Can You Feel the Love Tonight

"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is a classical pop song from the Disney's 1994 animated feature film, The Lion King. It was originally composed by Elton John with lyrics written by Tim Rice. The song won the 1994 Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. The song was also nominated for AFI's "100 Years...100 Songs", as one of 15 songs from Disney and one of 17 songs from an animated movie to be nominated. The songs that eventually made the cut was: "When You Wish Upon A Star" (#7), "Some Day My Prince Will Come" (#19), "Beauty and the Beast" (#62) and "Hakuna Matata" (#99).

Plot
As the song begins, Timon and Pumbaa realize that Nala and Simba being alone together would most likely lead to the two falling romantically in love. The two worry that this will bring an end to their carefree days with Simba. Timon's prediction comes true, and the two lions fall in love during a stroll though the jungle.

In The Lion King 1½, the romantic love scene is interspersed with scenes showing Timon and Pumbaa trying to disrupt Simba and Nala's romantic night out while the refrain plays throughout their failure.

Elton John, the composer, also sings his cover version during the credits of the original film. This version was released as a single by Elton John and was also featured on the The Lion King soundtrack. A different cover version of the song, with Elton John's lyrics, appeared on the Sing-Along Songs video "Colors of the Wind", in which it was set to clips of romantic/loving couples from previous animated Disney films in addition to Simba and Nala.

Lyrics
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Movie version
Timon: I can see what's happening Pumbaa: What? Timon: And they don't have a clue Pumbaa: Who? Timon: They'll fall in love, and here's the bottom line Our trio's down to two Pumbaa: Oh Timon (with French accent): The sweet caress of twilight There's magic everywhere And with all this romantic atmosphere Disaster's in the air

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

Simba: So many things to tell her But how to make her see The truth about my past? Impossible She'd turn away from me Nala: 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?

Chorus: 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 to far Steeling through the night's uncertainties Love is where they are

Timon: And if he falls in love tonight It can be assumed Pumbaa: His carefree days with us are history Both: In short, our pal is doomed.
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Broadway version
Timon: I can see what's happening. Pumbaa: What? Timon: And they don't have a clue. Pumbaa: Who? Timon: They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line Our trio's down to two. Pumbaa: Oh. Timon: The sweet caress of twilight There's magic everywhere And with all this romantic atmosphere Disaster's in the air

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

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

Nala: 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?

Chorus: 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

Nala: And if he feels the love tonight In the way I do

Simba: It's enough for this restless wanderer

Simba and Nala: Just to be with you
 * }

Elton John's version
There's a calm surrender To the rush of day When the heat of a rolling wind Can be turned away An enchanted moment And it sees me through It's enough for this restless warrior Just to be with you

And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer That we got this far

And can you feel the love tonight? How it's laid to rest It's enough to make kings and vagabonds Believe the very best

There's a time for everyone If they only learn That the twisting kaleidoscope Moves us all in turn There's a rhyme and reason To the wild outdoors When the heart of this star-crossed voyager Beats in time with yours

And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer That we got this far

And can you feel the love tonight? How it's laid to rest It's enough to make kings and vagabonds Believe the very best

It's enough to make kings and vagabonds Believe the very best

Deleted versions
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Version One
Timon: If I said I love you, Pumbaa: Huh?

Timon: Had you on my brain,

Pumbaa: Hey!

Timon: It would mean a romantic atmosphere had rendered me insane! It's only an example, it don't apply to us.

Pumbaa: phew! But over there, it's a different story.

Timon: And one we must discuss!

Both: Oh, can you feel the love tonight? Oh, the signs are there.

Pumbaa: A starry sky and tons of tenderness.

Timon: Disaster in the air! And if he falls in love tonight,

Pumbaa: Oh no!

Timon: It can be assumed,

Pumbaa: What?

Timon: His carefree days with us are history. In short,

Both: Our pal is doomed!
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Version Two
Chorus: Can you feel the love tonight? Won't you stay to see, stealing through the night's uncertainties, a truth for you and me. Nala: Somewhere there's a reason why I had to go, to keep away from this star-crossed voyager that I don't want to know.

Simba: Never trust the future, never miss the past. If you live for the shining moment, the moment may just last!

Chorus: And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer That we got this far

Can you feel the love tonight? Won't you stay to see Stealing through the night's uncertainties A truth for you and me

Stealing through the night's uncertainties A love for you and me.
 * }

Trivia

 * The song originally was storyboarded to be sung by Timon and Pumbaa in a comical fashion, but was changed at the insistence of Elton John to be the film's "Prince and Princess" moment.
 * In 1994, the song won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.
 * The song was ranked #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
 * Originally, Disney didn't plan to use the song. It was only through the insistence of Elton John that it was included in the movie.
 * Several demos of the song were recorded during the film's production. One demo was sung by Timon and Pumbaa, but Elton John disliked the comical nature of the concept, although the ending verse was used for the final film. Another demo was recorded by Joseph Williams and Sally Dworsky as Simba and Nala, but it was also scrapped as it didn't connect with the African-themed music for the film.
 * According to Mouse Under Glass, Tim Rice wrote fifteen different drafts for the song before finally settling on the version included in the film.
 * When Zazu talks to Simba and Nala about their betrothal, flute notes of the song can be heard in the background score.
 * This is one of the movie's best known songs after "Hakuna Matata" and the "Circle of Life".
 * There is a rare work-in-progress version that appeared on the teaser trailer for the film included in the Fox and the Hound VHS, that you won't find anywhere else.