Why Me?

"Why Me?" is a deleted song from the 1992 Disney animated film Aladdin. It was intended feature Jafar when he used Genie to become the sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. The song was again intended to appear in the musical based on the movie, this time being sung when Jafar was about to get the lamp, but it was again deleted for the final version.

The movie version was a solo performed by Jafar's voice actor, Jonathan Freeman. While the musical version was a duet between Freeman again as Jafar and Don Darryl Rivera as Iago (who in the original version only had spoken parts and no singing).

Lyrics

[Oooh, this has been a long time coming.]

[Oh, if only you knew, Iago. It's been a lifetime...!]

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?!"

[Sing it, baby!]

For a man of my charisma and mystique,
[NOT!]
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?
[Give me a tissue, I'm crying!]
Kept down by those I knew were smaller fry…
…Inconsequential!
But here's the rub!
Rub-a-dub-dub!

[And now slave, grant me my first wish! I wish to be… sultan!]

[Ladies and gentlemen, my daughter has finally chosen a suitor...Prince Ali Ababwa!]

[Father?]
[Jafar!]
[Sultan Jafar to you!]
[Uh ?… What manner of trickery is this, Jafar!?]
[No trickery, you rotund nincompoop!]

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!

[Genie, what are you doing!?]
[Sorry kid. I've got a new master now.]
[You miserable wretches, bow to me!]
[We will never bow to you!]
[Then… you will cower! Genie! My second wish... I wish--I wish to be the most powerful sorcerer… in the world!]

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!

[Yes!]

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!

[Take a good look at your precious Prince Ali!]
[Or should we say, Aladdin!]
[He's nothing more than a worthless, lying street rat!]

[Ali!]
[Jasmine, I'm sorry.]

Though I hate to break a partnership,
You're going on a one-way trip...
[Bye-bye!]
…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?!

[Take it on home, Jafar!]

Who?!
…Why, me!

[Soon I'll have complete and unmiphgated power. And I might add... It's about time!]

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?
Potential.
Kept down by those I knew were smaller fry,
Inconsequential!
Incose-

But here's the rub!
Rub-a-dub-dub!

[The cauldron! It's working boss!]
[And not a moment too soon.]

I'll be power, I'll be clout personified,
With a genie and sheer malice on my side!
It's a combination which, works you up to a favor pitch!
Big "G,"
And me!

When the master of the lamp says, "Bow," they'll bow!
You'll be the man to whom they all cow town!
A man who knows just what to do, and who to do it to.
Who's he?
M-E!

And princess dear, your time is up. Save your tears!
Don't bother praying.
The time is up for daddy too,
You lose! but thanks for playing.
Your only prize,
Somebody dies!

Soon I'll have that precious diamond in the rough!
Rough!
And the blessed day can't come soon enough!
Enough!
And once the kingdom starts to play, can we simply smile and say, teehee?
Mei oui!

Who'll be titan?!
Who'll be champ?!
Who'll be master of the lamp?!
Who's the one who'll take up pages in who's who?!
[Take it on home, Jafar!]

Who?!
Why me!
Why me! Why me! Why me!

Gallery

Images

Videos

Trivia

The song features some melodies and lyrics from the song that replaced it in the film, Prince Ali (Reprise).
During the song it can be heard an instrumental bit of another deleted song for Jafar: Humiliate the Boy.

Songs

Films
Prince Ali (Reprise) • I'm Looking Out for Me • Forget About Love • You're Only Second Rate • Welcome to the Forty Thieves • Are You In or Out?

Musical
Diamond in the Rough • Prince Ali (Reprise)

Deleted
Arabian Nights (Reprise 1) • Arabian Nights (Reprise 2) • Humiliate the Boy • Why Me? • My Finest Hour

