"He Lives in You" is a song from musical version of The Lion King that later appeared in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride that was recorded for the CD Rhythm of the Pride Lands. The music and lyrics were written by Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, and Lebo M, and performed by Lebo M, Maxi Anderson, Max Ngcobo, Khanyo Maphumulo, Khululiwe Sithole, and Rose Stone.
A pop version of the song was recorded by Tina Turner and was featured on the compilation album, The Lion King Collection. The song features English lyrics mixed in with some Zulu lyrics, similar to some of the lyrics sung in the song "Circle of Life", including the lyrics "Ingonyama nengw' enamabala" (The royal lion wears his leopard spots) and the background lyrics of "Hela hey Mamela" (Hey, listen).
An entirely Xhosa version of "He Lives in You" plays during the closing credits of the 2019 remake of The Lion King titled "Uphila kuwe" after "Never Too Late" performed by Elton John.
The song is similar to "Circle of Life" from the first The Lion King movie. During the song, Rafiki presents the newborn princess Kiara before the gathering of the animals.
Lyrics[]
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (The royal lion wears his leopard spots)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Night
And the spirit of life
Calling
Oh, oh, iyo
Mamela (Listen)
Oh, oh, iyo
Ubukhosi bo khokho (Throne of the ancestors)
We ndodana ye sizwe sonke (Oh, son of the nation)
Wait
There's no mountain too great
Oh, oh, iyo
Hear the words and have faith, oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh, iyo
Have faith
Hela hey mamela (Hey, listen)
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
(chorus)
He lives in you (Hela hey mamela, hela)
He lives in me (Hela hey mamela, hela)
He watches over (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Everything we see (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Into the water (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Into the truth (Hela hey mamela, hela)
In your reflection (Hela hey mamela)
He lives in you
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(instrumental)
He lives in you
Oh-ho-ho
(chorus)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (He lives in you)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (He lives in you)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (The royal lion wears his leopard spots)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Night
And the spirit of life
Calling
Oh, oh, iyo
Mamela (Listen)
Oh, oh, iyo
And a voice
With the fear of a child
Answers
Oh, oh, iyo
Oh, mamela (Listen)
Oh, oh, iyo
Ubukhosi bo khokho (Throne of the ancestors)
We ndodana ye sizwe sonke (Oh, son of the nation)
Wait
There's no mountain too great
Oh, oh, iyo
Hear the words and have faith, oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh, iyo
Have faith
Hela hey mamela (Hey, listen)
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
(chorus)
He lives in you (Hela hey mamela, hela)
He lives in me (Hela hey mamela, hela)
He watches over (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Everything we see (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Into the water (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Into the truth (Hela hey mamela, hela)
In your reflection (Hela hey mamela)
He lives in you
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(instrumental)
(chorus)
He lives in you
Oh-ho-ho
Oh, oh, iyo
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, iyo
So wait
There's no mountain too great
Hear the words and have faith
Have faith
(chorus 2x)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (He lives in you)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (He lives in you)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Chorus: Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (The royal lion wears his leopard spots)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Mufasa: Night
And the spirit of life
Calling
(Oh oh iyo)
Mamela (Listen)
(Oh oh iyo)
And a voice
With the fear of a child
Asking
(Oh oh iyo)
Oh, Mamela
Chorus: Mamela, mamela iyo
Hela
Mufasa: Wait
There's no mountain too great
Hear these words and have faith (Oh oh iyo)
Oh... (Oh oh iyo)
Have faith
Chorus: Hela hm mamela
Hela hm mamela
Hela hm mamela
Hela
Mufasa: They live in you (Hela hey mamela)
They live in me (Hela hey mamela)
They're watching over (Hela hey mamela)
Everything we see (Hela hey mamela)
In every creature (Hela hey mamela)
In every star (Hela hey mamela)
In your reflection
They live in you
(instrumental break)
Mufasa/Chorus: They live in you (Hela hey mamela)
They live in me (Hela hey mamela)
They're watching over (Hela hey mamela)
Everything we see (Hela hey mamela)
In every creature (Hela hey mamela)
In every star (Hela hey mamela)
In your reflection
They live in you
Chorus: Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(repeat three more times until fade)
Chorus: Ingonyama nengw' enamabala (The royal lion wears his leopard spots)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Rafiki:
Night
And the spirit of life
Calling
(Oh oh iyo)
Mamela
(Oh oh iyo)
And a voice
Just the fear of a child
Answers
(Oh oh iyo)
Oh, i yeah mamela
(Oh oh iyo)
Ubu khosi bo khokho
Chorus: We ndodana ye sizwe sonke
Rafiki: Wait
(Wait, wait, wait, wait)
There's no mountain too great
Hear these words and have faith
(Oh oh iyo)
Whoa whoa whoa-oh
(Oh oh iyo)
Have faith
Chorus:
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
Hela
Rafiki:
He lives in you
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
He lives in me
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
He watches over
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
Everything we see
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
Into the water
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
Into the truth
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
In your reflection
He lives in you
He lives in you
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
He lives in me
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
He watches over
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
Everything we see
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
Into the water
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
Into the truth
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
In your reflection
He lives in you
Chorus:
He lives in you
He lives in you
He lives in you
He lives in you
(instrumental break)
Rafiki/Chorus: He lives in you
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
Ah yo
He lives in me
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
(He watches over)
Ah, he watches over
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
Everything we see
(Hela, hey mamela, hela)
Ah, into the water
(Hela, hey mamela)
Hey, into the truth
(Hela, hey mamela)
In your reflection
Hala hala hala ya
Hala hala hala yo
Chorus: He lives in you
Simba: Whoa-oh-oh
Oh, he lives in me
(Hela, hey mamela)
Oh, oh
(He watches over)
He watches over
(Everything we see)
Oh, everything we see
(Into the water)
Into the water
(Into the truth)
(In your reflection)
In my reflection
All:
He lives in you!
Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala
Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala
Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala
Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala
Ubusuku no moya wobomi
Buyakubiza
Mamela
Nezwi
Elinoyiko lwe ntsana
Liyaphendula
Oh, mamela
Ubukhosi bo khokho
Yima, akukho bunzima
Yiva lamazwi uhlale ethembeni
Oh, ooh, yibanethemba
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
Hela…
Uphila kuwe (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Uphila nakum (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Uhlal’ejongile (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Yonk’into esiyibonayo (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Nansenemanzini
(Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala, hela hey mamela, hela)
Nasenyanisweni
(Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala, hela hey mamela, hela)
Nase mfanekisweni wakho
(Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala, hela hey mamela, hela)
Uphila kuwe
Uphila kuwe (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Uphila nakum (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Uhlal’ejongile (Hela hey mamela, hela)
Yonk’into esiyibonayo
(Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala, hela hey mamela, hela)
Nansenemanzini
(Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala, hela hey mamela, hela)
Nasenyanisweni
(Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala, hela hey mamela, hela)
Nase mfanekisweni wakho
(Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala, hela hey mamela, hela)
Uphila kuwe
Uphila kuwe
Oh, oh
Whoa, oh
Yima, akunabunzima
Yiva lamazwi uhlale
Yibanethemba
Uphila kuwe
Uphila nakum
Uhlal’ejongile
Yonk’into esiyibonayo
Nansenemanzini (Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala)
Nasenyanisweni (Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala)
Nase mfanekisweni wakho (Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala)
Uphila kuwe, ah, ah
Uphila kuwe, whoa (Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala)
Uphila nakum (Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala)
Uhlal’ejongile (Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala)
Yonk’into esiyibonayo (Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala)
Nansenemanzini (Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala)
Nasenyanisweni (Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala)
Nase mfanekisweni wakho (Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala)
Uphila kuwe
Uphila kuwe
The Lion King musical[]
Simba and the chorus performing "He Lives in You" from the second act of The Lion King musical. Photograph is of the original Korean cast.
The song is used twice in the musical based on the film, once in each act. During the first act, it is performed by Mufasa to young Simba as They Live in You. The lyrics were changed slightly to represent the Great Kings of the Past. Mufasa, during the song, shows Simba that he is never alone as there is always someone watching over him.
In the second act, the song is sung by Rafiki, the chorus, and adult Simba as "He Lives in You". The first part of the song is fairly subdued and sung by Rafiki and the chorus as Rafiki summons Mufasa's spirit. Mufasa's spirit appears and instructs Simba to return home and take his rightful place as king. After Mufasa's spirit fades, Simba realizes that he must take responsibility and return home. At this, there is an instrumental break, after which the song becomes livelier and Simba joins in the celebratory singing.
Cover versions[]
- Tina Turner's version was featured on the compilation album, The Lion King Collection, as well as the French track of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, instead of "Love Will Find a Way".
- Diana Ross recorded the song for her 1999 album Every Day is a New Day. Lonnie Gordon recorded a house version for her album No Regret and released it as a single in 2001. In that same year, Michael Crawford sang this song as part of a medley on The Disney Album. A Eurobeat rendition of the song was recorded for Eurobeat Disney, Vol. 1 with vocals by Brian Ice. Elijah Kelley from the movie version of the musical version of the movie Hairspray covered it in 2008 for DisneyMania 6.
- "They Live in You" and "He Lives in You" have been rendered for cast recordings of the musical including The Lion King: 1997 Original Broadway Cast and The Lion King: Original Japanese Cast "They Live In You" was used by Johnny Mathis for his 2000 album Mathis on Broadway.
- Japanese pop/dance group TRF recorded a cover of "He Lives in You" in 1999.
- In 2010, Helene Fischer, a German singer, performed the song on her "So wie ich bin" tour.
- Micheal Castaldo recorded an Italian version of the song called "Lui vive in te" on his Aceto album.
- In 2019, Peter Hollens, an American Youtuber/Acapella artist, provides the song along with the touring cast of the Lion King musical.
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- The song's title is a reference to Rafiki's line "He lives in you", referring to the fact that even though Mufasa is gone, he still lives on Simba's heart. To further allude to Mufasa, his spirit appears as an image in the sky overlooking the presentation ceremony of Kiara.
