I Just Can't Wait To Be King
The London Theatre Orchestra and Cast Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm gonna be a mighty king
So enemies beware
Well, I've never seen a king of beasts

With quite so little hair, ha

I'm gonna be the mane event
Like no king was before
I'm brushing up I'm looking down
I'm working on my roar

Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing
Oh, I just can't wait to be king

And no one say, "Do this"
Now when I said that, I
No one saying, "Be there"
What I meant was

No one saying, "Stop that"
What you don't realize
No one saying, "See here"
Now now see here

Free to run around all day
That's definitely out
Free to do it all my way

I think it's time that you and I
Arranged a heart to heart
Kings don't need advice
From little horn bills for a start

If this is where the monarchy is headed
Count me out
Out of service, out of Africa
I wouldn't hang about

This child is getting wildly out of wing
Oh, I just can't wait to be king

Everybody look left
Everybody look right
Everywhere I go I'm
Standing in the spotlight
Not yet

Let every creature go for broke and sing
Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing
It's gonna be King Simba's finest fling

Oh, I just can't wait to be king
Oh, I just can't wait to be king




Oh, I just can't wait
I just can't wait to be king

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" from The Lion King are sung by Simba, the young lion cub who dreams of taking over his father's throne and becoming king. The opening line of the song, "I'm gonna be a mighty king," sets the tone for Simba's aspirations, and he speaks confidently of his abilities to rule as he sings, "So enemies beware." However, the lyrics also reveal that Simba has a lot to learn about being a good king, as he dismisses the advice and guidance of others in favor of his own desires and impulses. His desire for freedom and independence is highlighted in the line, "Free to do it all my way," which shows that Simba believes he can rule without any help or guidance.


The second verse of the song continues to demonstrate Simba's naivety about what it means to be a good king. He believes that being king means he can do whatever he wants, without any consequences or restrictions. When he sings, "No one saying 'Stop that' / What you don't realize / No one saying 'See here' / Now now see here," he is expressing his desire to be free from any kind of authority or direction. However, by the end of the song, Simba learns that being a good king means not only having power, but also using that power to make wise and just decisions for his kingdom.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm gonna be a mighty king
I will become a powerful ruler


So enemies beware
Those who oppose me should beware


Well, I've never seen a king of beasts With quite so little hair, ha
I haven't encountered a king of animals with such little fur before


I'm gonna be the mane event Like no king was before
I will be the greatest attraction ever experienced by the kingdom


I'm brushing up I'm looking down I'm working on my roar
I'm improving my appearance and voice to become an impressive king


Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing
The progress I've made hasn't been very exciting


Oh, I just can't wait to be king
I'm extremely excited to become king


And no one say, "Do this" Now when I said that, I No one saying, "Be there" What I meant was
I won't be ordered around anymore- when I said that I actually meant that no one should be given instructions on how to do things


No one saying, "Stop that" What you don't realize No one saying, "See here" Now now see here
I won't allow anyone to stop me or tell me what to do- don't forget that


Free to run around all day That's definitely out
I won't have the freedom to roam all day anymore


Free to do it all my way
I can make my own decisions and do things my way


I think it's time that you and I Arranged a heart to heart
You and I need to have a serious talk


Kings don't need advice From little horn bills for a start
Kings don't need advice from anyone, especially not small birds like horn bills


If this is where the monarchy is headed Count me out
If this is how the kingship will be, I won't be involved


Out of service, out of Africa I wouldn't hang about
I would leave the continent if the monarchy is not to my liking


This child is getting wildly out of wing Oh, I just can't wait to be king
This young animal is becoming too wild and out of control- but I can't wait to be king anyway


Everybody look left Everybody look right Everywhere I go I'm Standing in the spotlight Not yet
I want everyone to notice me and my greatness, but it hasn't happened yet


Let every creature go for broke and sing Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing It's gonna be King Simba's finest fling
I want all the animals to sing and celebrate with me- It will be the greatest event of King Simba's life


Oh, I just can't wait to be king Oh, I just can't wait to be king Oh, I just can't wait I just can't wait to be king
I am really looking forward to becoming a king




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Elton John, Tim Rice

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions