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Be Prepared

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This page was made Song of the Month for January 2020.

"Be Prepared" is a song from Disney's 1994 animated film The Lion King. It features the villainous lion Scar rallying Shenzi, Banzai, Ed, and the rest of the hyenas together to prepare for his reign as king of the Pride Lands. The song was mostly performed by Scar's voice actor Jeremy Irons. However, when Irons' voice gave out, the song was finished by voice actor Jim Cummings. The parts of Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed were performed by their voice actors Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, and Jim Cummings respectively. The hyenas were performed by a chorus.

In 2019, Disney remade The Lion King as a CGI/live-action film. The 2019 version had different lyrics and was performed by Scar's voice actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and a chorus as the hyenas.

Lyrics

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!

[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!

Other Appearances

  • The version of the song on the soundtrack features a short soliloquy from Scar before the song begins.
  • The song was featured on the following albums:
    • The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    • The Lion King: Special Edition
    • Best of the Lion King
    • Disney Villains: Simply Sinister Songs
    • Walt Disney Records the Legacy Collection: The Lion King
  • Part of the song was used in The Lion King 1½ as Timon and Pumbaa are sneaking around the Elephant Graveyard.
  • The 2019 version was featured on its film's soundtrack.
  • The song was featured in Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Festival of The Lion King.
  • The song is featured in the Broadway musical, also with the soliloquy.

Gallery

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Trivia

  • The song had a reprise written, but it was cut from the film for being considered too dark.
  • The line "My words are a matter of pride" is a pun, as a group of lions is called a "pride".
  • The sequence showing the Hyenas goosestepping was notoriously modeled after actual footage of Nazi troops marching in Berlin with Adolf Hitler watching.
  • In the soundtrack's lyric booklet, the line "You won't get a sniff without me!" was accidentally written as "You won't get a sniff out of me!"
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Disney Animated Flims
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee • I've Got No Strings • Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (Reprise) • The Coach to Pleasure Island • Night on Bald Mountain • Hit the Big Boss (For a Raise) • Pink Elephants on Parade • Man Returns • Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum • Headless Horseman • Sing, Sweet Nightingale • The Walrus and the Carpenter • 'Twas Brillig • Painting the Roses Red • March of the Cards • Who's Been Painting My Roses Red? • A Pirate's Life (Is a Wonderful Life) • A Pirate's Life (Reprise) • The Elegant Captain Hook • The Siamese Cat Song • Cruella De Vil • Mad Madam Mim • I Wanna Be Like You • Trust in Me • The Phony King of England • Heffalumps and Woozles • A Huntin' Man • The World's Greatest Criminal Mind • Goodbye, So Soon • Poor Unfortunate Souls • Les Poissons • Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise) • Home on the Range • Belle • Gaston • Gaston (Reprise) • The Mob Song • Prince Ali (Reprise) • Be Prepared • Stampede • The Virginia Company • The Virginia Company (Reprise) • Mine, Mine, Mine • Savages, Pt. 1 • Savages, Pt. 2 • The Bells of Notre Dame • Out There • Hellfire • Paris Burning • And He Shall Smite the Wicked • The Gospel Truth II • Perfect World • The Firebird Suite • Yodel-Adle-Eedle-Idle-Oo • Friends on the Other Side • Friends on the Other Side (Reprise) • Healing Incantation • Mother Knows Best • Mother Knows Best (Reprise) • The Backson Song • March of the Oreo • Love is an Open Door • Wolves • Shiny • Know Who You Are

Pixar Films
Song of Mor'du • Remember Me • Much Needed Advice • La Llorona • Midnight, The Stars And You

Animated Sequels
I'm Looking Out for Me • Forget About Love • You're Only Second Rate • Welcome to the Forty Thieves • Are You In or Out? • Don't Fall in Love • Things Are Not What They Appear • My Lullaby • Not One of Us • Junkyard Society Rag • Perfectly Perfect • Feel Like a Million • Just One Mistake

Other Animated Films
Everybody's Got A Laughin' Place • It's a "B" Movie • Cutting Edge • Worthless • Kidnap the Sandy Claws • Oogie Boogie's Song • Gloomius Maximus • I, Ivan Krank • Petey's King of France • Chains of Love • It's Our House Now • If I Ruled the World • Sidekicks and Henchmen

