☝️ Key Points
- The human tendency to see the grass on the other side as greener is highlighted, especially through the desire of the mermaid Ariel to discover the human world.
- The beauty and joys of life under the sea are contrasted with the difficulties and hardships of life on land.
- Criticism of human greed and disregard for nature is addressed, particularly in relation to the dangers faced by sea creatures due to humans.
- The community and joy expressed through music and dance are portrayed as a balance to all the problems of life in the sea.
Interpretation
The song 'Under the Sea' from the Disney movie 'The Little Mermaid' is a cheerful and catchy song that celebrates the wonders and joys of life under the sea. The main message of the song is that life under the sea, despite all the obvious disadvantages, is happier, more relaxed, and worry-free than life on land.
At the beginning of the song, there is a reference to the curiosity and desire of the mermaid Ariel to explore the human world, even though she already lives in a beautiful underwater world. With the lines 'The seaweed is always greener / In somebody else's lake. / You dream about going up there, / But that is a big mistake.', the classic human tendency to find the grass greener on the other side is highlighted, only to ultimately realize that one's own home may not be so bad.
The chorus 'Under the sea, under the sea! / Darling, it's better / Down where it's wetter / Take it from me.' and other similar passages emphasize the beauty and joy that life under the sea offers, in contrast to the difficulties and hardships of life on land.
Another important message of the song is the criticism of human greed and disregard for nature, which is expressed in the lines 'Nobody beat us, fry us and eat us / In fricassee. / We what the land folks love to cook / Under the sea.' These lines show the dangers that sea creatures face from humans.
At the end of the song, the joy and happiness that sea creatures feel through music and dance are highlighted. These passages suggest that, despite all the problems that life under the sea can bring, the community and joy that bring sea creatures together can outweigh all the difficulties.