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This article is about the 1994 version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King".
You may be looking for the 2019 version, the stage musical version, the Elton John version, the Festival of The Lion King version, the instrumental version, the Rhythms of the Pride Lands version, or the 2003 version.


I Just Can't Wait to Be King
Lion-king-disneyscreencaps.com-1756
Attribution information
Composer

   Elton John
   Hans Zimmer

Lyricist

Tim Rice

Mixer

Jay Rifkin

Performers

   Rowan Atkinson
   Jason Weaver
   Laura Williams

Release information
Released

May 31, 1994

Track

2

Length

2:50

Albums
Appearances

The Lion King

Samples
Versions

Anonymous Audio File Icon Clip ArtI Just Can't Wait to Be King 

Simba: So, you have to do what I tell you.
Zazu: Not yet I don't. And with an attitude like that, I'm afraid you're shaping up to be a pretty pathetic king indeed.
Simba: Not the way I see it.
Simba and Zazu[src]

"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is a song composed by Elton John and Hans Zimmer for The Lion King. It was released on May 31, 1994, as part of the film's soundtrack. It was re-released on September 30, 2003, as part of the film's Special Edition soundtrack.

Conception and development[]

The 1992 draft of The Lion King did not include "I Just Can't Wait to Be King". Instead, Mufasa sang a song titled "To Be King", during which he instructed Simba on the ways of a king.[1] By the time the 1993 draft was written, "To Be King" had been cut and replaced by "I Just Can't Wait to Be King".[2]

Releases and alternative versions[]

Special Edition

The Lion King: Special Edition soundtrack.

"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was released on May 31, 1994, as part of the soundtrack of The Lion King. Also included on the soundtrack was a pop cover of the song performed by Elton John.[3][4]

The stage musical version of the song was released in 1997 as part of the original cast recording.[5][6]

Also in 1997, Disney released an album titled Jungle Boogie, which consisted of songs from both The Lion King and The Jungle Book franchises. The original version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was included on this album.[7]

In 1999, "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was re-released as part of The Lion King Collection.[8]

"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was re-released on September 30, 2003, as part of the film's Special Edition soundtrack. Also included on the soundtrack was the Elton John version of the song.[9][10]

Also on September 30, 2003, the karaoke version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was released as part of Disney's Karaoke Series: The Lion King.[11][12]

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Official artwork of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" from The Legacy Collection: The Lion King.

Best of The Lion King, an album comprised of songs from different installments in The Lion King franchise, was released on September 6, 2011. The original version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was included on this album.[13][14]

On October 3, 2011, "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was released as part of The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition).[15][16]

The song was re-released as part of The Legacy Collection: The Lion King on June 24, 2014, as was the Elton John version of the song.[17][18]

"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was reimagined for the 2019 remake of The Lion King. It was released on July 11, 2019, as part of the film's soundtrack.[19][20]

Use[]

In the canon[]

Lion-king-disneyscreencaps

Pride Landers form a tower during the "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" sequence.

"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is the second song heard in The Lion King. It starts as Simba and Nala are on their way to the water hole with Zazu. After Zazu informs Simba of his betrothal to Nala, Simba insists that he will abolish the tradition, and Zazu accuses him of shaping up to be a "pretty pathetic king." In answer, Simba brags that he will be a mighty king and that his enemies should beware. He and Nala go on that, as king, Simba will not have to follow anyone's orders and will have the freedom to do everything his way. Eventually, the cubs get other Pride Landers involved in singing Simba's praises, and they form an animal tower, which falls on top of Zazu and allows the cubs to escape his care.[21]

In The Lion King 1½, "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is briefly heard when Timon and Pumbaa wake up to the animal tower outside their cave. Timon whacks an elephant's leg with a stick, which causes the tower to collapse.[22]

In other media[]

A reimagined version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is heard in the 2019 remake of The Lion King. It plays during the same sequence of events as its 1994 counterpart. Like the stage musical version of the song, it gives additional singing lines to Nala.[23]

The stage musical version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is much the same as the original, occurring during the same sequence of events. It gives additional singing lines to Nala.[5]

An instrumental version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is heard in the 1994 video game The Lion King. There are two slightly different versions of the song: one for Genesis and one for SNES.[24]

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 brushin' up on lookin' down
I'm workin' on my roar!

Zazu:
Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing

Simba:
Oh, I just can't wait to be king!

Zazu:
You've rather a long way to go, young master
If you think...

Simba:
No one sayin', 'Do this!'

Zazu:
Now when I said that...

Nala:
No one sayin', 'Be there!'

Zazu:
What I meant was...

Simba:
No one sayin', 'Stop that!'

Zazu:
What you don't realize...

Simba and Nala:
No one sayin', 'See here!'

Zazu:
Now see here!

Simba:
Free to run around all day!

Zazu:
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

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!

Everybody look left!
Everybody look right!
Everywhere you look I'm...
Standin' in the spotlight!

Zazu:
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...
To be king!

Trivia[]

2018-01-12-04 25 32

"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is seen in a flashback in the "The Morning Report" episode of The Lion Guard.

