Be Prepared is a song from the Disney animated film The Lion King. It is performed by the character Scar, the movie’s main villain. The song serves as Scar’s anthem, where he reveals his evil plans to take over the Pride Lands and become the new king.
The song lyrics are filled with dark and sinister imagery as Scar rallies his hyena minions to join him in his quest for power. “Be Prepared” is widely regarded as one of the best villain songs in Disney history, thanks to its catchy tune and memorable lyrics.
“Be Prepared” Lyrics
[Scar:]
I know that your powers of retention
Are as wet as a warthog’s backside
But thick as you are, pay attention
My words are a matter of pride
It’s clear from your vacant expressions
The lights are not all on upstairs
But we’re talking kings and successions
Even you can’t be caught unawares
So prepare for a chance of a lifetime
Be prepared for sensational news
A shining new era
Is tiptoeing nearer
[Shenzi:]
And when do we feature?
[Scar:]
Just listen to teacher
I know it sounds sordid
But you’ll be rewarded
When at last I am given my dues
And injustice deliciously squared
Be prepared!
[Banzai:]
Yeah, be prepared!
We’ll be prepared…for what?
[Scar:]
For the death of the king
[Banzai:]
Why? Is he sick?
[Scar:]
No, fool, we’re gonna kill him, and Simba, too
[Shenzi:]
Great idea! Who needs a king?
[Banzai & Shenzi:]
No king, no king, la, la, la, la, la, la
[Scar:]
Idiots! There will be a king!
[Banzai:]
But you said…
[Scar:]
I will be king!
Stick with me, and you’ll never go hungry again
[Banzai & Shenzi:] Yay! All right! Long live the king!
[Hyenas:] Long live the king! Long live the king!
It’s great that we’ll soon be connected
With a king who’ll be all-time adored
[Scar:]
Of course, quid pro quo, you’re expected
To take certain duties on board
The future is littered with prizes
And though I’m the main addressee
The point that I must emphasize is
You won’t get a sniff without me!
So prepare for the coup of the century
Be prepared for the murkiest scam
Meticulous planning
Tenacity spanning
Decades of denial
Is simply why I’llBe king undisputed
Respected, saluted
And seen for the wonder I am
Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared
Be prepared!
[Hyenas:]
Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared
Be prepared!
[I never thought hyenas essential
They’re crude and unspeakably plain
But maybe they’ve a glimmer of potential
If allied to my vision and brain…]
I know that your powers of retention
Are as wet as a warthog’s backside
But thick as you are, pay attention!
My words are a matter of pride
It’s clear from your vacant expressions
The lights are not all on upstairs
But we’re talking kings and successions
Even you can’t be caught unawares!
So, prepare for the chance of a lifetime
Be prepared for sensational news
A shining, new era
Is tiptoeing nearer
And where do we feature?
Just listen to teacher
I know it sounds sordid
But you’ll be rewarded
When at last, I am given my dues
And injustice deliciously squared
Be prepared!
[Yeah, be prepared! We’ll be prepared! For what?]
[For the death of the king!]
[Why? Is he sick?]
[No, fool, we’re gonna kill him. And Simba, too.]
[Great idea! Who needs a king?
No king! No king! La-la-la-la-la-la!]
[Idiots! There will be a king!]
[Hey, but you said, uh…]
[I will be king! Stick with me, and you’ll never go hungry again!]
[Yay! All right! Long live the king!
Long live the king! Long live the king!]
(King, king, king, king, king, king!)
It’s great that we’ll soon be connected
With a king who’ll be all time adored
Of course, quid pro quo, you’re expected
To take certain duties on board
The future is littered with prizes
And though I’m the main addressee
The point that I must emphasize is
You won’t get a sniff without me!
So prepare for the coup of the century
Be prepared for the murkiest scam
(Ooh… la, la, la!)
Meticulous planning
(We’ll have food!)
Tenacity spanning
(Lots of food!)
Decades of denial
(We repeat!)
Is simply why I’ll
(Endless meat!)
Be king, undisputed
Respected, saluted
And seen for the wonder I am!
Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared
Be prepared!
Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared
Be prepared!
[Mufasa has always shown too much restraint when it comes to hunting. When I’m king, the mighty will be free to take whatever they want, because a hyena’s belly is never full.]
[Mufasa’s far too powerful to challenge…]
Mufasa is yesterday’s message
A clapped-out, distracted regime
Whose failings undoubtedly presage
The need for a different dream
Yes leonine times are a-changing
Which means that hyenas must too
My vision is clear and wide-ranging
And even encompasses you.
So prepare for the coup of the century
Prepare for the murkiest scam
Meticulous planning
Tenacity spanning
Decades of denial
Is simply why I’ll
Be king undisputed
Respected, saluted
And seen for the wonder I am
Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared
Be prepared!
(Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared, be prepared)
Be prepared, be prepared
(Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared, be prepared)
Be prepared
(Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared, be prepared)
Be prepared
(Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared, be prepared)
Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared
Be prepared!
“Be Prepared” – The Lion King (1994) Video
“Be Prepared” Song Lyrics Trivia
- “Be Prepared” from The Lion King offers a striking contrast to Simba’s optimistic “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.” While Simba’s song radiates with youthful eagerness for the throne, “Be Prepared” delves into Scar’s sinister plot to seize power, showcasing the darker side of royal ambition.
- A clever play on words occurs with the line” My words are a matter of pride,” alluding to the term ‘pride’ as a collective noun for lions, adding a layer of wit to the lyrics.
- The song’s visual storytelling reaches a peak with the hyenas’ goosestepping sequence, an unsettling homage to historical footage of Nazi troops marching under Adolf Hitler’s gaze in Berlin. This imagery underscores the song’s menacing tone.
- An interesting tidbit from the movie’s production: Jeremy Irons, the voice of Scar, strained his voice during the intense delivery of “You won’t get a sniff without me!” This led to Jim Cummings stepping in to complete the song, seamlessly taking over from Irons.
- The soundtrack’s lyric booklet features a curious misprint, transforming the line “You won’t get a sniff without me!” into “You won’t get a sniff out of me!” – a small error that fans of the film might find amusing.
- The Lion King video game pays homage to the film with a unique detail: when hyenas are defeated, they mimic Ed’s military salute from the song’s first verses, complete with a comical sticking-out tongue, blending elements of the game with the film’s memorable scenes.
- In a moment of dark humor, Scar pushes a hyena into a crack in the ground right after bellowing, “You won’t get a sniff without me!” The hyena’s fall, accompanied by screams, implies a grim fate, adding a sinister edge to the scene.
- The antelope skeletons rattled by the hyenas in the film suggest the heartlessness of Scar’s reign. This imagery resonates in the Kingdom Hearts II video game, where Scar’s fearsome form is aptly named ‘Groundshaker,’ echoing the earth-shattering impact of his actions in the song.
- In The Lion King 1½, the opening of “Be Prepared” is cleverly integrated, differing from the original as it features a lit-up graveyard with the hyenas starting their goosestep march, providing a fresh perspective on the iconic sequence.
- Addressing a common mishearing, the lyric often mistaken as “grimble of potential” is actually “glimmer of potential,” dispelling a whimsical Mandela Effect among the fans.
Is “Be Prepared” one of your favorite Disney songs?
How do you feel about “Be Prepared”? Is it your favorite song from Disney’s The Lion King?
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