Can You Feel the Love Tonight

"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.

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.