"The Morning Report" is a song written for the Broadway musical adaptation of The Lion King. Sung by Zazu, Mufasa, and young Simba, the song is an extension of the scene in the original film where Zazu delivers a morning report to Mufasa, and later gets pounced on by Simba, after which, Simba starts singing it while scaring Zazu. It was later added, with an accompanying animated sequence, to the film for its 2002 IMAX limited theatrical release. This can be found on the film's 2003 Platinum Edition DVD release, along with the original theatrical cut. The song is absent in the theatrical version of the 2011 3-D rerelease, but later appeared as a stand-alone bonus feature on the Diamond Edition Blu-ray release. The 2010 cuts to the Broadway version, as well as the North American tour, eliminated this song completely.
Lyrics
Zazu:
(Speaking) Good morning, sire!
Mufasa:
(Speaking) Good morning Zazu!
Zazu:
(Speaking) Checking in with the Morning Report.
Mufasa:
(Speaking) Fire away!
Zazu:
Chimps are going ape, giraffes remain above it all
Elephants remember, though just what I can't recall
Crocodiles are snapping up fresh offers from the banks
Showed interest in my nest egg but I quickly said, "No thanks!"
We haven't paid the hornbills and the vultures have a hunch
Not everyone invited will be coming back from lunch
This is the morning report
Gives you the long and the short
Every grunt, roar and snort
Not a tale I distort
On the morning report
Mufasa:
(Speaking) What are you doing, son?
Simba:
(Speaking) Pouncing.
Mufasa:
(Speaking) Ah, let an old pro show you how it's done....
Zazu:
Oh the buffalo have got a beef about this season's grass...
Mufasa:
(Speaking) Keep low to the ground.
Simba:
(Speaking) Ok, stay low to the ground.
Mufasa:
(Speaking) Shh! Not a sound...take one more step. Then pounce!
Zazu:
...are quite frankly in the dung. Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrkkkkkkkk!!!
Mufasa:
Ha Ha Ha!
Simba:
This is the morning report
gives you the long and the short.
Every grunt, roar, and snort, not a tale I distort,
(muffled) on the morning report.
Mufasa:
Ha Ha Ha!
Zazu:
Good morning, sire!
Mufasa:
Good morning Zazu!
Zazu:
Checking in with the Morning Report.
Mufasa:
Fire away!
Zazu:
It's an honor and a privilege, a duty I perform
With due sense of decorum and with pride
With deference and great respect very much the norm
Plus a hint of sycophancy on the side
To lay before my ruler all the facts about his realm
To fill him in on all the beastly news
Mufasa
[spoken] Yes, yes, Zazu, get on with it!
Zazu
In order that His Majesty stands sturdy at the helm
Aware of all the fauna's latest views
Mufasa
[spoken] Zazu! The morning report!
Zazu
[spoken] Er - yes, Sire - the morning report
Chimps are going ape, giraffes remain above it all
Elephants remember, though just what I can't recall
Crocodiles are snapping up fresh offers from the banks
Showed interes in my nest egg but I quickly said, "No thanks!"
We haven't paid the hornbills and the vultures have a hunch
Not everyone invited (sung) will be coming back from lunch
This is the morning report
Gives you the long and the short
Every grunt, roar and snort
Not a tale I distort
On the morning report
Mufasa
[spoken] What are you doing, son?
Young Simba:
[spoken] Pouncing
Mufasa:
[spoken] Let an old pro show you how it's done
Zazu:
[spoken] The buffalo have got a beef
About this season's grass
Warthogs have been thwarted
In attempts to save their gas
Flamingoes in the pink
Chasing secretary birds
Saffron is theis season's color
Seen in all the herds
Moving down the rank and file
To near the bottom rung
Far too many beetles are
[sung] Quite frankly in the dung
Aaaaaaaaak!
Mufasa
Stay low to the ground
Shh, not a sound
Take it slow
One more step
Then pounce!
Young Simba
Yeah, stay low!
This is the morning report
Gives you the long and the short
Every grunt, roar and snort
Not a tale I distort
On the morning report
Mufasa and Zazu and Young Simba:
This is the morning report
Gives you the long and the short
Every grunt, roar and snort
Not a tale I distort
On the morning report