"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is a song from Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King. It was composed by Tim Rice (lyrics) and Elton John (music). It was performed by Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson, Laura Williams, and the chorus. Elton John himself also recorded his own version of the song for the film's soundtrack.
Plot
The song is performed near the beginning of the film by a young Simba and Nala to distract Zazu, as well as to enunciate Simba's desires to become king.
It also appears in Disneytoon's 2004 direct-to-video midquel The Lion King 1½. Timon and Pumbaa are disturbed by some noise from outside of their home, which is actually Simba, Nala, and the animals singing this musical number. Timon becomes angry and hits the leg of an elephant supporting the tower of animals. The elephant jumps in surprise, causing the tower to collapse and Pumbaa then realizes what Timon has done and pulls him out of the way. Timon and Pumbaa's home is ruined by this event. Oddly, this film establishes that the events of the song happened, when the original film implied that the events of that sequence did not in the aftermath of the song.
Lyrics
Simba:
I'm gonna be a mighty king
So enemies, beware
Zazu:
Well, I've never seen a king of beasts
With quite so little hair
Simba:
I'm gonna be the main event
Like no king was before
I'm brushing up on looking down
I'm working on my ROAR!
Zazu:
Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!
Zazu: (spoken)
You've rather a long way to go, young master
If you think...
Simba:
No one saying, "Do this"
Zazu: (spoken)
Now when I said that, I―
Nala:
No one saying, "Be there"
Zazu: (spoken)
What I meant was―
Simba:
No one saying, "Stop that"
Zazu: Look, what you don't realize―
Simba and Nala:
No one saying, "See here"
Zazu: (spoken)
Now see here!
Simba:
Free to run around all day
Zazu: (spoken)
Well, that's definitely out―
Simba:
Free to do it all my way!
(instrumental)
Zazu:
I think it's time that you and I
Arranged a heart-to-heart
Simba:
Kings don't need advice
From little hornbills for a start
Zazu:
If this is where the monarchy is headed
Count me out!
Out of service, out of Africa!
I wouldn't hang about!
This child is getting wildly out of wing
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!
[Instrumental bridge]
Simba:
Everybody look left
Everybody look right
Everywhere you look I'm...
Standing in the spotlight
Zazu: (spoken)
Not yet!
Chorus:
Let every creature go for broke and sing
Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing
It's gonna be King Simba's finest fling!
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!
Oh, I just can't wait...
Chorus:
Oh, he just can't wait to be king!
Oh, he just can't wait to be king!
Oh, he just can't wait...
All:
To be king!
Simba:
Everybody look left
Everybody look right
Everywhere you look I'm...
Standing in the spotlight
(Timon: HEY, keep it down out there!)
(Pumbaa: We have neighbors? We should go say hello.)
(Timon: Noisy neighbors! There go the property values.)
Chorus:
Let every creature go for broke and sing
Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing
It's gonna be King Simba's finest fling!
Simba and Chorus:
Oh, I/He just can't wait to be king!
(Timon: Oh, perfect. We moved to the theater district. Get a load of these guys.)
Oh, I/He just can't wait to be king!
(Timon: Knock it off!!!)
Oh, I just can't wait...
(Pumbaa: TIMON, LOOK OUT...!!!)
To be king!
Simba:
I'm gonna be a mighty king
So enemies, beware
Zazu:
Well, I've never seen a king of beasts
With quite so little hair
Simba:
I'm gonna be the main event
Like no king was before
I'm brushing up on looking down
I'm working on my ROAR!
Zazu:
Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!
Zazu: (spoken)
You've rather a long way to go, young master
If you think...
Simba:
No one saying, "Do this"
Zazu: (spoken)
Now when I said that, I―
Nala:
No one saying, "Be there"
Zazu: (spoken)
What I meant was―
Simba:
No one saying, "Stop that!"
Zazu: (spoken)
Look, what you don't realize―
Simba and Nala:
No one saying, "See here!"
Zazu: (spoken)
Now see here!
Simba:
Free to run around all day
Zazu: (spoken)
Well, that's definitely out
Simba:
Free to do it all my way
[Instrumental interlude]
Zazu:
I think it's time that you and I
Arranged a heart to heart
Nala:
Kings don't need advice
From little hornbills for a start
Zazu:
If this is where the monarchy is headed
Count me out!
Out of service, out of Africa!
I wouldn't hang about!
