Belle (song)

"**Belle**" is a song written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken for Walt Disney Pictures' 30th animated feature film *Beauty and the Beast*. Originally recorded by actress Paige O'Hara and actor Richard White, "Belle" is a French and classical-inspired song that incorporates musical elements from both the Broadway and musical theatre genres. The film's first song, "Belle" is a large-scale operetta-style musical number that introduces the film's book-loving heroine Belle, a non-conforming young woman who has grown weary of the provincial village life that she is being forced to live, and Gaston who desires her hand in marriage.

## Lyrics

* Original
* Reprise

**Belle:**

Little town, it's a quiet village

Every day like the one before

Little town, full of little people

Waking up to say

**Ensemble:**

Bonjour! Bonjour!

Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour!

**Belle:**

There goes the baker with his tray, like always

The same old bread and rolls to sell

Every morning just the same

Since the morning that we came

To this poor, provincial town

**Monsieur Jean, *spoken*:**

*Good Morning, Belle!*

**Belle, *spoken*:**

*Good morning, Monsieur Jean*

*Have you lost something again?*

**Monsieur Jean, *spoken*:**

*Well, I believe I have*

*Problem is, I've—I can't remember what*

*Oh well, I'm sure it'll come to me*

*Where are you off to?*

**Belle:**

To return this book to Père Robert

It's about two lovers in fair Verona

**Monsieur Jean, *spoken*:**

*Sounds boring*

**Ensemble:**

Look there she goes, that girl is strange, no question

Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?

Never part of any crowd

'Cause her head's up on some cloud

No denying she's a funny girl that Belle

Bonjour! Good day! How is your family?

Bonjour! Good day! How is your wife?

I need six eggs! That's too expensive!

**Belle:**

There must be more than this provincial life!

**Pere Robert, spoken:**

Ahh, if it isn't the only bookworm in town!

So, where did you run off to this week?

**Belle, spoken:**

Two cities in Northern Italy

I didn't want to come back

Have you got any new places to go?

**Pere Robert, spoken:**

I'm afraid not...

But you may re-read any of the old ones that you'd like

**Belle, spoken:**

Your library makes our small corner of the world feel big

**Pere Robert, spoken:**

Bon voyage!

**Ensemble:**

Look there she goes, the girl is so peculiar

I wonder if she's feeling well

With a dreamy, far-off look

And her nose stuck in a book

What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle

**Belle:**

Oh, isn't this amazing?

It's my favourite part because—you'll see

Here's where she meets Prince Charming

But she won't discover that it's him 'til Chapter Three!

**Ensemble:**

Now it's no wonder that her name means "Beauty"

Her looks have got no parallel

But behind that fair facade

I'm afraid she's rather odd

Very diff'rent from the rest of us

She's nothing like the rest of us

Yes, diff'rent from the rest of us is Belle!

**Gaston, *spoken*:**

*Look at her, LeFou—my future wife*

*Belle is the most beautiful girl in the village*

*That makes her the best*

**LeFou, *spoken*:**

*But she's so... well-read!*

*And you're so... athletically inclined*

**Gaston, *spoken*:**

*Yes... But ever since the war, I've felt like I've been missing something. And she's the only girl that gives me that sense of—*

**LeFou, spoken**

*Mmm... je ne sais quoi?*

**Gaston, *spoken*:**

*I don't know what that means*

(sung)

Right from the moment when I met her, saw her

I said she's gorgeous and I fell

Here in town, there's only she

Who is beautiful as me

So I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle

**Ensemble:**

Look there he goes

Isn't he dreamy?

Monsieur Gaston

Oh, he's so cute!

Be still, my heart

I'm hardly breathing

He's such a tall, dark, strong and handsome brute!

**Woman 1:**

Bonjour!

**Gaston:**

Pardon

**Belle:**

Good day

**Woman 2:**

Mais oui!

**Woman 3:**

You call this bacon?

**Woman 4:**

What lovely flowers!

**Man 1:**

Some cheese

**Woman 5:**

Ten yards!

**Man 1:**

One pound

**Gaston:**

Excuse me

**Cheese merchant:**

I'll get the knife

**Gaston:**

Please let me through!

**Woman 6:**

This bread

**Woman 7:**

Those fish

**Woman 6:**

It's stale!

**Woman 7:**

They smell!

**Men:**

Madame's mistaken

**Women :**

Well, maybe so

**Belle:**

There must be more than this provincial life!

**Gaston:**

Just watch, I'm going to make Belle my wife!

**Ensemble:**

Look there she goes

That girl is strange but special

A most peculiar mademoiselle!

It's a pity and a sin

She doesn't quite fit in

'Cause she really is a funny girl

A beauty but a funny girl

She really is a funny girl

That Belle!

*Can you imagine? Me, the wife of that boorish, brainless...*

(sung)

Madame Gaston

Can't you just see it?

Madame Gaston

His little wife, ugh

No, sir! Not me!

I guarantee it

I want much more than this provincial life!

I want adventure in the great wide somewhere

I want it more than I can tell

And for once it might be grand

To have someone understand

I want so much more than they've got planned...

## Videos

Belle (From "Beauty and the Beast" Audio Only)Emma Watson - Belle (Reprise) (From "Beauty and the Beast" Audio Only)"Belle" Clip - Disney's Beauty and the Beast