"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.
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.
Lyrics
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".