Why Me?

"**Why Me?**" was a deleted song from *Aladdin*, written by Alan Menken and Tim Rice. It was to be sung by Jafar when he used Genie to turn into a sultan and a sorcerer, and then takes over Agrabah. The Aladdin Jr. musical restores it, but at a different moment: in this version, he sings it when he's *about* to finally get the lamp. Some lyrics are slightly altered because of this (for instance, *Who's the master of the lamp?* becomes *Who'll be master of the lamp?*).

## Lyrics

**Iago:** (speaking) Oooh, this has been a long time coming.

**Jafar:** (speaking) Oh, if only you knew, Iago. It's been a lifetime!…

(singing) In my formative and hungry years,

I was unappreciated by my peers…

As their slings and arrows flew,

I would ponder - wouldn't you? -:

"Why me? Why me?!"

**Iago:** (speaking) Sing it, baby!

**Jafar:** For a man of my charisma and mystique,

**Genie:** (speaking) NOT!

**Jafar:**I have taken far too long to reach my peak.

Why was my status never quo?

Why did no one want to know?

Poor me! Why me?!

Why was I so unable to fulfill my true potential?

**Iago:** (speaking) Give me a tissue, I'm crying!

**Jafar:** Kept down by those I knew were smaller fry…

…Inconsequential!

But here's the rub!

Rub-a-dub-dub!

(speaking) And now slave, grant me my first wish! I wish to be… SULTAN!

[Cut to outside Agrabah.]

**Sultan:** (speaking) Ladies and gentlemen, my daughter has finally chosen a suitor...Prince Ali Ababwa!

[Aladdin as Prince Ali rides Abu (still an elephant) out of the palace gates. Suddenly, the Sultan loses his clothes to Jafar.]

**Jasmine:** (speaking) Father?

**Aladdin:** (speaking) Jafar!

**Jafar:** (speaking) *Sultan* Jafar to you!

**Sultan:** (speaking) Uh ?… *(mumble)…* What manner of trickery is this, *Jafar*!?

**Jafar:** (speaking) No trickery, you rotund nincompoop !

(Singing) I am power, I am clout personified!

I've a genie and sheer malice on my side!

It's a combination which works me up to a favor pitch:

"Big G"… and ME!

**Aladdin:** (speaking) Genie, what are you doing!?

**Genie:** (speaking) Sorry kid. I've got a new master now.

**Jafar:** (speaking) You miserable wretches, *bow to me*!

**Aladdin:** (standing strong with his friends) We will never bow to you!

**Jafar:** (speaking) Then… you will cower! GENIE! My second wish... I wish--I wish to be the most powerful sorcerer… IN THE WORLD!!!! Har-har !

[Jafar becomes a sorcerer thanks to the Genie.]

**Jafar:** When the master of the lamp says "Bow"… you bow!

You forget who wears the pants around here now?

A man who knows just what to do, and who to do it to!

Who's he? M-E!

**Iago:** (cheering) Yes!

**Jafar:** And as for you, you little twerp, from now on, it's "as you were" time!

Let's have your pretty princess see how she's been wasting her time!

Let's strip him bare!

THERE'S NOTHING THERE!

(speaking after changing "Ali" back to Aladdin) Take a good look at your precious Prince Ali!

**Iago:** (speaking) Or should we say, Aladdin!

**Jafar:** (speaking) He's nothing more than a worthless, lying street rat!

**Jasmine:** (speaking) Ali!

**Aladdin:** (speaking) Jasmine, I'm sorry.

**Jafar:** Though I hate to break a partnership,

YOU'RE GOING ON A ONE-WAY TRIP…

**Iago:** (speaking) Bye-bye!

**Jafar:** …to a corner of the sphere…, not a million miles from here,

But two!

Too-loo!

Who's the titan!? Who's the champ?!

Who's the master of the lamp?!

Who's the one who'll take up *pages* in who's who?!

**Iago:** (cheering) Take it on home, Jafar!

**Jafar:** Who?!

…Why, MEEE!

[Jafar blasts Aladdin away and laughs evilly over his triumph.]

## Broadway version

**Jafar:** (speaking) Soon I'll have complete and unmiphgated power. And I might add... It's about time!

(singing) In my formative and hungry years,

I was unappreciated by my peers.

As their slings and arrows flew,

I would ponder - wouldn't you?

Why me? Why me?!

For a man of my charisma and mystique,

I have taken far too long to reach my peak.

Why was my status never quo?

Why did no one want to know?

Poor me! Why me?!

Why was I so unable to fulfill my true potential?

**Iago:** Potential.

**Jafar:** Kept down by those I knew were smaller fry,

Inconsequential!

**Iago:** Incose-

**Jafar:** But here's the rub!

**Both:** Rub-a-dub-dub!

**Iago:** (speaking) The cauldron! It's working boss!

**Jafar:** (speaking) And not a moment too soon.

(Singing) I'll be power, I'll be clout personified,

With a genie and sheer malice on my side!

**Iago:** It's a combination which, works you up to a favor pitch!

Big "G,"

**Jafar:** And me!

When the master of the lamp says, "Bow," they'll bow!

**Iago:** You'll be the man to whom they all cow town!

**Jafar:** A man who knows just what to do, and who to do it to.

**Iago:** Who's he?

**Jafar:** M-E!

**Both:** And princess dear, your time is up. Save your tears!

**Jafar:** Don't bother praying.

The time is up for daddy too,

**Both:** You lose!

but thanks for playing.

**Iago:** Your only prize,

**Jafar:** Somebody dies!

Soon I'll have that precious diamond in the rough!

**Iago:** Rough!

**Jafar:** And the blessed day can't come soon enough!

**Iago:** Enough!

**Jafar:** And once the kingdom starts to play, can we simply smile and say, teehee?

**Iago:** Mei oui!

**Both:** Who'll be titan?!

Who'll be champ?!

Who'll be master of the lamp?!

**Jafar:** Who's the one who'll take up pages in who's who?!

**Iago:** (cheering) Take it on home, Jafar!

**Iago:** Who?!

**Jafar:** Why MEEE!

**Iago:** Why ME!

Why ME!

Why ME!

## Trivia

* The instrumental at the beginning of the song is similar to another deleted musical number from Jafar, *Humiliate the Boy*, the last song written by Menken and the late Howard Ashman.
* An instrumental piece of this song was briefly used at the beginning of the film's theatrical trailer.

## Video

Why Me? - Unreleased Master from "Aladdin"