Arabian Nights – English Lyrics

• By: Will Smith
• Album: Aladdin (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a musical journey with Will Smith's 'Arabian Nights' and immerse yourself in the vibrant sights, sounds, and culture of Arabia. This song offers a chance to explore descriptive vocabulary and understand cultural nuances while enjoying a captivating tune. Discover the magic and adventure that await in this enchanting land, and learn how to express the allure and excitement of a faraway place through its rich lyrics.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
imagine /ɪˈmædʒɪn/ B1	verb - to form a mental image or concept of something.
roam /roʊm/ B2	verb - to move about or travel aimlessly or unsystematically, especially over a wide area.
wander /ˈwɑːndər/ B1	verb - to walk or move in a leisurely, casual, or aimless way.
chaotic /keɪˈɑːtɪk/ B2	adjective - in a state of complete confusion and disorder.
wind /wɪnd/ A2	verb - to move in a curve.
fabled /ˈfeɪbld/ C1	adjective - famous or celebrated.
bazaar /bəˈzɑːr/ B2	noun - a market in a Middle Eastern country.
cluttered /ˈklʌtərd/ B2	adjective - covered with or full of objects or things.
haggle /ˈhæɡəl/ B2	verb - dispute or bargain persistently, especially over the cost of something.
spice /spaɪs/ B1	noun - an aromatic or pungent vegetable substance used to flavour food.
delight /dɪˈlaɪt/ B2	noun - great pleasure.
trance /træns/ B2	noun - a half-conscious state resembling sleep.
mystical /ˈmɪstɪkəl/ C1	adjective - inspiring a sense of mystery and wonder.
greed /ɡriːd/ B2	noun - intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.
commands /kəˈmændz/ B2	verb - to give an authoritative order.
fortunes /ˈfɔːrtʃənz/ B2	noun - a large amount of money or assets.
shock /ʃɑːk/ B2	verb - surprise or frighten (someone) greatly.

Key Grammar Structures

• Oh, imagine a land, it's a faraway place

  ➔ Imperative for suggestion/invitation

  ➔ The word "imagine" is used as an imperative, inviting the listener to consider or visualize a scene. While grammatically a command, it functions more as a suggestion or enticement.

• Where the caravan camels roam

  ➔ Relative Clause with "where"

  ➔ "Where" introduces a relative clause modifying "a faraway place." It specifies the characteristic of the place – it's a place where caravan camels roam.

• When the wind's from the East

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of "is")

  ➔ The phrase "the wind's" is a contraction of "the wind is." The verb "is" is often omitted in informal speech or song lyrics for brevity and rhythm.

• More often than not are hotter than hot

  ➔ Subject-Verb Inversion (non-standard)

  ➔ The standard word order would be "Arabian nights are more often than not hotter than hot." The inversion emphasizes the intensity of the heat. This is often done for stylistic effect in poetry and song, even though grammatically unconventional.

• This mystical land of magic and sand Is more than it seems

  ➔ Subject-Verb Agreement with a Compound Noun Phrase

  ➔ "This mystical land of magic and sand" acts as a singular subject. Even though it contains multiple elements (magic and sand), the phrase as a whole is considered one thing, thus the singular verb "is."

• There's a road that may lead you To good or to greed through The power your wishing commands

  ➔ Modal verb "may" expressing possibility, Relative clause with "that", preposition "through" expressing means.

  ➔ "May" suggests a possibility, not a certainty, that the road leads to good or greed. "That may lead you" is a relative clause defining the road. "Through the power..." indicates the means by which the outcome is determined.

• A fool off his guard could fall and fall hard

  ➔ Conditional sentence with implied "if", modal verb "could"

  ➔ This sentence implies "If a fool is off his guard, he could fall and fall hard." "Could" indicates a possibility or a potential consequence.