One of the most beloved Disney songs, “Circle of Life,” is from Disney’s 1994 animated film The Lion King. Composed by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice, the song was performed by Carmen Twillie (female vocals) and Lebo M (opening Zulu vocals) as the film’s opening song.
About the “Circle of Life” lyrics
A pop version of the song was recorded by Elton John with the London Community Gospel Choir which was included in the film’s soundtrack and made into a music video. The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1994. Two other songs from The Lion King, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Hakuna Matata” also received nominations.
“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” won the award. The song reached #11 in the UK and #18 in the US. Michael Crawford sang this song as part of a medley for The Disney Album in 2001.
The song is also frequently featured in attractions at Disney theme parks, such as parades.
The song begins at the beginning of the film, the dawn of Simba’s presentation. As the song progresses, various animal herds travel through the Pride Lands to gather at Pride Rock.
Rafiki meets up with the current King of the Pride Lands, Mufasa, and his mate, Sarabi. After blessing Mufasa’s newborn cub Simba, Rafiki lifts the cub up high for all the animals to see, and the animals bow before their future king.
The song reprises at the end of the film after Simba has taken the throne. Rafiki presents Simba and Nala’s newborn cub, recalling the opening. The song is used again in The Lion King 1½.
Circle of Life Lyrics Video
The “Circle of Life” lyrics
Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba [Here comes a lion, Father]
Sithi uhm ingonyama [Oh yes, it’s a lion]
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba
Sithi uhhmm ingonyama
Ingonyama
Siyo Nqoba [We’re going to conquer]
Ingonyama
Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala [A lion and a leopard come to this open place]
[Chant repeats]
From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There’s more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There’s far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It’s the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
It’s the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
Umm hmm
Oh ho
Oh ho
Oh ho
Oh ho
From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking step into the sun
There’s more to be seen than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
Some say, eat or be eaten
Some say, live and let live
But, all are agreed as they join the stampede
You should never take more than you give
In the circle of life
It’s the wheel of fortune
It’s the leap by faith
It’s the band of hope
Till, we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with the scars
There’s far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rollin’ high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps the great and small on the endless round
In the circle of life
It’s the wheel of fortune
It’s the leap by faith
It’s the band of hope
Till, we find our place
On the path unwinding, yea
In the circle
The circle of life
It’s the wheel of fortune, yea
It’s the leap by faith
It’s the band of hope
Till, we find our place
On the path unwinding, yea
In the circle
The circle of life
On the path unwinding, yea
In the circle
The circle of life
Free “Circle of Life” lyrics download
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“Circle of Life” song trivia
- Carmen Twillie sang the movie’s version of this song in the opening scene, and Elton John’s version is included on the soundtrack.
- The Lion King became the best-grossing traditionally animated feature of all time, with the songs playing a key part. The song is also frequently featured in attractions and Disney theme park parades.
- The song has become the theme of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World in Florida. In Epcot, the song is featured in the attraction Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable, starring characters from the film.
- This song is often compared to Vuelie from the film Frozen in that they are both sung at the beginning of their films and are sung by a native chorus (Norwegian and African).
- The tagline for the animated motion picture The Lion King was “Life’s greatest adventure is finding your place in the Circle of Life.”
- Lyricist Tim Rice was reportedly stunned by how quickly composer Elton John was able to put Rice’s words to music. This effort was rewarded with an Academy Award nomination but lost to “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” from the same movie, also written by Tim Rice and composed and sung by Elton John.
- Elton prefers “Circle Of Life” to his other Lion King hit contribution, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” While he rarely plays the latter in concert, “Circle” is often in his setlist, as Elton thinks the lyric is “brilliant.”
- This is one of Elton’s favorite songs in his considerable canon. Working on The Lion King got him out of the cycle of recording an album and then touring, and it led to more work on musicals, as he later contributed to Aida, Billy Elliot, and The Vampire Lestat.
- Jennifer Hudson performed this on season three of American Idol during Top 9 week when Elton John was the guest mentor.
- Disney had another hit on their hands the following year with the movie Pocahontas. Once again, they referred to the circle of life in the movie’s theme song, “Colors Of The Wind,” as the heroine sings, “we are all connected to each other, in a circle, in a hoop that never ends.”
Misheard Circle of Life Lyrics
Misheard Lyrics:
Pink pajamas, penguins on the bottom
Original Lyrics:
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba.
Misheard Lyrics:
oh my god there’s penguins on my bottom
Original Lyrics:
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba.
Is Circle of Life one of your favorite Disney songs?
Tell us what you think about the “Circle of Life.” Is it your favorite song from a Disney movie? Which songs from Disney movies are your favorite tunes? Be sure to visit and sing along to the lyrics for Can You Feel The Love Tonight.
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