1992’s Beauty and the Beast was considered an instant classic upon its release. The film was a throwback to Disney’s golden age of animated musicals and delighted audiences around the world. The film did everything right, becoming the first animated film nominated for Best Picture.
The movie seemed to have began life fully formed, but a lot of hard work went into making it. Not only did its creators have to carefully decide what to include in the film, they also had to decide what to cut. One song cut from the film was Human Again. The song focused on the enchanted household objects and their desire to, of course, become human again. Originally the sequence would have run for 11 Minutes in the film. Disney management, however, felt that the song would be too long and distract from Belle and the Beast. The song was cut and replaced by Something There, which was shorter and concentrated more on the movie’s leads versus the enchanted objects.
A demo version of the song was released in the mid-90’s on a CD box set. Interest in the song resulted in its inclusion in the broadway musical version of Beauty and the Beast. Eventually, the song made its way into a special edition version of the film released on IMAX screens and a DVD re-release.
Human Again
I'll be cooking again, be good-looking again
With a mademoiselle on each arm
When I'm human again, only human again
Poised and polished and gleaming with charm
I'll be courting again, chic and sporting again
Which should cause several husbands alarm
I'll hop down off this shelf, and tout de suite be myself
I can't wait to be human again
When we're human again, only human again
When we're knickknacks and whatnots no more
When we're human again, good and human again
Oh, cherie, won't it all be top drawer?
I'll wear lipstick and rouge, and I won't be so huge
Why, I'll easily fit through that door
I'll exude savoir-faire; I'll wear gowns; I'll have hair
It's my prayer to be human again
When we're human again, only human again
When the world once more starts making sense
I'll unwind, for a change (Really? That'd be strange)
Can I help it if I'm t-t-tense?
In a shack by the sea, I'll sit back sipping tea
Let my early retirement commence
Far from fools made of wax, I'll get down to brass tacks and relax
When I'm human again
So sweep the dust from the floor
Let's let some light in the room
I can feel, I can tell someone might break the spell any day now
Shine up the brass on the door
Alert the dust pail and broom
If it all goes as planned our time may be at hand any day now
Open the shutters and let in some air
Put these here and put those over there
Sweep up the years, the sadness and tears, and throw them away
We'll be human again, only human again
When the girl finally sets us all free
Cheeks a-blooming again, we're assuming again
We'll resume our long-lost joie de vivre
We'll be playing again, holidaying again
And we're praying it's ASAP
We will push, we will shove; they will both fall in love
And we'll finally be human again
We'll be dancing again, we'll be twirling again
We'll be whirling around with such ease
When we're human again, only human again
We'll go waltzing those old one-two-threes
We'll be floating again, we'll be gliding again
Stepping, striding, as fine as you please
Like a real human does, I'll be all that I was
On that glorious morn when we're finally reborn
And we're all human again!