Live Action Films
We Won't Be Happy 'Till We Get It! • Castle In Spain • Fidelity Fiduciary Bank • The Happiest Home in These Hills • Passamaquoddy • Every Little Piece • Bill of Sale • Scrooge • Marley and Marley • Come Little Children • I Put a Spell on You • Shiver My Timbers • A Professional Pirate • Secret of Survival • Little Girls • Easy Street • Little Girls (Reprise) • Bravo, Stromboli! • The Kraken • Davy Jones • Fabulous • North Pole, North Pole • Hello, Little Girl • Stay with Me • Agony • Last Midnight • Once Upon A Dream •My Jolly Sailor Bold • Mermaids • Rainbow Connection (Moopets Version) •Let's Talk About Me • I'm Number One • I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu) • Rotten to the Core • Evil Like Me • Evil • Ways to Be Wicked • What's My Name? • Chillin' Like a Villain • It's Goin' Down • What a Shame • Queen of Mean

Animated Series & Shorts
The Skeleton Dance • Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? • Der Fuehrer's Face • The Best of Everything • Fat Cat Stomp • The Lobster Mobster's Mob • The Beddy Bye Blues • You Wouldn't Want to Mess With Me (Part 1) • You Wouldn't Want to Mess With Me (Part 2) • Evil Lullaby • My Town • One Good Man • Yzmopolis • Boom-Da-Boom • Mortimer Mouse • Cedric the Great • All You Desire • Helping Hand • A Kingdom of My Own • This Fliegel Has Landed • Wendell's Way • My Evil Dreams • My Power Will Be Crystal Clear • Get Wicked • On Your/My Own • Tonight We Strike • Jackal Style • Outta the Way • Panic and Run • Lions Over All • We'll Make You a Meal • Bring Back a Legend • I Have A Plan • Big Bad Kenge • We're the Smartest • Let Me Make You Proud • Let Me Make You Proud (Reprise)] • Ready As I'll Ever Be • I'm Gonna Run This Dump • Li'l Ol' Me • Weirdmageddon Theme • We'll Meet Again • You Can't Catch Me • Don't Look Now • The Art of the Steal • We've Got Dance Power • Sky Pirates • Decay Incantation • Waiting in the Wings • Crossing The Line • Waiting in the Wings (Reprise) • Nothing Left to Lose • Goblin Jail • "GlomTales" Theme Song • I'm Not Very Nice

Deleted Songs
Rolling Along to Pleasure Island • I'm Odd • Beware the Jabberwock • Never Smile at a Crocodile • The Pirate Song • Evil - Evil • The Mighty Hunters • How Much You Mean to Me/Court Me Slowly • Silence is Golden • All Good Things Must End • Arabian Nights (Reprise 1) • Arabian Nights (Reprise 2) • Why Me? • Humiliate the Boy • My Finest Hour • Be Prepared (Reprise) • Snuff Out the Light • Perfect World (Yzma) • Gonna Get My Wish • You're You • Life's Too Short • It's Gonna Get Weird

Theatrical Songs
Another Pyramid • Like Father Like Son • Me • Maison Des Lunes • Chow Down • The Madness of King Scar • It's Never Too Late • I Want the Good Times Back • Sweet Child • Les Poissons (Reprise) • I Want the Good Times Back (Reprise) • Sweet Child (Reprise) • Sweet Child (Reprise) • Diamond in the Rough • Make a Little Noise •Flower of Gold • The Bottom Line • The Bottom Line (Reprise) • Hans of the Southern Isles • Hans of the Southern Isles (Reprise)

Video Games
I Love Fur • Puppies, Oh, Puppies • The Rat Tango • Run • Villains of a Sort • One-Winged Angel • Dr. Finkelstein's Song • Hail to Mr. Oogie • Casino Clash • A Filthy Finale • Organization XIII • Ursula's Revenge • It's a Small World • Opening • The Mad Doctor Isn't Mad • I'm Falling Apart • The Fall of Prescott • The Mad Doctor's Plan • Mad Doctor's Wonderful World of Evil

Promotional Songs
Honest John • Monstro the Whale • The Legend of Davy Jones • Shadow Man • Do What I Wanna Do • Love is a Magical Mystery

Parks
Hawaiian War Chant • Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me) • Grim Grinning Ghosts • Burrow's Lament • Friend Like Iago • Uh-Oa's Song • Guardians of the Galaxy Monsters After Dark

           TheLionKingNavbox.png Songs

Films
Be Prepared • Stampede • My Lullaby • Not One of Us

The Lion Guard
Tonight We Strike • Jackal Style • Outta the Way • Panic and Run • Lions Over All • We'll Make You a Meal • Bring Back a Legend • I Have A Plan • Big Bad Kenge • We're the Smartest • The Worst Hyena We Know • I'm Gonna Run This Dump • When I Led the Guard • The Tree of Life • You Best Not Mess With Mama

Musical
Chow Down • The Madness of King Scar

Other
Be Prepared (Reprise) • Friend Like Iago • Uh-Oa's Song

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