I Just Can't Wait to Be King

"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. 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".
==Releases and alternative versions==
"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.
The stage musical version of the song was released in 1997 as part of the original cast recording.
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.
In 1999, "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was re-released as part of The Lion King Collection.
"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.
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.
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.
On October 3, 2011, "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" was released as part of The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition).
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.
"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.
==Use==
===In the canon===
"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.
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.
===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.
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.
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.
==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==
* 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.Revealed in the audio commentary of The Lion King.
* 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.
* In the stage musical version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King", Nala gets additional singing lines. The 2019 remake of The Lion King also gives Nala these additional singing lines.
* In The Legacy Collection: The Lion King, both Simba and Nala sing "No one saying 'see here.'" In previous soundtrack releases, only Nala performed this line.
* "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is referenced in the "The Morning Report" episode of The Lion Guard when there is a flashback of Simba donning the red leaf mane.
==Media==
The Lion King - I Just Can't Wait to Be King - Disney Sing-Along|The "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" sequence in The Lion King
==References==
Category:Best of The Lion King
Category:Jungle Boogie
Category:The Legacy Collection: The Lion King
Category:The Lion King (1994 soundtrack)
Category:The Lion King Collection
Category:The Lion King Collection (Deluxe Edition)
Category:The Lion King songs
Category:The Lion King: Songs and Story
Category:The Lion King: Special Edition
Category:Nala songs
Category:Simba songs
Category:Songs
Category:Zazu songs