Be Prepared (song)

"Be Prepared"
Song

File:ScarAndHyenas.jpg

Scar towers over the hyenas.

"Be Prepared" is a song from the 1994 Disney film and 1997 Broadway musical The Lion King. The song was composed by Tim Rice (lyrics) and Elton John (music) and originally performed by Jeremy Irons, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings (who took over after Irons' voice gave out), and Whoopi Goldberg in the film and by John Vickery, Kevin Cahoon, Stanley Wayne Mathis, and Tracy Nicole Chapman in the original Broadway cast for the musical.

The song continued what had become a Disney tradition in their newer movies at that time, where the villain had his or her own song in the film. This included Professor Ratigan's "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" in The Great Mouse Detective, Ursula's "Poor Unfortunate Souls" in The Little Mermaid, Gaston's "The Gaston Song" in Beauty and the Beast. This tradition is continued with Dr. Facilier's "Friends on the Other Side" in The Princess and the Frog, Mother Gothel's "Mother Knows Best" in Tangled and Frollo's "Hellfire" in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The Lion King

Before the song begins, Scar is talking to the hyenas about their failed attempt to kill Simba and Nala. Shenzi says in their defense "Well, you know, it wasn't exactly like they was alone, Scar", to which Banzai adds "Yeah, what were we supposed to do, kill Mufasa?". Scar, with an evil grin and one paw under his chin replies "Precisely..." Scar sings about the lack of intelligence displayed by the hyenas and how, if they assist him in his plan of killing Mufasa and Simba, intending on becoming King of Pride Rock as Mufasa's 'successor', but through a coup d'état. He promises the hyenas for their aid that he will make sure that they "never go hungry again". The song gradually intensifies throughout, from Scar's comparatively tame first verse to the louder and more complex final section, in which the hyenas sing in counterpoint to Scar. Also, the lighting also changes as the song gets more intense, starting at a green, then to a yellow as Scar begins rallying the Hyenas, then finally a red at the end during the most intense piece of the song. Set in a geothermically unstable area, the song features stylized earthquakes and geysers throughout.

In the beginning of the second verse, an army of hyenas is shown goose-stepping in front of Scar, who is perched on an overlooking cliff in resemblance of Adolf Hitler with countless beams of light pointing straight-up (resembling the Cathedral of light featured in many of the Nuremberg Rallies). Shadows cast onto the cliff evoke for a brief second monumental columns. This is modeled after footage from the Nazi propaganda movie Triumph of the Will.

Jeremy Irons sings most of the song, but from the line "You won't get a sniff without me!" towards the end, the song is sung by Jim Cummings, who voices Ed the Hyena. This was allegedly due to Irons' voice giving out.

Early production

Originally, the song was about Scar introducing the hyenas to the lionesses after he pronounced himself king and when the lionesses opposed him. This idea was scrapped in favor of the song in the film. It was called "Thanks to Me". A reprise of the song after Mufasa's death was also cut from the film, but is featured in the musical version.

Original recording

On the original soundtrack recording, Scar opens the song with a soliloquy:

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.

In the film this is cut and the song begins immediately. This was due to a plot adjustment. The soliloquy had Scar considering using the hyenas for his plot, but in the final version he had already used the hyenas in his plans before the song.

The Lion King 1½

In The Lion King 1½, the music from the beginning of the song is briefly heard as Timon and Pumbaa tour Scar's lair as a possible new home, commenting on how it is quiet, secluded and with no uninvited visitors. The shadows of the goose-stepping hyena army are then seen marching in front of them, though they haven't started singing yet. Timon and Pumbaa stare at them for a few seconds, and remark that the scene "isn't exactly a revival of river dance." They then riverdance out of the scene.

The Lion King musical

Like the original soundtrack recording, Scar begins the song with a brief soliloquy. The song is similar to its film counterpart in most respects, including the goose stepping Hyenas, but there is a dance number performed by the hyena ensemble halfway through. Scar later sings a brief reprise while declaring himself king at Mufasa's funeral in which he introduces the Hyenas as his direct and privileged minions. However, the Broadway reprise was not featured in the soundtrack, and is instead replaced with a sinister chord at the end of the song "Rafiki Mourns". In other soundtracks from different productions, the song is not represented at all.

Festival of The Lion King

In Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom's Festival of the Lion King, Scar sings the line "And where do we feature?" (originally sung by Shenzi) and its answer "Just listen to teacher!", turning it into a rhetorical question. In part of the song, an actor dressed in a tribal hyena costume performs a dance with a flaming torch.

Text

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 a 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 ha ha

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 u said...?

I will be king!!!!! Stick with me

And you'll never be hungry again!

Yaaay! all right! long live the 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

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!

Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared - Be prepared!