Director Ron Minkoff revealed in a 2014 interview with Projector And Orchestra that the first version of the song was called, “He’s Got It All Worked Out,” “which was a similar idea, but Timon was singing about how Pumbaa had mastered the idea of taking it easy.” Another early version was called “Warthog Rhapsody,” a song that shared lyrical and melodic ideas with “Hakuna Matata” and eventually appeared on Rhythm Of The Pride Lands, a Lion King sequel album released in 1995.
But “Hakuna Matata” took some time to get right. When John agreed to the collaboration, the pair cooked up material for The Lion King (initially known as “King Of The Jungle”) from their respective locations, faxing lyrics and sending demos across the Atlantic. “They represent a different aspect of life. “It had to introduce them, had to be about their way of life they wanted to teach Simba, an impressionable young cub,” Rice told Vulture in 2014. The song features at a pivotal point in the movie, with Timon and Pumbaa offering Simba advice while he grows from a cub to an adult lion. The pair struck gold with “Hakuna Matata” – an upbeat ditty sung by a meerkat named Timon (voiced by Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa the warthog (Ernie Sabella). Listen to “Hakuna Matata” from The Lion King soundtrack now. The plan was that we wouldn’t write the usual Broadway-style Disney score, but try to come up with pop songs that kids would like.”
Apparently, Disney were making their first animated film based on an original story rather than an existing work, and I was intrigued…. In his 2019 autobiography, Me, John recalled Rice’s original pitch, “Ten years after we’d last written a song together, Tim Rice phoned up out of the blue, asking me if I was interested in working with him again. When it came to writing the songs for The Lion King, Menken was otherwise engaged, so Rice turned to John. Rice was no stranger to Disney, having contributed lyrics to composer Alan Menken’s songs for the 1992 hit Aladdin after the passing of original lyricist Howard Ashman. The Lion King’s songs were written by rock great Elton John and the celebrated lyricist Tim Rice ( Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph & His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat).
But all great Disney films need some comic relief, and there’s few better examples than “Hakuna Matata.” “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” is a highlife-infused romp, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” introduces some romance to proceedings, and “Be Prepared” is a slinky and foreboding slice of villainy. “Circle Of Life” was a philosophical introduction to the story of Simba, a young lion, and his journey as he succeeds his father as King of the Pride Lands. The songs of Disney’s 1994 animated blockbuster The Lion King had it all.
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