Circle of Life is the opening song in The Lion King.
Act I
Rafiki raises Simba into the air with Mufasa and Sarabi looking on from the original London cast of the Lion King.
In the beginning of Act 1, Rafiki calls the animals to Pride Rock with two antelopes and gazelles to witness the presentation of Simba, the new prince. As Rafiki sings, the sun rises behind her while two giraffes and a cheetah walk out onto the stage, shortly followed by a trio of zebras. But as the first verse gets underway, white birds gazelles and antelope appear. Two elephants (an adult and a child), more white birds, a rhinoceros and two wildebeests walk up the aisle between the lower level of seats and up onto the stage. Meanwhile, once there, Rafiki greets King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi before presenting their cub to the gathered animals. Zazu then appears as a kite swung around on a pole by his puppeteer. Mufasa and Sarabi appear with their son Simba on Pride Rock as the two antelopes engage in more call and response. Rafiki goes over to them and takes the cub Simba, lifting him into the air as the song draws to a close. The animals below turn to face Pride Rock and bow as Simba is presented. The song ends with a black out as Rafiki lifts Simba into the air with Mufasa and Sarabi looking on.
Act II
At the end of Act II, Simba's friends and family acknowledge him as the rightful king after Simba and the Pridelanders defeated Scar and the hyenas. Rafiki crowns Simba with the mantle of kingship after his victory and Simba ascends Pride Rock. He then gives a mighty roar across the whole kingdom and the animals come back to the Pride Lands to recognize Simba as the rightful king.
For instance, the assembly of animals that appear are slightly different from the beginning of Act 1, without the wildebeests, and the adult elephant (only two zebras instead of three), three gazelles instead of four and only half of the bird ladies from the beginning appearance instead of four. Only the baby elephant, the rhinoceros, the giraffes, the cheetah, three cranes, and the birds appear as kites on poles. Then the lionesses appear to celebrate the continuing Circle of Life before the animals as they present a newborn cub, named Kiara who is the daughter of Simba and Nala. And the musical ends as Rafiki presents Simba and Nala's newborn cub to all of the animals. Where a blackout finishes Act II and leads to the curtain call at the end of the second act.
Opening Lyrics
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba.
Sithi uhhmm ingonyama. [Ingonyama Negwebo]
Hi Babo Ho Gonyema Baba
Nants ingonyama bagithi babo. [Fia Hey]
Sithi uhhmm ingonyama. [Ingonyama Negwebo]
ah cusanibo begi akalela
Nants ingonyama ba-bagithi Babo [Fia]
Sithi uhhmm ingonyama. [Helele]
Ingonyama [Osisango bababa]
Ingonyama.
Ingonyama.
(repeat)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
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.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala.
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.
(loud drumbeat)Closing lyrics
Ndabe zitha [King of kings]
Nkosi yethu [Our king]
Mholi wezwe lethu [Ruler of our land]
Lefatshe la bonata rona [This land of our ancestors]
Lea halalela [Is holy]
Busa le lizwe bo [Rule this land]
Busa le lizwe boBusa le lizwe boLethu busa ngoxolo [Rule with peace]
Is'khathi sifikile [The time has come]
Is'khathi busa iyo [It's time, rule]
Is'khathi sifikile [The time has come]
Busa lomhlaba [Rule this land]
Is'khathi sifikile [The time has come]
Is'khathi sifikile
Busa Simba [Rule, Simba]
Busa Simba
Hem na iyoHem na iyo
Hem na nkosi bo [Rule, our king]
Busa Simba iyo [Rule, Simba]
Hem na iyo
Oh busa Simba iyo[Oh, rule Simba]
Hem na iyo
Oh busa nkosi bo[Ah, king of kings]
Hem na nkosi bo
Oh busa Simba iyo[Rule, our king] [Oh, rule Simba]
Busa Simba iyo
Busa Simba iyo[Rule, Simba] [Rule, Simba]
Ubuse ngo thando [Rule with love]
Ubuse ngo thando
Ubuse ngo xolo [Rule with peace]
Busa Simba, Busa Simba [Rule, Simba, rule, Simba]
Ubuse ngo xolo [Rule with peace]
Ubuse ngo thando [Rule with love]
Ubuse ngo xolo
Ubuse ngo thando
Ubuse ngo xolo
It's the Circle of Life
And it move's 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