Beyond My Wildest Dreams

broadway broadway demo songs and story

Although Ariel has become a voiceless human, she gets to express her feelings through song, and here in "Beyond My Wildest Dreams" she shares her joy and excitement at finally being able to explore the human world up close, after having spent so long dreaming about its wonders. This is the song I personally have been waiting for, for although I love the movie exactly the way it is, a small disappointment I've always had is that they don't show much of Ariel's response to being in the human world. This song is my favourite of Sierra's performances on the Broadway cast album, because her glee is palpable and infectious.

Interestingly, this song builds on a motif featured in the original film's soundtrack. It's used a few times in the film, and you can hear it in the scene where Eric finds Ariel on the shore, when Ariel uses the dinglehopper in front of Eric and Grimsby, and when Scuttle flies to Ariel's bedroom to wake her up with the news that Eric is getting married.

Ariel:
Oh, just look!
It's like I'm in a storybook
Oh, it's bliss!
I dreamed that it would be somewhat
But not like this

Look over there
Oh my god, how very odd
And what might they be?
Something splendid, maybe

Look over here
Could you bust?
Isn't it just bedazzling
Dazing
Utterly amazing
Gazing round
It's like to die

Just seeing it feels so good
I'd scream if I only could

I'd hoped and wished and wanted so to be here
Wished and prayed and planned it to a tee
Prayed, and wow! Just look, it's really me here
Walking around, strange as it seems
Somewhere beyond my wildest dreams

Maid 1:
Look at her there
Looking round, won't make a sound

Maid 2:
Just keeps on gawking
Weird how she's not talking

Maid 3:
Look at her stare

Maid 4:
Lucky miss
Toe's in like this
To stay for dinner

Maid 5:
What does he see in her?

Carlotta:
Hush now girls, she's simply shy

Maids:
Hmph, just picture the table chat One-sided if even that

Ariel:
I'd hope and wished and wondered what I'd do here
Wished and prayed, and pictured what I'd see
Prayed and wow! My prayers are coming true here
Look at it all, look how it gleams
Lovely beyond my wildest dreams

Look, it's him
So handsome and refined and slim
Sweet, sincere
Magnificent from head to toe
And oh

I'd hoped and wished my life would feel enchanted
Wished and prayed the fates would hear my plea
Prayed and wow, my prayers are more than granted

Look at it all
Hall after hall
Perfect as you could please, here
Marvels galore
And even more
Gee, did I mention he's here?

And who knows
All of it goes
Past even these extremes
Just look at me
And you will see
Someone beyond her wildest dreams

This earlier demo of the Broadway song isn't that different from the final version, besides that Ariel is singing by herself throughout and has an extra verse. To me, this is the song where Kerry Butler's sweetness really shines.

Ayana Haviv sings a cover of "Beyond My Wildest Dreams" that's very close to the version on the Original Broadway cast recording (only with the maids' bits taken out) for the album "Songs and Story".