This child is getting wildly out of wing
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king
Everybody look left
Nala:
Everybody look right
Simba:
Everywhere you look I'm
Simba and Nala:
Standin' in the spotlight!
Zazu: (spoken)
Not yet!
Chorus:
Let every creature go for broke and sing
Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing
It's gonna be King Simba's finest fling
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king
Nala:
Oh, he just can't wait to be king
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait...
Nala:
Just can't wait
Chorus:
To be king!
Way behind the water hole
A little down the line
The jungle and the plains and peaks
Are scheduled to be mine
I'm gonna be the ruler
Of most everything around
From the grandest of the mountains
To the humble common ground
My reign will be a super awesome thing
Oh, I just can't wait to be king
I'm gonna be a noble king
And scrupulously fair
I only need a little time
Perhaps a little hair
I'm gonna be the mane event
Like no king was before
I'm brushing up on looking down
I'm working on my roar
The fauna and the flora gonna swing
Oh, I just can't wait to be king
No one saying do this
No one saying be there
No one saying stop that
No one saying see here
Free to run around all day
I'll be free to do it my way
No one saying do this
No one saying be there
No one saying stop that
No one saying see here
Free to run around all day
Free to do it my way
The time has come as someone said
To talk of many things
May be true
But I would rather stick to talking kings
It's easy to be royal
If you're already leonine
It isn't just my right
Even my left will be divine
The monarchy is waiting to go zing
Oh, I just can't wait to be king
Oh, I just can't wait to be king
(Repeat until fade)
Way beyond the water hole
A little down the line
The jungle and the plains and peaks
Are scheduled to be mine
I'm gonna be the ruler
Of most everything around
From the grandest of the mountains
To the humble common ground
My reign will be a super awesome thing
Oh, I just can't wait to be king
I'm gonna be a noble king
So enemies beware
I only need a little time
Perhaps a little hair
I'm gonna be the mane event
Like no king was before
I'm brushing up on looking down
And I'm working on my roar
The fauna and the flora gonna swing
Wow, I just can't wait to be the king
No one saying do this
No one saying be there
No one saying stop that
No one saying see here
Free to run around all day
I'll be free to do it all my way
All my way
Yeah
Well, I just can't wait to be the king
I can't wait
No one saying do this
No one saying be there
No one saying stop that
No one saying see here
Free to run around all day
I'll be free to do it all my way
The time has come as someone said
To talk of many things
This may be true
But I would rather stick to talking kings
It's easy to be royal
If you're already leonine
It isn't just my right
Even my left will be divine
The monarchy is waiting to go zing
I just can't wait to be king
Yes, I just can't wait to be the king
Just can't wait
Just can't wait
You're gonna be the king
Just can't wait
Wanna be the king
Yes, sire
I'm all yours
Simba:
I'm gonna be the main event
Like no king was before
I'm brushing up on looking down
I'm working on my ROAR!
Zazu:
Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!
Donald: (spoken)
Now I gotcha...
[Simba jumps on him]
Waack!
Simba:
Everybody look left
Everybody look right
Everywhere you look I'm...
Multiple Simbas:
Standing in the spotlight
Zazu: (spoken)
Not yet!
Chorus:
Let every creature go for broke and sing
Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing
It's gonna be King Simba's finest fling!
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!
Oh, I just can't wait...
Chorus:
Oh, he just can't wait to be king!
Oh, he just can't wait to be king!
Oh, he just can't wait...
All:
To be king!
Simba:
I'm gonna be a mighty king
So enemies, beware
Zazu:
Well, I've never seen a king of beasts with quite so little hair
Simba:
I'm gonna be the main event
Like no king was before
I'm brushing up on looking down
I'm working on my ROAR
Zazu:
Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king
Zazu: (spoken)
You have rather a long way to go, young master
If you think...
Simba:
No one saying, "Do this"
Zazu: (spoken)
Now when I said that, I...
Nala:
No one saying, "Be there"
Zazu: (spoken)
What I meant was...
Simba:
No one saying, "Stop that"
Simba and Nala:
No one saying, "See here"
Zazu: (spoken)
Now see here!
Simba:
Free to run around all day
Zazu: (spoken)
Well, that's definitely out...
Simba:
Free to do it all my way!
Zazu:
I think it's time that you and I arranged a heart-to-heart
Nala:
Kings don't need advice
From little hornbills for a start
Zazu:
If this is where the monarchy is headed
Count me out!
Out of service, out of Africa
I wouldn't hang about!
