Circle Of Life

Circle of Life" is one of five songs written by composer Elton John, and lyricist Tim Rice, for the film Disney's 32nd animated feature,  The Lion King . In the film the song was performed by Carmen Twillie and Lebo M. The song was nominated for the 1994 Academy Award for Best Song, along with Hakuna Matata, but lost to another track from the movie, Can You Feel the Love Tonight?. The song was also nominated for AFI's 100 years...100 songs, as one of 15 songs from Disney and one of 17 songs from an animated movie to be nominated. The songs that eventually made the cut was: When You Wish Upon A Star (#7), Some Day My Prince Will Come (#19), Beauty and the Beast (#62) and Hakuna Matata (#99.

Plot
The song takes place at the very beginning of the film, the dawn of Simba's presentation. As the song progresses, various animal herds travel through the Pride Lands to gather at Pride Rock. There, Rafiki meets up with the current King of the Pride Lands, Mufasa and his mate, Sarabi. After blessing Mufasa's newborn cub Simba, Rafiki lifts the cub up high for all the animals to see, and the animals bow before their future king.

The song reprises at the end of the film, after Simba has taken the throne. Rafiki presents Simba and Nala's newborn cub, recalling the opening.

In The Lion King 1½, the song is used again.

Lyrics
Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba Sithi uhm ingonyama Nants ingonyama bagithi baba Sithi uhhmm ingonyama Ingonyama Siyo Nqoba Ingonyama Ingonyama nengw enamabala

From the day we arrive on the planet And blinking, step into the sun There's more to see than can ever be seen More to do than can ever be done

There's far too much to take in here More to find than can ever be found But the sun rolling high Through the sapphire sky Keeps great and small on the endless round

It's the Circle of Life And it moves us all Through despair and hope Through faith and love

Till we find our place On the path unwinding In the Circle The Circle of Life

It's the Circle of Life And it moves us all Through despair and hope Through faith and love

Till we find our place On the path unwinding In the Circle The Circle of Life