"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is a classical pop song from The Lion King. It was originally composed by Elton John with lyrics written by Tim Rice.
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.
Lyrics
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.
Broadway Version
I can see what's happening. What?
And they don't have a clue. Who?
They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line
Our trio's down to two. Oh.
The sweet caress of twilight
There's magic everywhere
And with all this romantic atmosphere
Disaster's in the air
Can you feel the love tonight
The peace the evening brings
The world for once in perfect harmony
With all its living things
So many things to tell her
But how to make her see
The truth about my past? impossible
She'd turn away from me
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?
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
And if he feels the love tonight
In the way I do
It's enough for this restless wanderer
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
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.