My Lullaby

"My Lullaby" is a song composed by Scott Warrender for The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. It was released on September 8, 1998, as part of the film's soundtrack.
==Conception and development==
In early drafts of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Zira sang "My Lullaby" to her young nephew, Kovu, whom she was raising to avenge the death of his father, Scar. Shenzi and Banzai accompanied her in the song. The film's plot was eventually changed so that Kovu was Zira's son rather than Scar's and so that Zira's henchmen were lions rather than hyenas. To reflect this, several of Shenzi's and Banzai's lyrics were altered and transferred to Nuka and Vitani, respectively, as were the lyrics related to Zira, Scar, and Kovu's original familial ties.
==Releases==
"My Lullaby" was released on September 8, 1998, as part of Return to Pride Rock.
In 1999, "My Lullaby" was re-released as part of The Lion King Collection.
On October 3, 2011, "My Lullaby" was re-released as part of The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition).
==Use==
"My Lullaby" is the third song heard in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. It starts as Zira carries her son, Kovu, into their pride's den. Once inside, she sets him in a rock cradle and declares that she sees a path to the Outsiders' "glorious return to power." Though Kovu tries to protest, Zira hushes him and begins to sing him a lullaby about his future as a king. Leaving Kovu to sleep, Zira laments her exile from the Pride Lands and fantasizes about killing Simba and his daughter, Kiara. Eventually, Nuka and Vitani join in, as do the Outsiders. Finally, Zira declares the Outsiders' future victory over the Pride Landers, and the song ends.
==Lyrics==
Zira:
Sleep, my little Kovu
Let your dreams take wing
One day, when you're big and strong
You will be a king
Kovu: (spoken)
Good night.
Zira: (spoken)
Good night, my little prince.
Tomorrow, your training intensifies.
Zira:
I've been exiled, persecuted
Left alone with no defense
When I think of what that brute did
I get a little tense
But I dream a dream so pretty
That I don't feel so depressed
'Cause it soothes my inner kitty
And it helps me get some rest
The sound of Simba's dying gasp
His daughter squealing in my grasp
His lionesses' mournful cry
That's my lullaby!
Now the past I've tried forgetting
And my foes I could forgive
Trouble is, I knows it's petty
But I hate to let them live!
Nuka:
So you found yourself somebody
Who'd chase Simba up a tree?
Zira:
Oh, the battle may be bloody
But that kind of works for me
The melody of angry growls
A counterpoint of painful howls
A symphony of death, oh my!
That's my lullaby!
Scar is gone, but Zira's still around
To love this little lad
Till he learns to be a killer
With a lust for being bad!
Nuka: (spoken)
Sleep, ya little termite!
Uh, I mean, precious little thing.
Vitani:
One day, when you're big and strong
Zira:
You will be a king!
The pounding of the drums of war
The thrill of Kovu's mighty roar!
Nuka:
The joy of vengeance!
Vitani:
Testify!
Zira:
I can hear the cheering!
Nuka and Vitani:
Kovu! What a guy!
Zira:
Payback time is nearing
And then our flag will fly
Against a blood-red sky
That's my lullaby!
==Trivia==
*"My Lullaby" was nominated for an Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production along with "We Are One".
==Media==
Lion King 2 Simba's Pride My Lullaby In 1080p HD|The "My Lullaby" sequence in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
==References==
Category:The Lion King Collection
Category:The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition)
Category:The Lion King II: Simba's Pride songs
Category:Return to Pride Rock
Category:Songs
Category:Zira songs