Be Prepared

"Do you see any other big, lovable chunk of warthog here?" This article is about the film version of "Be Prepared". You may be looking for the deleted reprise.

Template:Song Infobox "Be Prepared" is a song from The Lion King. It is sung by Scar and the hyenas in anticipation of Mufasa's death.

Lyrics

Scar:

I know that your powers of retention

Are as wet as a warthog's backside

But thick as you are, pay attention!

My words are a matter of pride

It's clear from your vacant expressions

The lights are not all on upstairs

But we're talking kings and successions

Even you can't be caught unawares!

So prepare for the chance of a lifetime

Be prepared for sensational news

A shining new era

Is tiptoeing nearer

Shenzi:

And where do we feature?

Scar:

Just listen to teacher

I know it sounds sordid

But you'll be rewarded

When at last I am given my dues

And injustice deliciously squared

Be prepared!

Banzai: (spoken)

Yeah! Be prepared!

Yeah-heh! We'll be prepared! Heh!

For what?

Scar: (spoken)

For the death of the king.

Banzai: (spoken)

Why? Is he sick?

Scar: (spoken)

No, fool. We're gonna kill him.

And Simba, too.

Shenzi: (spoken)

Great idea!

Who needs a king?

Banzai and Shenzi:

No king! No king!

La, la, la, la, la, la!

Scar: (spoken)

Idiots!

There will be a king!

Banzai: (spoken)

Hey, but you said-

Scar: (spoken)

I will be king!

Stick with me, and you'll never go hungry again!

Banzai and Shenzi: (spoken)

Yay! All right! All right!

Long live the king!

Hyenas: (spoken)

Long live the king!

Long live the king!

It's great that we'll soon be connected

With a king who'll be all-time adored.

Scar:

Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected

To take certain duties on board

The future is littered with prizes

And though I'm the main addressee

The point that I must emphasize is

You won't get a sniff without me!

So prepare for the coup of the century

Be prepared for the murkiest scam

Meticulous planning

(We'll have food!)

Tenacity spanning

(Lots of food!)

Decades of denial

(We repeat!)

Is simply why I'll

(Endless meat!)

Be king undisputed

Respected, saluted

And seen for the wonder I am!

Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared

Be prepared!

All:

Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared

Be prepared!

Trivia

General

• This song is briefly heard in The Lion King 1½ when Timon and Pumbaa wander into the Elephant Graveyard.

• In Festival of The Lion King, this song is performed as the theater takes on a darker tone.

• In the musical and the official soundtrack, the song starts with these lyrics:

"I never thought hyenas essential.

They're crude and unspeakably plain.

But maybe they've a glimmer of potential,

If allied to my vision and brain."

• Jeremy Irons sang the beginning of the song, but he damaged his vocal chords singing, "You won't get a sniff without me!" Jim Cummings was brought in to finish the song.

• Though Jeremy Irons is often credited for singing the song, Jim Cummings has stated that he sang most of the song, while Irons only did some of the talking.

In Development

• In early drafts of the film, "Be Prepared" was titled "Thanks to Me" and focused on Scar gloating to the hyenas about murdering Mufasa and chasing off Simba.

• Tim Rice wrote a post-stampede reprise of the song in which Scar introduces the hyenas to the pride. However, it was ultimately scrapped due to a lively musical number being deemed inappropriate so shortly after the death of Mufasa.

• Another reprise was written in which Scar tries to seduce Nala into being his queen. When she rejects him, he introduces the pride to his executive staff, the hyenas.

Media

"Be Prepared"

The "Be Prepared" sequence in The Lion King

Be Prepared - Disney's THE LION KING (Official Lyric Video)

The official broadway lyric video for "Be Prepared"

Be Prepared (Vocal)

Be Prepared (Instrumental)

References

Template:Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Template:Songs5