King of Pride Rock

"King of Pride Rock" is an instrumental score composed by Hans Zimmer heard in the 1994 Disney animated film, The Lion King. It is played throughout the end of the film.
==Appearances==
===The Lion King===
It is played during the final moments of the film, from when Simba returns to Pride Rock after his final confrontation with Scar to the final sequence of the film. It starts off in a slow melody where all the Pridelanders praise Simba for defeating Scar during the final battle just as Rafiki tells him that it is time to take his place as the new King of Pride Rock (hence the name). The score continues with a large ensemble singing just as Simba reaches the top of Pride Rock where he becomes the new king. Just as Simba roars in triumph to know that he is now the new king, the score then loops into a variation of "Busa", followed by a reprise of "Circle of Life".
===The Lion King 1½===
It is played during the scene that takes place during the final moments of the film where Timon and Pumbaa watch Simba ascend Pride Rock. Unlike in the original film, this does not contain a variation of the song, "Busa" and with a reprise of "Circle of Life" but with a different instrumental track called "Our New Home".
===The Stage Musical===
In the stage musical, the score is heard after Simba and the Pridelanders defeat Scar and the hyenas. Additional African vocals sung by Lebo M. and his choir are heard as Simba ascends Pride Rock, reclaiming his rightful place as king. Meanwhile the Pride Lands recover, and all the animals come back to the Pride Lands to recognize and salute Simba as the rightful king.
The assembly of the animals that appeared are slightly different from the beginning of Act 1, without the wildebeests, and the adult elephant (only two zebras instead of three), nine gazelles instead of twelve and only half of the bird ladies from the beginning appearance instead of four. The baby elephant, the rhinoceros, the giraffes, the cheetah, three cranes, and the birds appear as kites on poles, followed by the lionesses who appear to celebrate the continuing Circle of Life before the animals present a newborn cub, named Kiara who is the daughter of Simba and Nala. The musical ends as Rafiki presents Simba and Nala's newborn cub to all of the animals where a blackout finishes Act II and leads to the curtain call at the end of the performance.
===The 2019 Remake===
A reimagined version of the song appears in the remake of the classic film, which is titled as "Remember" according to the remake's soundtrack. It is heard after Simba and the Pridelanders defeat Scar This version contains a short snippet of the sorrowful melody from the "Mufasa Dies" musical score at the beginning and the music then loops to "King of Pride Rock". Like in the original film, the score contains a variation of "Busa" followed by a reprise of "Circle of Life". It is also heard throughout the 2019 remake's official trailer.
==Lyrics==
<tabber>
Film version=
Ndabe zitha
Nkosi yethu
Mholi wezwe lethu (Wezwe lethu)
Lefatshe la bonata rona
Lea halalela
(cue to reprise of Circle of Life)
|-|Film version (translation)=
King of kings
Our king
Ruler of our land/Leader of our nation
This land of our ancestors/ancestral forefathers
Is holy
(cue to reprise of Circle of Life)
|-|Musical version (performance)=
Ndabe zitha (Shwele baba)
Nkosi yethu
Mholi wezwe lethu (Lefatshe lea)
Lefatshe la bonata rona (Lea halalela)
Lea halalela (Shwele baba)
(Ah, nkosi yethu)
(cue to reprise of Circle of Life)
|-|Musical version (performance, translation)=
King of kings (Hail to you, Father)
Our king
Ruler of our land/Leader of our nation (This land of our...)
This land of our ancestors/ancestral forefathers (This land is holy)
Is holy
(Oh, our king)
(cue to reprise of Circle of Life)
|-|Musical version (1997 Broadway soundtrack)=
Ndabe zitha
Nkosi yethu (Nkosi yethu)
Mholi wezwe lethu (Lefatshe lea)
Lefatshe la bonata rona (Lea halalela)
Lea halalela (Woza baba)
(Shwele baba)
(cue to reprise of Circle of Life)
|-|Musical version (1997 Broadway soundtrack, translation)=
King of kings
Our king (Our ruler)
Ruler of our land/Leader of our nation (This land of our...)
This land of our ancestors/ancestral forefathers (This land is holy)
Is holy (Come, father)
(Hail to you, Father)
(cue to reprise of Circle of Life)
|-|Unused vocals=
These vocals in the "King of Pride Rock" score are only heard in "The Rightful King" in The Legacy Collection: The Lion King:
Uzo libusa le lizwe
Busa Simba
Uzo libusa le lizwe
Lizwe busa Simba
Ngo thando
Ubuse ngo thando
|-|Unused vocals (translation)=
You must this land
Rule, Simba
You must rule this land
Rule, Simba
Rule with love and let peace prevail
</tabber>
==Videos==
Lion King SNES Music - King of Pride Rock-2
The Lion King (Sega Genesis) Soundtrack - King Pride Rock-2
Lion King SNES Music - Finale-2
The Lion King (Sega Genesis) Soundtrack - Finale-2
Disney Universe Soundtrack - King Of Pride Rock (Gamerip)-2
==Trivia==
*"King of Pride Rock" was cut and edited for the official soundtrack. However, the complete score can still be heard in one part, "The Rightful King".
*"King of Pride Rock" was also heard at the beginning of The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar.
==References==
Category:Songs
Category:The Lion King songs
Category:Instrumental songs
Category:Closing songs
Category:Hero/Heroine songs
Category:Songs in video games
Category:Songs in theme park attractions