Written by the musical's creators, lyricist and book writer Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken, the song is performed in the film by Audrey II (voiced by baritone singer Levi Stubbs),[1] a sentient, carnivorous, alien plant that feeds on human blood.
"Mean Green Mother from Outer Space" is the 14th musical number, near the end of the film, and is sung by Audrey II, after Seymour discovers that the plant intends to take over the world.
[8] A revival of the stage musical at London's Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2018 interpolated the song as an encore number sung by American drag performer Vicky Vox, who played Audrey II in the production.
Film historian Ed Guerrero, making note of the "resonant, distinctly black voice" of Stubbs, wrote that Audrey II's rapid growth and "singing 'I'm a mean, green mother from outer space and I'm bad!'
"[11] Author Jane Caputi, wrote that the song's lyrics "denounce those humans who have shown a poor grasp of etiquette, who remain totally oblivious to the forces that they have been 'messin' with,' and who must now face the consequences.