I can see what's happening
What
And they don't have a clue
Who
They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line
Our trio's down to two
Oh

The sweet caress of twilight
There's magic everywhere
And with all this romantic atmosphere
Disaster's in the air

Can you feel the love tonight
The peace the evening brings
The world for once in perfect harmony
With all its living things

So many things to tell her
But how to make her see
The truth about my past, impossible
She'd turn away from me

He's holding back, he's hiding
But what, I can't decide
Why won't he be the king I know he is?
The king I see inside?

Can you feel the love tonight?
The peace the evening brings
The world, for once, in perfect harmony
With all its living things

Can you feel the love tonight?
You needn't look too far
Stealing through the night's uncertainties
Love is where they are

And if he falls in love tonight
It can be assumed
His carefree days with us are history
In short, our pal is doomed

Overall Meaning

The song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from the movie The Lion King, sung by Joseph Williams and Sally Dworsky, explores the idea of love and the obstacles that come with it. The first verse speaks about how the singer sees something that nobody else has any idea about. He is observing two people who are falling in love with each other, and the bottom line is that their trio is now reduced to two. The second verse talks about the magic that twilight brings and how it creates a romantic environment. But with that said, the singer can also sense that there might be disaster in the air.

The chorus is a beautiful reflection of love and harmony. It speaks about how once in a while, the world comes together in perfect harmony, and all living beings can feel this peace. The singer then tries to express his emotions to his love interest but is torn as he doesn’t know how to tell her the truth about his past. The bridge of the song talks about how the singer can see his love interest holding back and hiding his true self. He knows the person she loves can be a great king, but he is torn between revealing his true self, which could result in rejection or staying hidden and keeping her love.

Line by Line Meaning

I can see what's happening
I have insight into the situation

And they don't have a clue
The people involved are unaware

They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line
They will inevitably develop feelings of love

Our trio's down to two
There will be a change in the group dynamic

The sweet caress of twilight
The peaceful ambiance of evening

There's magic everywhere
There is a sense of enchantment in the air

And with all this romantic atmosphere
Despite the romance in the air

Disaster's in the air
There is a sense of impending danger

Can you feel the love tonight
Do you sense the romantic connection?

The peace the evening brings
The calmness the night provides

The world for once in perfect harmony
All living things are in sync