes & Trivia

• The musical opened on Broadway March 20, 2014, after previews from February 26.
• Playbill cites over 150,000 pyrotechnic hits during “Friend Like Me.”
• “Prince Ali” drives over a quarter million quick changes, per Playbill.
• Playbill notes 950 pounds of custom glitter for the Genie’s signature sparkle.
• The show hit its 4,000th Broadway performance on May 17, 2025.
• IBDB lists five Tony nominations in 2014, with a win for James Monroe Iglehart.
• The cast album released digitally May 27, 2014, via Walt Disney Records.

Reception

Critics in 2014 praised the craft, and argued about the risk level.

Some wanted sharper bite in the book, and less polish in the jokes.

Others admired the old-school muscle, and the crowd control.

In 2025, Playbill framed the production as a long-run engine, not a novelty.

The lyrics now read like the show’s real special effect, durable and repeatable.

“It’s perhaps the most old-school of the company’s screen-to-stage adaptations since Beauty and the Beast.”

“For Aladdin, Disney’s team builds on the take-no-chances lessons to guarantee a quality hit.”

Technical Info

• Composer: Alan Menken.
• Lyricists: Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, plus additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin.
• Premiere Date: February 26, 2014, first preview on Broadway.
• Official Opening: March 20, 2014.
• Genre: Musical comedy, Broadway pastiche, romantic ballad pop.
• Current Rights Holder: Disney Theatrical Productions.

FAQ

Is there an original Broadway cast recording?

Yes. It released digitally on May 27, 2014, via Walt Disney Records.

Which songs were restored or added for the stage?

“Proud of Your Boy” and “Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim” return from cut film material.

Who wrote the lyrics for the stage version?

Howard Ashman and Tim Rice provide the core lyrics, with additions by Chad Beguelin.

Is the show kid friendly, and how long is it?

It is recommended for ages 6 and up, and runs about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Is Aladdin still playing in 2026?

Yes on Broadway, with tickets listed through June 2026 on the official site.

Key Contributors

Sources: Playbill, IBDB, Official Aladdin The Musical Site, New York Theatre Guide, Broadway.com, Broadway League, Shiki Theatre Company, Korea.net.