Colonel Hathi's March
Disney Lyrics


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Hup 2, 3, 4
Keep it up 2, 3, 4
Company sound off!

Oh, the aim of our patrol
Is a question rather droll
For to march and drill
over field and hill
Is a military goal!
Is a military goal!

Hup 2, 3, 4
Dress it up 2, 3, 4
Hup 2, 3, 4
Dress it up 2, 3, 4

By the ranks or single file
Over every jungle mile
Oh we stamp and crush
Through the underbrush
In a military style!
In a military style!





Hup 2, 3, 4
Keep it up 2, 3, 4

Overall Meaning

Colonel Hathi's March is a song sung by the Disney Studio Chorus in the 1967 animated movie, The Jungle Book. The song talks about the aim of their patrol and the military-style of marching. The lyrics are quite straightforward and depict the goal of a military training. The opening lines of the song, "Hup 2, 3, 4, Keep it up 2, 3, 4, Company sound off," suggest that they are following military discipline while marching.


In the first verse, the aim of their patrol is a question that is rather droll, meaning it's silly or trivial. The goal is to march and drill over the field and hill, which is a basic military goal. The word "droll" is used sarcastically here as the goal is not droll but an essential part of military training. The Jungle Book is set in the Indian jungle, and in the second verse, they talk about marching over every jungle mile in a military style. They stamp and crush through the underbrush, which means they are clearing the path to march ahead.


Line by Line Meaning

Hup 2, 3, 4
A military chant used to coordinate movements.


Keep it up 2, 3, 4
Encouragement to maintain the established pace.


Company sound off!
Command for each member of the group to introduce themselves with their assigned number or rank.


Oh, the aim of our patrol
The purpose of our mission is ambiguous or unclear.


Is a question rather droll
It's a humorous or silly inquiry.


For to march and drill
We're here to march and engage in military training.


over field and hill
We will go anywhere, over any terrain.


Is a military goal!
This is an aspect of our military duties and training.


Hup 2, 3, 4
A military chant used to coordinate movements.


Dress it up 2, 3, 4
Make sure we look presentable.


Hup 2, 3, 4
A military chant used to coordinate movements.


Dress it up 2, 3, 4
Make sure we look presentable.


By the ranks or single file
Marching formation preference or options.


Over every jungle mile
We will traverse the jungle regardless of distance or difficulty.


Oh we stamp and crush
Step firmly and forcefully through any obstacles.


Through the underbrush
Navigating through the jungle's dense low-level vegetation.


In a military style!
Maintain discipline and follow protocol throughout our mission.


Hup 2, 3, 4
A military chant used to coordinate movements.


Keep it up 2, 3, 4
Encouragement to maintain the established pace.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ROBERT SHERMAN, RICHARD SHERMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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