Friend Like Me

"**Friend Like Me**" is a song sung by Genie from *Disney's Aladdin.*

## Trivia

* The sound for the song was influenced by jive singer and bandleader Cab Calloway as well as jazz pianist Fats Waller. As Genie scats in the song, he is dressed up like Calloway.
* The song was nominated Academy Award For Best Original Song and was the late Howard Ashman's last nomination.
* At The Academy Awards, the song was performed by singer and dancer Nell Carter.
* On a Japanese CD called *V-Rock Disney*, an English cover of this song is performed by Nightmare, the same group that sang the opening theme for the *Death Note* anime.
* During the bit where Genie is dressed up as a French waiter, he orders a chicken and rice dish for Aladdin. He writes down the order in actual Farsi.
* Part of the beginning of the song is featured in the end of the song "Nothing In The World (Quite Like A Friend)", which is sung in the sequel.
* This song is the first completed animated sequence produced in Aladdin. Some of the character designs are slightly altered or simplified compared to later scenes to prove this. However, the animators knew that the speed of the movements and the craziness of the scene would easily distract audiences from this difference, so the scene wasn't remade to adjust the designs.
* During Jafar's death in the Sequel, it is audible a very brief dramatic version of this song.
* The melody for the song can be heard in the teaser for the Llive-Action Remake.
* The song is a dance party finale for the live action remake.
* The song was performed by Will Smith as the Genie, in the Live-Action Remake. The remake also features a rap version in the end credits by Smith and DJ Khaled.

## Lyrics

* Original Broadway Version
* 2022 Broadway Version
* 2022 Broadway Version (Onstage Version)

[GENIE]

(Scat fill) Can you give me a "bada-yada-yada"?

(Aladdin repeat)

Good! Scotty-wop

(Aladdin repeat)

Everybody! Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

(Audience repeat)

(Scat fill) Hit it!

Wah-wah-wah! (Oh my!)

Wah-wah-wah! (Oh no!)

Wah-wah wah!

Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves

Scheherazade had a thousand tales

But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves

You got a brand of magic never fails

You got some power in your corner now

Some heavy ammunition in your camp

You got some punch, pizzazz, yahoo and how

See all you gotta do is rub that lamp

And I'll say:

Mister Aladdin, sir

What will your pleasure be?

Let me take your order

Jot it down

You ain't never had a friend like me

No no no

Life is your restaurant

And I'm your maitre d'

C'mon whisper what it is you want

You ain't never had a friend like me

Yes sir

We pride ourselves on service

You're the boss

The king, the shah

Say what you wish

It's yours! True dish

How about a little more Baklava?

There it is

C'mon fellas, help me out

Have some of column "A"

Try all of column "B"

I'm in the mood to help you dude

You ain't never had a friend like me

Now watch me sell it

Wah-wah-wah! (Oh my!)

Wah-wah-wah! (Oh no!)

Wah-wah wah!

Can your friends do this?

Can your friends do that?

Can your friends pull this out their little hat?

Can your friends go, poof?

Well, looky here

Can your friends go, Abracadabra, let 'er rip

And then make the sucker disappear?

So doncha sit there slack jawed, buggy eyed

I'm here to answer all your midday prayers

You got me bona fide, certified

You got a genie for your chare d'affaires

I got a powerful urge to help you out

So what-cha wish? I really wanna know

You got a list that's three miles long, no doubt

Well, all you gotta do is rub like so

C'mon, yes

Mister Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three

I'm on the job, you big nabob

You ain't never had a friend like me

Can your friends do this?

No really, can they?

You're welcome

Or maybe, our lucky contestant

Would like to wish for a talent of fame

Welcome to, Dancing With The Scimitars

Grab Aladdin by the hand

Swing him 'round 'till he can't stand

Chicken in the baskets

Barrel in a tree

Never had a friend like me

I would like to bring the house down a little bit

Sing a few old classics

Couple of favourites of mine

I'll get back to you in a second

Thank you!

Tale as old as time

True as it can be

Barely even friends

Beauty and the...

Look at this stuff

Isn't it neat?

Wouldn't you think my collections complete?

Wouldn't you think I'm the genie who has everything?

And you'll never hear the wolf cry

To the blue corn moon

For whether we are white or copper skinned

I want adventure in the great wide

Ever just the same

Ever a surprise

Though he's sitting here

Watch Al disappear

Right before your eyes

Yes!

Can your friends do this?

Can your friends do that?

Can your friends do tap?

Can your friends do this?

Can your friends do that?

Can your friends go, Abracadabra, let 'er rip

Gimme a doggy bag, I'm takin' it home

Mister Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three

I'm on the job, you big nabob

You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend

You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend

You ain't never had a friend like me

You ain't never had a friend like me

**Genie:** (Scat fill) Can you give me a "bada-yada-yada"?

**Aladdin** *(repeat)***:** Bada-yada-yada

**Genie:** Good! Scotty-wop

**Aladdin** *(repeat)***:** Scotty-wop

**Genie:** Everybody! Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

**Audience:** Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

**Genie:** (Scat fill) Hit it!

Wah-wah-wah! (Oh my!)

Wah-wah-wah! (No, no!)

Wah-wah wah!

Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves

Scheherazade had a thousand tales

Well master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves

You got a brand of magic never fails

You got some power in your corner now

Some heavy ammunition in your camp

You got some punch, pizzazz, yahoo and how

See all you gotta do is rub that lamp

And I'll say

Mister Aladdin, sir

What will your pleasure be?

Let me take your order

Jot it down

You ain't never had a friend like me

No no no

Life is your restaurant

And I'm your maître d'

C'mon whisper what it is you want

You ain't never had a friend like me

Yes sir, we pride ourselves on service

You're the boss

The king, the shah

Say what you wish

It's yours! True dish

How about a little more Baklava?

"There it is! C'mon fellas, help me out!"

Have some of column "A"

Try all of column "B"

I'm in the mood to help you dude

You ain't never had a friend like me

"Now watch me sell it!"

Wah-wah-wah! (Oh my!)

Wah-wah-wah! (No, no!)

Wah-wah wah!

Can your friends do this?

Can your friends do that?

Can your friends pull this out their little hat?

Can your friends go, poof?

Well, looky here

Can your friends go, abracadabra, let 'er rip

Then make the sucker disappear?

So don't you sit there slack jawed, buggy eyed

I'm here to answer all your midday prayers

You got me bona fide, certified

You got a genie for your chargé d'affaires

I got a powerful urge to help you out

So whatcha wish? I really wanna know

You got a list that's three miles long, no doubt

Well, all you gotta do is rub like so

"Come on! Yes! And oh..."

Mister Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three

I'm on the job, you big nabob

You ain't never had a friend like me

Can your friends do this?

"No really... can they? You're welcome!"

"Or maybe, our lucky contestant would like to wish for a talent of fame? Welcome to 'Dancing With The Scimitars'!"

(instrumental interlude)

(country music)

Grab old Al by the hand

Swing him 'round 'till he can't stand

Chicken in a basket, sparrow on a tree

Never had a friend like me

(slow piano music)

"I'd like to bring the house down a little bit, sing a few old classics, couple of favorites of mine. I'll get back to you in a second! Thank you!"

(cue "Beauty and the Beast")

Tale as old as time

"Thank you, thank you very much."

True as it can be

Barely even friends

Beauty and the...

(cue "Part of Your World" melody)

Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?

Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?

Wouldn't you think I'm the Genie

Who has everything?

("Under the Sea" intro; then "Colors of the Wind" melody)

And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon

For whether we are white or copper skinned

("Belle (song)")

I want adventure in the great wide...

Ever just the same

Ever a surprise

Though he's sitting here

Watch Al disappear

Right before your eyes, oh

(instrumental interlude "Broadway Melody Ballet"; "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo"; "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes"; then "One Jump Ahead (Reprise 2)" melody)

**Aladdin** *(interlude)***:** Riffraff, street rat

Would they think that

If they look much closer

Still, I can't play a prince here, no, siree

They'd find out

There's so much more to me

("Proud Of Your Boy")

Proud of your boy

I'll make you proud of your boy

Believe me, bad as I've been, Ma

You're in for a pleasant surprise

I've wasted time

I've wasted me

So say I'm slow for my age

A late bloomer, Okay, I agree

That I've been one rotten kid

Some son, some pride and some joy

But I'll get over these lousin' up

Messin' up, screwin' up times

You'll see, Ma, now comes the better part

Someone's gonna make good

Cross some stupid heart

Make good and finally make you

Proud of your boy

Tell me that I've been a louse and loafer

You won't get a fight here, no ma'am

Say I'm a goldbrick, a good-off, no good

But that couldn't be all that I am

Water flows under the bridge

Let it pass, let it go

There's no good reason that you should believe me

Not yet, I know, but

Someday and soon

I'll make you proud of your boy

Though I can't make myself taller

Or smarter or handsome or wise

I'll do my best, what else can I do?

Since I wasn't born perfect like Dad or you

Mom, I will try to

Try hard to make you

Proud of your boy

("Friend Like Me")

**Genie:** "Yes!"

Can you friends do this?

Can you friends do that?

Can you friends do tap?

(instrumental interlude)

Can you friends do this?

Can you friends do that?

Can your friends go abracadabra, let 'er rip?

"Give me a doggy bag; takin' it home!"

Mister Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three

I'm on the job, you big nabob

You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend

(You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend)

You ain't never

(Never)

Had a

(Had a)

Friend like

(A friend like)

Me

Never had a friend like me

**Genie:** (Scat fill) Can you give me a "bada-yada-yada"?

**Aladdin** *(repeat)***:** Bada-yada-yada

**Genie:** Good! Scotty-wop

**Aladdin** *(repeat)***:** Scotty-wop

**Genie:** Everybody! Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

**Audience:** Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

**Genie:** (Scat fill) Hit it!

Wah-wah-wah! (Oh my!)

Wah-wah-wah! (Oh no!)

Wah-wah wah!

Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves

Scheherazade had a thousand tales

Well master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves

You got a brand of magic never fails

You got some power in your corner now

Some heavy ammunition in your camp

You got some punch, pizzazz, yahoo and how

See all you gotta do is rub that lamp

And I'll say

Mister Aladdin, sir

What will your pleasure be?

Let me take your order

Jot it down

You ain't never had a friend like me

No no no

Life is your restaurant

And I'm your maître d'

C'mon whisper what it is you want

You ain't never had a friend like me

Yes sir, we pride ourselves on service

You're the boss

The king, the shah

Say what you wish

It's yours! True dish

How about a little more Baklava?

"There it is! C'mon fellas!"

Have some of column "A"

Try all of column "B"

I'm in the mood to help you dude

You ain't never had a friend like me

"Now watch me sell it!"

Wah-wah-wah! (Oh my!)

Wah-wah-wah! (Oh no!)

Wah-wah wah!

Can your friends do this?

Can your friends do that?

Can your friends pull this out their little hat?

Can your friends go, poof?

Well, looky here

Can your friends go, abracadabra, let 'er rip

Then make the sucker disappear?

So don't you sit there slack jawed, buggy eyed

I'm here to answer all your midday prayers

You got me bona fide, certified

You got a genie for your chargé d'affaires

I got a powerful urge to help you out

So whatcha wish? I really wanna know

You got a list that's three miles long, no doubt

Well, all you gotta do is rub like so

"Come on! Yes! And oh..."

Mister Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three

I'm on the job, you big nabob

You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend

(You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend)

You ain't never

(Never)

Had a

(Had a)

Friend like

(A friend like)

Me

Can your friends do this?

"No really... can they? You're welcome!"

Can you friends do that?

(spoken instrumental interlude)

You ain't never had a friend like,

Never had a friend like

Never had a friend like me

**Audience:** Genie!

**Genie:** "Or maybe, our lucky contestant would like to wish for a talent of fame? Welcome to 'Dancing With The Scimitars'!"

(instrumental interlude)

(country music)

Grab old Al by the hand

Swing him 'round 'till he can't stand

Chicken in a basket, sparrow on a tree

Never had a friend like me

(slow piano music)

"I'd like to bring the house down a little bit, sing a few old classics, couple of favorites of mine. I'll get back to you in a second! Thank you!"

(cue "Beauty and the Beast")

Tale as old as time

"Thank you, thank you very much."

True as it can be

Barely even friends

Beauty and the...

(cue "Part of Your World" melody)

Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?

Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?

Wouldn't you think I'm the Genie

Who has everything?

("Go The Distance")

Like a shooting star,

I can go the distance

("Under the Sea" intro; then "Colors of the Wind" melody)

And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon

For whether we are white or copper skinned

("Belle (song)")

I want adventure in the great wide...

Ever just the same

Ever a surprise

Though he's sitting here

Watch Al disappear

Right before your eyes, so

("Friend Like Me")

"Yes!"

Can you friends do this?

Can you friends do that?

Can you friends do tap?

(instrumental interlude)

Can you friends do this?

Can you friends do that?

Can your friends go abracadabra, let 'er rip?

"Give me a doggy bag; takin' it home!"

**Audience:** Mister Aladdin, sir,

What will your pleasure be?

Let me take your order

Jot it down

C'mon whisper what it is you want

Mister Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three

I'm on the job, you big nabob

You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend

(You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend)

You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend

(You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend)

You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend

(You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend)

You ain't never

(Never)

Had a

(Had a)

Friend like

(A friend like)

Me

Never had a friend like me

## Info

* **SONG** - Friend Like Me
* **LENGTH** - 13:33
* **CHARACTERS** - Genie, Aladdin And Abu