This child is getting wildly out of wing
Simba!
Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king
(instrumental)
Simba:
Everybody look left
Nala:
Everybody look right
Simba:
Everywhere you look I'm...
Simba and Nala:
Standing in the spotlight
Zazu: (spoken)
Not yet!
Nala and Chorus:
Let every creature go for broke and sing
Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing
It's gonna be King Simba's finest fling
Simba and Chorus:
Oh, I/He just can't wait to be king
Nala and Chorus:
Oh, he just can't wait to be king
Simba, Nala, and Chorus:
Oh I/He just can't wait... (Just can't wait..)
To be king!
(instrumental verse)
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!
Everybody look left
Everybody look right
Everywhere you look I'm...
Standing in the spotlight
Let every creature go for broke and sing
Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing
It's gonna be King Simba's finest fling!
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!
Yes, I just can't wait to be king!
Oh, I just can't wait...
To be king!
Videos
Trivia
- The song is a large contrast from the film's non-musical segments, as emphasized by the song's usage of lively colors and sounds. Also, the animals and backgrounds are notably more surreal as opposed to how they looked during "Circle of Life".
- As of the IMAX re-issue, different crocodile animation is used, though the original crocodile animation is still featured in the Disney Sing Along Songs version of the song and in Disney Parks shows like Disney Dreams!.
- Zazu's spoken line "Well, I've never seen a king of beasts with quite so little hair" is a possible allusion to the working title of The Lion King, which was King of the Beasts.
- The tone of the melody of where Simba sings appears to be drawn from Michael Jackson during his time with his brothers in the Jackson 5.
- Though the film is set in Africa, some of the birds in the bushes that Simba used for his mane resemble a laughing kookaburra (front center) and a greater green leafbird (lower left). In real life, laughing kookaburras live in Australia while greater green leafbirds live in some parts of Asia; thus, those birds are not native to Africa in real life.
- Other birds in the same scene resemble a turaco (upper left), a giant kingfisher (back center), and a pair of wood hoopoes (right).
- At one point near the end of the song, there are giant anteaters participating in the musical number flicking their tongues out. Giant anteaters are not native to Africa in real life and thus, are only found in South America. A better choice for a long-tongued animal during the part where the animals are towering up would be aardvarks or aardwolves since the film is set in Africa.
- Ironically, aardvarks were used in the 2019 remake of the film.
- Rafiki performs Zazu's lines in the Disney on Ice version.
- The song was referenced in DisneyToon Studios' Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers, when Pete mockingly refers to the title as the name for an opera, in which he plans to be named king of France, to a captive Mickey Mouse.
- The song was performed live by the ska/funk band Suburban Legends, most often when performing at Disneyland's Tomorrowland Terrace, but occasionally while on tour as well. Vincent Walker sings the part of Simba, while Brian Klemm sings the part of Zazu. The song appears on their 2012 album, Day Job.
- Pop star Aaron Carter remixed the song on Disneymania.
- Allstar Weekend remade the song for Disneymania 7.
- The Brazilian musical group "Exaltasamba" recorded a Portuguese version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" (O que eu quero mais é ser rei, roughly translated as "What I want most is to be king") in a samba style to the CD Disney Adventures in Samba.
- In 2011 Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys covered the song for his album In the Key of Disney.
- La Década covered this song for "La Década: DisneyMania" (the song has the same lyrics as the movie).
- During the animated film when Simba sings "I'm gonna be the main event", he sticks his head in a bush of leaves and they form a mane.
- The ending gag involving Zazu is different in all three versions. In the original, he is crushed by a female rhino. In the musical, the curtains come down in front of him, and he comments on their design before walking off the stage. In the 2019 film, he is caught in a flock of dancing birds.
- In the animated film, Nala only has one solo line and the rest of her singing is done in conjunction with Simba and the chorus. In the Broadway and live-action remake versions, Nala has more solo lines, many of which were originally sung by Simba in the original film.
- A Season 1 episode of The Lion Guard is titled "Can't Wait to be Queen", most likely in reference to this song.
- In a Season 2 episode of the same series: "The Savannah Summit", Mbeya the rhinoceros sat on Zazu just like the one in the song.
- The scene with Simba with a bush mane was shown in the song "I Do Have a Great Deal to Say" in "The Morning Report".
- The tower of animals crumbling was revealed in Lion King 1/2 to be caused by Timon who was trying to shut them up.
External links
