Under the Stars

Under the Stars
Attribution information
Composer	Hans Zimmer
Mixer	Jay Rifkin
Release information
Released	May 31, 1994
Track	8
Length	3:45
Albums	•  The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)  •  The Lion King: Special Edition
Appearances	The Lion King
Samples
Versions	•  Under the Stars   •  Under the Stars (Genesis)   •  Under the Stars (SNES)

“

You said you'd always be there for me! But you're not. And it's because of me. It's my fault. It's my fault. ―Simba laments Mufasa's death

”

"Under the Stars" is a musical piece composed by 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.

Releases and alternative versions

"Under the Stars" was released on May 31, 1994, as part of the soundtrack of The Lion King.

Shortly after the release of the film's soundtrack, the complete score was unofficially released. "Under the Stars" was released as an uncut track titled "Nala - Simba - Mufasa Ghost".

"Under the Stars" was re-released on September 30, 2003, as part of the film's Special Edition soundtrack.

On June 24, 2014, The Legacy Collection: The Lion King was released, with "Under the Stars" once more released as an uncut track: "Remember Who You Are".

"Under the Stars" was reimagined for the 2019 remake of The Lion King. It is titled "Reflections of Mufasa" on the film's soundtrack.

Use

In the canon

Simba reflects on his past, during which "Under the Stars" is heard.

"Under the Stars" is first heard in The Lion King after the "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" musical sequence. The score plays through the initial conversation between Simba and Nala, then cuts to Simba lamenting his father's death. It carries through parts of his interaction with Rafiki, including the scene where he chases Rafiki through dense jungle, then cuts to the triumphant "Busa Simba" theme.

Several sections of underscore were cut from this track. Early in the score, the track skips over the heated argument between Simba and Nala, and jumps straight to Simba's lamentations under the stars. When the track reaches Simba's conversation with Rafiki, several sections of score are cut, and the revelation of Mufasa's ghost is removed entirely.

In other media

The score was reimagined for the 2019 remake of The Lion King. It is heard during the scene in which Simba encounters Rafiki and the ghost of his father, Mufasa.

In the stage musical version of The Lion King, parts of "Under the Stars" can be heard in the cue "Pool Reveal". Parts of the score are cut, as the "He Lives In You (Reprise)" musical number replaces much of the original scene.

A reimagined version of the score is heard in the 1994 video game The Lion King. There are two slightly different versions of the score: one for Genesis and one for SNES.