Other
Friend Like Iago • Uh-Oa's Song

Songs

Disney Animated Films
A Special Sort of Death • Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee • I've Got No Strings • Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (Reprise) • The Coach to Pleasure Island • Night on Bald Mountain • Hit the Big Boss (For a Raise) • Pink Elephants on Parade • Man Returns • Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum • Headless Horseman • Sing, Sweet Nightingale • The Walrus and the Carpenter • 'Twas Brillig • Painting the Roses Red • March of the Cards • Who's Been Painting My Roses Red? • The Unbirthday Song (Reprise) • A Pirate's Life (Is a Wonderful Life) • A Pirate's Life (Reprise) • The Elegant Captain Hook • The Siamese Cat Song • Cruella De Vil • Mad Madam Mim • I Wanna Be Like You • Trust in Me • The Phony King of England • Heffalumps and Woozles • A Huntin' Man • The Horned King • The World's Greatest Criminal Mind • Goodbye, So Soon • Poor Unfortunate Souls • Les Poissons • Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise) • Home on the Range • Belle • Gaston • Gaston (Reprise) • The Mob Song • Prince Ali (Reprise) • Be Prepared • Stampede • The Virginia Company • The Virginia Company (Reprise) • Mine, Mine, Mine • Savages, Pt. 1 • Savages, Pt. 2 • The Bells of Notre Dame • Out There • Hellfire • Paris Burning • And He Shall Smite the Wicked • The Gospel Truth II • Perfect World • Kronk's Theme Music • The Firebird Suite • (You're The) Devil in Disguise • Yodel-Adle-Eedle-Idle-Oo • Friends on the Other Side • Friends on the Other Side (Reprise) • Healing Incantation • Mother Knows Best • Mother Knows Best (Reprise) • The Backson Song • March of the Winkies • Love is an Open Door • Wolves • Kakamora • Shiny • Know Who You Are • At All Costs • This Is The Thanks I Get?! • Knowing What I Know Now

Pixar Films
La Cucaracha • Kronos Unveiled • Rollin' in the Rearview • Songbird • Song of Mor'du • Remember Me • Much Needed Advice • La Llorona • Midnight, The Stars And You

Animated Sequels
I'm Looking Out for Me • Forget About Love • You're Only Second Rate • Welcome to the Forty Thieves • Are You In or Out? • Don't Fall in Love • Things Are Not What They Appear • My Lullaby • Not One of Us • Junkyard Society Rag • Here We Go Another Plan • Feel Like a Million • Aloha Oe • Jailhouse Rock • Perfectly Perfect • Just One Mistake • Bye Bye • Brother Betrayed

Other Animated Films
Everybody's Got A Laughin' Place • It's a "B" Movie • Cutting Edge • Worthless • Kidnap the Sandy Claws • Oogie Boogie's Song • Gloomius Maximus • I, Ivan Krank • Petey's King of France • Chains of Love • It's Our House Now • If I Ruled the World • Sidekicks and Henchmen • The Frigate That Flies • Alone on Halloween • Gwendolyn's Lament

Live Action Films
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 • We Won't Be Happy 'Till We Get It! • Castle In Spain • Fidelity Fiduciary Bank • The Happiest Home in These Hills • Passamaquoddy • Every Little Piece • Bill of Sale • Scrooge • Marley and Marley • When Love Is Gone • Come Little Children • I Put a Spell on You • Shiver My Timbers • A Professional Pirate • Secret of Survival • Little Girls • Easy Street • Little Girls (Reprise) • Bravo, Stromboli! • The Kraken • Davy Jones • Fabulous • North Pole, North Pole • Hello, Little Girl • Stay with Me • Agony • Last Midnight • Once Upon A Dream • My Jolly Sailor Bold • Mermaids • Rainbow Connection (Moopets Version) •Let's Talk About Me • I'm Number One • I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu) • Rotten to the Core • Evil Like Me • Evil • Ways to Be Wicked • What's My Name? • Chillin' Like a Villain • It's Goin' Down • What a Shame • Queen of Mean • Call Me Cruella • Sympathy for the Devil • One Way or Another • I Wanna Be Your Dog • Tie the Knot Tango • Shut It Down • The Coachman To Pleasure Island • The Witches Are Back • Behemooth • Ode to the Falling • Red • Love Ain't It • Perfect Revenge • All Is Fair • All Is Fair (Reprise)

