Howard Ashman was the lyricist for Little Shop Of Horrors and Beauty And The Beast, amongst other musicals.  He was an exceedingly talented lyricist.  I love two of his songs from Little Shop, but I'm most in awe of the title song of Beauty and The Beast. 

What I marvel at most about this lyric is the economy in his lyric writing, and still, immediately--and throughout the song, you know where you are and what you're talking about.  It is also slightly mystical, enchanting, timeless and essential.  Also, each phrase is five syllables, and every section of the song five phrases.  Try writing a lyric sometime using five-syllable phrases, and you'll have renewed appreciation for what he accomplished here.  He left this planet way too soon.  I can only begin to imagine the other treasures we'd have had he lived longer.  Thanks for this sublime lyric, Mr. Ashman (and for your exquisite setting of his lyric, Mr. Menken).  There is a very touching story about his passing vis-a-vis Beauty And The Beast under his Wikipedia entry.  

TALE AS OLD AS TIME,
TRUE AS IT CAN BE
BARELY EVEN FRIENDS,
THEN SOMEBODY BENDS
UNEXPECTEDLY.

JUST A LITTLE CHANGE,
SMALL, TO SAY THE LEAST. 
BOTH A LITTLE SCARED,
NEITHER ONE PREPARED,
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 

EVER JUST THE SAME.
EVER A SURPRISE.
EVER AS BEFORE,
EVER JUST AS SURE
AS THE SUN WILL RISE.

TALE AS OLD AS TIME,
TUNE AS OLD AS SONG,
BITTERSWEET AND STRANGE,
FINDING YOU CAN CHANGE,
LEARNING YOU WERE WRONG.

CERTAIN AS THE SUN
RISING IN THE EAST,
TALE AS OLD AS TIME
SONG AS OLD AS RHYME,
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

TALE AS OLD AS TIME,
SONG AS OLD AS RHYME,
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 

Angela Lansbury's beautiful live rendition: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSi58VX9XnA