Lyric Love: We Can’t Stop Singing “Speechless”

We loved every. single. thing. about Disney’s new live-action Aladdin movie, but one of the highlights that really wrapped itself around our hearts was Jasmine’s new song “Speechless.” We literally left the theater singing it… or trying to anyway. Here are the complete lyrics, along with a great behind-the-scenes video of the song’s filming, so you can belt it out in your bedroom or car or heck, even in public, at your will.

The Story Behind “Speechless”

The song was inspired by a single line from the original 1992 animated movie when Jafar says to Jasmine, “Speechless, I see. A fine quality in a wife!” In updating the story, producers wanted a solo song for Jasmine like Elsa’s “Let It Go,” and decided that her reclaiming her voice and her power was the most important theme.

Of the song, Jasmine actress Naomi Scott told Digital Spy, “Everyone can relate to the idea of being shut down. I think the message is so powerful, the idea that she’s not going to go speechless and you do have a voice and you should speak up against injustice.”

“Speechless” is an entirely new song created just for the movie. Jasmine does have a new solo in the Aladdin Broadway production, “These Palace Walls,” but it talks about her wanting to escape the prison of her life, rather than focusing on how she will tear the walls down herself. The song was written by original Aladdin composer Alan Menken, along with Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the songwriting duo behind Dear Evan Hansen and La La Land.

Fun fact: the first verse, when Jasmine sings the line: “Swallowing sand, left with nothing to say,” is a reference to a scene in the original cartoon when Jasmine is locked inside a giant, magical hourglass that fills with sand threatening to kill her. The scene isn’t in the new movie, perhaps because it includes Jasmine dressed in a red “slave” outfit trying to seduce Jafar before he realizes she’s faking it. We’re delighted modern Jasmine doesn’t have to use anything but her brain and her bravery to get ahead!

“Speechless” Full Lyrics

Here comes a wave meant to wash me away
A tide that is taking me under
Swallowing sand, left with nothing to say
My voice drowned out in the thunder

But I won’t cry
And I won’t start to crumble
Whenever they try
To shut me or cut me down

I won’t be silenced
You can’t keep me quiet
Won’t tremble when you try it
All I know is I won’t go speechless
‘Cause I’ll breathe
When they try to suffocate me
Don’t you underestimate me
‘Cause I know that I won’t go speechless

Written in stone
Every rule, every word
Centuries old and unbending
“Stay in your place”
“Better seen and not heard”
But now that story is ending

‘Cause I,
I cannot start to crumble
So come on and try
Try to shut me and cut me down

I won’t be silenced
You can’t keep me quiet
Won’t tremble when you try it
All I know is I won’t go speechless, speechless
Let the storm in
I cannot be broken
No, I won’t live unspoken
‘Cause I know that I won’t go speechless

Try to lock me in this cage
I won’t just lay me down and die
I will take these broken wings
And watch me burn across the sky
Hear the echo saying:

I won’t be silenced
Though you wanna see me tremble when you try it
All I know is I won’t go speechless, speechless
‘Cause I’ll breathe
When they try to suffocate me
Don’t you underestimate me
‘Cause I know that I won’t go speechless

Official “Speechless” Video

What’s your favorite Disney song?

1 Comment

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