Animated Series & Shorts
The Skeleton Dance • Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? • Der Fuehrer's Face • The Best of Everything • Fat Cat Stomp • Sky Pirates (TaleSpin) • The Lobster Mobster's Mob • The Beddy Bye Blues • You Wouldn't Want to Mess With Me (Part 1) • You Wouldn't Want to Mess With Me (Part 2) • Evil Lullaby • My Town • One Good Man • Yzmopolis • Boom-Da-Boom • Let's Slay The Beast • Mortimer Mouse • Rappin' Drakken • Cedric the Great • All You Desire • Helping Hand • A Kingdom of My Own • This Fliegel Has Landed • Wendell's Way • My Evil Dreams • My Power Will Be Crystal Clear • Get Wicked • On Your/My Own • Lord Dominator's Theme • Let the Pun Fit the Crime • Mandrake's Evil Jam • I'm the Bad Guy • Tonight We Strike • Jackal Style • Outta the Way • Panic and Run • Lions Over All • We'll Make You a Meal • Bring Back a Legend • I Have A Plan • Big Bad Kenge • We're the Smartest • Let Me Make You Proud • Let Me Make You Proud (Reprise) • Ready As I'll Ever Be • I'm Gonna Run This Dump • Li'l Ol' Me • Weirdmageddon Theme • We'll Meet Again • You Can't Catch Me • Don't Look Now • The Art of the Steal • We've Got Dance Power • Sky Pirates (DuckTales) • Sky Pirates (Reprise) (DuckTales) • Decay Incantation • Waiting in the Wings • Crossing The Line • Waiting in the Wings (Reprise) • Nothing Left to Lose • Goblin Jail • GlomTales Theme Song • I'm Not Very Nice • Heartstomper • Sasha Theme Song Takeover • Whatcha Playin'? • If We're Gonna Play Owl House... • Blame It on Toby • Hail to the Legion of Pirate Villains • Killjoy • You've Been Jinxed • We Take What We Want • La Cebolla • Neighslayer Rap Battle • Taco Crunchies • Earworm Jingle • Look in Your Eyes • Tearing You Down • Ice Queen • The Council of Düm • The Scarm Song • Evil As Can Be • Simon Says • Give Me Your Voice • Mary, Mary • Back to Misery • A Dust Mite Might • A Little Bit Bad • A Car Is a Car Is a Car in a Chase • Fist Foot Time • Give Me That Book • Joy No More

Deleted Songs
Rolling Along to Pleasure Island • I'm Odd • Beware the Jabberwock • Never Smile at a Crocodile • The Pirate Song • Evil - Evil • The Mighty Hunters • Don't Buy a Parrot from a Sailor • The Creation of Cruella De Vil • How Much You Mean to Me/Court Me Slowly • Not in Nottingham (Prince John Demo) • Silence is Golden • All Good Things Must End • Arabian Nights (Reprise 1) • Arabian Nights (Reprise 2) • Why Me? • Humiliate the Boy • My Finest Hour • Be Prepared (Reprise) • Born to Be Bad • Snuff Out the Light • Perfect World (Yzma) • Gonna Get My Wish • I'll Give You One Guess • All That I've Done For You • You're You • It's Gonna Get Weird • Hans of the Southern Isles (Reprise 2)

Theatrical Songs
Another Pyramid • Like Father Like Son • Me • Maison Des Lunes • Chow Down • The Madness of King Scar • Brimstone and Treacle (Part 1) • Brimstone and Treacle (Part 2) • It's Never Too Late • I Want the Good Times Back • Sweet Child • Les Poissons (Reprise) • I Want the Good Times Back (Reprise) • Sweet Child (Reprise) • Sweet Child (Reprise) • Diamond in the Rough • Make a Little Noise •Flower of Gold • The Bottom Line • The Bottom Line (Reprise) • Hans of the Southern Isles • Hans of the Southern Isles (Reprise) • I Knew I Smelled A Rat • Prologue • 'Night, Kittens

Video Games
I Love Fur • Puppies, Oh, Puppies • The Rat Tango • Go Bananas in the Coconut Tree • A Mood for Food • Run • Villains of a Sort • The Heartless Has Come • Squirming Evil • One-Winged Angel • Dr. Finkelstein's Song • Hail to Mr. Oogie • Casino Clash • A Filthy Finale • Organization XIII • The 13th Struggle • Ursula's Revenge • It's a Small World • Opening • The Mad Doctor Isn't Mad • I'm Falling Apart • The Fall of Prescott • The Mad Doctor's Plan • Mad Doctor's Wonderful World of Evil • Piece of My World

Promotional Songs
Honest John • Monstro the Whale • If You Wanna See Some Strange Behavior (Take a Look at Man) • The Legend of Davy Jones • Cruella • I'm Gettin' Good at Being Bad • Shadow Man • Do What I Wanna Do • Love is a Magical Mystery

Parks
Hawaiian War Chant • Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me) • Grim Grinning Ghosts • Burrow's Lament • We Love Junk • Partners in Crime • Friend Like Iago • Uh-Oa's Song • Mystic Manor Theme Song • Guardians of the Galaxy Monsters After Dark