Lovely Lyrics: Circle of Life

The Lion King was released twenty years ago today.  Twenty years!  That seems crazy to me!  It remains one of my favorite movies ever – Disney or otherwise.  I acknowledge that I am a sobbing mess whenever I watch a Disney movie, but The Lion King is particularly emotional for me because of the connections I have with the movie.  First of all, it came out the year C and I got married and we took several trips to WDW that year in preparation for our wedding there.  The Lion King was everywhere and it is inextricably linked to that year of our lives.  Secondly, I was so completely in love with the soundtrack that I incorporated the music into our ceremony.  We had a string quartet perform only Disney music for us, and when my dad escorted me down the aisle, it was to “Circle of Life” and it was wonderful.  So on this Father’s Day, its lyrics are the perfect choice to reflect on the movie and on my amazing dad.

Circle of Life

from The Lion King

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

’Til we find our place

On the path unwinding

In the circle

The circle of life

Music by Elton John

Lyric by Tim Rice

A few other thoughts about the film:

“Lion King” – same initials as me!  How could I not love it!

Whenever a conversation arises about which Disney villain is the most evil, in my opinion, there is only one answer.  Scar.  He.Kills.His.Own.Brother.  End of discussion.

There are a lot of great dads in Disney movies (Pongo from 101 Dalmatians, Maurice from Beauty and the Beast, James from The Princess and the Frog, and King Triton from The Little Mermaid come to mind), but no Disney dad is better than Mufasa.  He is kind, brave, and wise.  Even after he is gone, his importance in Simba’s life is incalculable.

Finally, Disney movies are known for their poignant messages and The Lion King offers a powerful one:  Remember who you are.

So Happy Father’s Day to the magnificent men in my life:  my dad, who chose me, who has given me every opportunity and created priceless memories for and with me, and who supports me no matter what; my father-in-law, who is my second dad and incredibly kind and generous and has treated me as nothing short of a princess since the moment I met him; and YaYa, my grandfather for whom there are no words strong enough to express my love.

Last, but certainly not least, Happy Father’s Day to C.  You are the most fabulous dad on the planet to our four-legged children and the highlight of their day is when you walk in the door after work each evening!  They thank you for the endless treats and car rides and also apologize for hogging the bed and barking incessantly.

Happy Tails to you!