When I See an Elephant Fly

When I See an Elephant Fly
General information
Feature films	Dumbo Operation Dumbo Drop
Attractions and stage performances	Festival of Fantasy Parade
Albums	Dumbo Official Soundtrack Classic Disney Volume V Disney's Greatest Volume 4 Disney Timeless Classics
Composer	Oliver Wallace
Lyrics	Ned Washington
Performers	Cliff Edwards Hall Johnson Choir

"When I See an Elephant Fly" is a song in Dumbo. The song was sung by the Crows while making fun of Dumbo. The song was sung again during the end of the film when Dumbo becomes a circus star using his flying skills as he reunites with his mother as the Crows bid a farewell to him.

Lyrics

• First Version
• Reprise Version
• Sheet Music Version

I seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I seen a needle that winked its eye
But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

(What d'you say, boy?)
I said when I see an elephant fly
I seen a front porch swing, heard a diamond ring
I seen a polka-dot railroad tie
But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

(I saw a clothes horse, he r'ar up and buck)
(And they tell me that a man made a vegetable truck)
(I didn't see that, I only heard)
(But just to be sociable, I'll take your word)

(I heard a fireside chat, I saw a baseball bat)
(And I just laughed till I thought I'd die)
But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

Well I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
(With the wind)

When I see an elephant fly

Chorus: I seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I seen a needle that winked its eye

Elephants: But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

Chorus: Oh my

Chorus & Crows: When I see...
When I see...

When I see an elephant fly
(Ooh, look at him go!)

When I see an elephant fly
(Happy landing, son!)
(Whoopee!)

When I see an elephant fly
(I wish I'd have gotten his autograph.)
(Hey, man, I got his autograph.)
(Well, so long, glamour boy!)

Ho ho! When I think about it
Ho ho! I have to laugh!
Ho ho! Just to think about it
Bends me right in half!

I saw a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I saw a needle that winked its eye
But I think I will have seen everything
When I see an elephant fly

I saw a front porch swing, heard a diamond ring
I saw a polka-dot railroad tie
But I think I will have seen ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

I saw a clothes horse r'ar up and buck
They tell me that a man made a vegetable "Truck"
I didn't see that, I only heard
But just to be sociable, I'll take their word

I saw a lantern slide, saw an old cow hide
And I just laughed till I thought I'd die
But I think I will have seen ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

I saw a garden walk, a banana stalk
I saw a pig with an awful sty
But I think I will have seen ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

I saw the sugar bowl, saw the jelly roll
I saw a picket fence, that's no lie
But I think I will have seen ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

I even heard a chocolate drop
I went into a store, saw a bicycle shop
You can't deny the things that you see
But I know there's certain things that just can't be!

The other day by chance, saw an old Barn dance
So I'm a gullible sort of guy
But I think I will have seen ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly!

Trivia

• Much of the lip-syncing of the crows is out of sync during this number, with the crows switching rapidly between different singers.
• Part of this song can be heard at the end of Disney's 1995 live-action film Operation Dumbo Drop.
• The line "I didn't see that. I only heard" is a reference to Don Redman's song, "I Heard".
• It was also included in Disney Sing Along Songs: You Can Fly!, Disney Silly Songs, and Disney Sing Along Songs: Collection of All Time Favorites: The Early Years.

v - e - d

Media Films: Dumbo (soundtrack/video) • Dumbo (2019) (soundtrack/video) Television: Mickey Mouse Club • Dumbo's Circus • House of Mouse Books: The Art and Making of Dumbo Video Games: Disney's Villains' Revenge • Disney Emoji Blitz Cancelled projects: Dumbo II Disney Parks Casey Jr. Circus Train • Casey Jr. Splash 'n' Soak Station • Disney Animation Building • Dumbo the Flying Elephant • Games of the Boardwalk Entertainment: Animagique • Fantasmic! • Once Upon a Mouse Restaurants: Timothy's Treats Shops: Casey Jr. Trinket Train Parades: Disney's Dreams On Parade: Moving On • Flights of Fantasy Parade • Festival of Fantasy Parade • Happiness is Here Parade • Jubilation! • Main Street Electrical Parade • Mickey's Storybook Express • The Wonderful World of Disney Parade (The Float) Fireworks: Celebrate the Magic • Disneyland Forever • Happily Ever After • Magical: Disney's New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical Celebrations • Momentous • Once Upon a Time • Remember... Dreams Come True • Wonderful World of Animation • Wondrous Journeys Halloween: Happy Hallowishes Characters Original: Dumbo • Timothy Q. Mouse • Mrs. Jumbo • Circus Elephants • Ringmaster • Mr. Stork • Casey Junior • Pink Elephants • The Crows • Circus Animals • Clowns • Smitty Dumbo's Circus: Lionel • Fair Dinkum • Q.T. • Barnaby • Lilli • Sebastian • Flip & Flap • Little Bo Peep • Little Red Riding Hood • Big Bad Wolf Remake: Holt Farrier • V.A. Vandevere • Colette Marchant • Milly Farrier • Max Medici • Joe Farrier • Miss Atlantis • Rongo • Puck • Pramesh Singh • Ivan the Wonderful • Catherine the Greater • Neils Skellig • J. Griffin Remington • Sotheby • Hans Brugelbecker • Rufus Sorghum • Baritone Bates • Circus Cook Songs Look Out for Mr. Stork • Casey, Jr. • Roustabouts • Baby Mine • Hit the Big Boss • Pink Elephants on Parade • When I See an Elephant Fly Locations Florida • Circus • Dreamland • Nightmare Island • Wonders of Science • Medici Brothers' Circus Objects The Magic Feather