  • During the "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" sequence in The Lion King, the background changes to brighter colors and more geometric shapes to reflect Simba's naive perspective of the world.[25]
  • In early versions of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King", the crocodiles were gray. This was shown in the theatrical version, the ABC premiere, the Disney Sing-Along Songs version, and the 1995 VHS release. However, the animation of the crocodiles was completely redone in the 2002 IMAX re-release and later home video releases.[26][27]
  • In the stage musical version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King", Nala gets additional singing lines.[5] The 2019 remake of The Lion King also gives Nala these additional singing lines.[23]
  • In The Legacy Collection: The Lion King, both Simba and Nala sing "No one saying 'see here.'"[17] In previous soundtrack releases, only Nala performed this line.[3]

Media[]

References[]

  1. Revealed in Disney's King of the Jungle (1992).
  2. Revealed in Disney's The Lion King (1993). Written by Irene Mecchi and Jonathan Roberts.
  3. 3.0 3.1 The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). iTunes. Apple. Retrieved on October 8, 2019.
  4. The Lion King. Soundtrack.Net. Autotelics. Retrieved on October 8, 2019.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Lion King (Original 1997 Broadway Cast Recording). iTunes. Apple. Retrieved on October 8, 2019.
  6. The Lion King - Original Broadway Cast Recording. Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved on October 8, 2019.
  7. Various – Disney's Jungle Boogie. Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved on January 20, 2023.
  8. Various – The Lion King Collection. Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved on January 30, 2023.
  9. The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Special Edition]. iTunes. Apple. Retrieved on October 11, 2019.
  10. The Lion King. Soundtrack.Net. Autotelics. Retrieved on October 8, 2019.
  11. Disney's Karaoke Series: The Lion King. iTunes. Apple. Retrieved on January 20, 2023.
  12. Various – Disney Karaoke Series: The Lion King. Discogs. Zink Media. Retrieved on January 20, 2023.
  13. Best of the Lion King. iTunes. Apple. Retrieved on January 20, 2023.
  14. Best Of The Lion King. Soundtrack.Net. Autotelics. Retrieved on January 20, 2023.
  15. The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition). iTunes. Apple. Retrieved on January 21, 2023.
  16. The Lion King: Deluxe Collection. Soundtrack.Net. Autotelics. Retrieved on January 21, 2023.
  17. 17.0 17.1 The Lion King (Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection]. iTunes. Apple. Retrieved on October 8, 2019.
  18. The Legacy Collection: The Lion King. Soundtrack.Net. Autotelics. Retrieved on October 8, 2019.
  19. The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). iTunes. Apple. Retrieved on October 8, 2019.
  20. The Lion King. Soundtrack.Net. Autotelics. Retrieved on October 8, 2019.
  21. Revealed in Disney's The Lion King (1994). Written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton, and directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
  22. Revealed in Disney's The Lion King 1½ (2004). Written by Tom Rogers and directed by Bradley Raymond. Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Revealed in Disney's The Lion King (2019). Written by Jeff Nathanson and directed by Jon Favreau. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
  24. Revealed in The Lion King (1994). Developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment.
  25. Revealed in the audio commentary of The Lion King.
  26. 1994 crocodiles
  27. Special-Edition crocodiles
  28. Revealed in "The Morning Report" from Disney Junior's The Lion Guard. Season 2, Episode 13. Written by Jack Monaco and directed by Tom Derosier and Howy Parkins. Originally aired January 8, 2018.


The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Circle of Life    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    Be Prepared    Hakuna Matata    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    This Land    ...To Die For    Under the Stars    King of Pride Rock    Circle of Life    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    Can You Feel the Love Tonight
The Lion King Collection
He Lives in You    Circle of Life    Lea Halalela    Upendi    Busa    One of Us    Love Will Find a Way    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    We Are One    One By One    It's Time    Noyana    In Youpendi    Be Prepared    He Lives In You    My Lullaby    Hakuna Matata    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Lion King: Special Edition
Circle of Life    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    Be Prepared    Hakuna Matata    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    The Morning Report    This Land    ...To Die For    Under the Stars    King of Pride Rock    Circle of Life    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    Can You Feel the Love Tonight (End Title)    Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Remix)    The Hyenas
Best of The Lion King
Circle of Life    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    Warthog Rhapsody    Lea Halalela    Hakuna Matata    Digga Tunnah Dance    Upendi    One of Us    The Lion Sleeps Tonight    Be Prepared    They Live In You
The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition)
He Lives in You    Circle of Life    Lea Halalela    Upendi    Busa    One of Us    Love Will Find a Way    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    We Are One    One By One    It's Time    Noyana    In Youpendi    Be Prepared    He Lives In You    My Lullaby    Hakuna Matata    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    The Lion Sleeps Tonight    Circle of Life    Grazing in the Grass    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    Warthog Rhapsody    Kube    This Land    Digga Tunnah Dance    The Morning Report    Love Will Find a Way (End Title)    The Lion Sleeps Tonight    Be Prepared    They Live In You
The Legacy Collection: The Lion King
Circle of Life    Didn't Your Mother Tell You Not to Play With Your Food    We Are All Connected    Hyenas in the Pride Land    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    Elephant Graveyard    I Was Just Trying to Be Brave    Be Prepared    Simba, It's to Die For    Stampede    Mufasa Dies    If You Ever Come Back We'll Kill You    Bowling for Buzzards    Hakuna Matata    We Gotta Bone to Pick With You    Kings of the Past    Nala, Is It Really You?    Can You Feel the Love Tonight    Remember Who You Are    This Is My Home    The Rightful King    The Morning Report    Warthog Rhapsody    Circle of Life    I Just Can't Wait to Be King    Can You Feel the Love Tonight
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