Reitherman was born in Burbank, California. He provided the voices of Mowgli in The Jungle Book, Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree and Terry Dexter in Here Comes the Grump (1969–1971). He also performed the song "Little Black Rain Cloud" for Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.
After graduating from U.C. Berkeley in 1977 with an independent major in Natural Resources and a minor in Spanish, subsequent work experience included stints as a river guide, field biologist, naturalist, expedition leader and biological consultant.
He restarted his career as a cameraman, producer, writer and director, in the 1990s in shows like In the Wild, Nature, and Big Bear Week.
Reitherman lives in Santa Barbara, California with his wife, artist Erika Hill, and their daughter Camilla.
I wan'na be like you
Bruce Reitherman Lyrics
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I reached the top and had to stop
And that's what bothering me
I want to be a man, man-cub, and stroll right into town
And be just like those other men
I'm tired of monkeying around
Now don't try to kid me, man-cub, I'll make a deal with you
What I desire is man's red fire to make my dreams come true
Give me the power of man's red flower so I can be like you
Ooh-bi-doo, I wan'na be like you
I want to walk like you, talk like you, too
You see it's true, an ape like me
Can learn to be like you, too
Now don't try to kid me, man-cub, I made a deal with you
What I desire is man's red fire to make my dream's come true
So give me the secret, man-cub, clue me what to do
Give me the power of man's red flower so I can be like you
Ooh-bi-doo, I wan'na be like you
I want to walk like you, talk like you, too
You see it's true, an ape like me
Can learn to be like you, too
Break it down boys, break it down boys, break it down
Break it down boys, break it down boys, break it down
Now I'm the king of the swingers, the jungle V.I.P.
I reached the top and had to stop
And that's what bothering me
I want to be a man, man-cub, and stroll right into town
And be just like those other men
I'm tired of monkeying around
Ooh-bi-doo, I wan'na be like you
I want to walk like you, talk like you, too
You see it's true, an ape like me
Can learn to be like you, too
Can learn to be someone like me
The song "I Wan'na Be Like You" by Bruce Reitherman is from the 1967 Disney movie, "The Jungle Book". The lyrics tell the story of King Louie, an orangutan who longs to be like Mowgli, the man-cub. Louie is portrayed as the "king of the swingers" and the "jungle V.I.P." but he wants to be more than just a monkey. He wants to have the power of man's red flower, or fire, to make his dreams come true. He makes a deal with Mowgli, asking him to give him the secret to being human.
The chorus of the song is a repeated plea from Louie to Mowgli, stating that he wants to be like him. He wants to walk like him and talk like him, to the point where an ape like him can learn to be like a human. The song is a commentary on the desire to fit in with the dominant culture, to be accepted as one of the "other men" in town. Louie feels like he is tired of monkeying around, of being seen as an animal.
The song is not just a catchy tune with a fun beat, but it also highlights some deeper themes about identity, acceptance and conformity. It suggests that it is important to be yourself, rather than to try to imitate others. The song is a reminder to embrace your individuality and not to be afraid to be different.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I'm the king of the swingers, the jungle V.I.P
I've made it to the top of the jungle and now I'm in charge
I reached the top and had to stop
I've achieved my goals but now I feel stuck
And that's what bothering me
I'm not content with my current position
I want to be a man, man-cub, and stroll right into town
I want to be a human and be able to live amongst them in the city
And be just like those other men
I want to fit in with the humans and be like them
I'm tired of monkeying around
I'm frustrated with the limitations of being an ape and want to be a human
Now don't try to kid me, man-cub, I'll make a deal with you
I'm serious about wanting to be like a human and I'm willing to make a deal to achieve my goal
What I desire is man's red fire to make my dreams come true
I want access to human tools and technology to make my dreams a reality
So give me the secret, man-cub, clue me what to do
I need the knowledge and guidance of a human to become like them
Give me the power of man's red flower so I can be like you
Give me access to fire so I can use it to create and achieve like humans do
Ooh-bi-doo, I wan'na be like you
I really want to be like you
I want to walk like you, talk like you, too
I want to be able to move, communicate, and behave like a human
You see it's true, an ape like me
It may seem unlikely, but I believe that I can become like a human
Can learn to be like you, too
I have the ability to learn and adapt to become like a human
Break it down boys, break it down boys, break it down
Let's take a moment to celebrate and enjoy this music
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind