I find songs from musicals really great for learning English because they are bursting with vocabulary! This song is from the musical version of "The Lion King". If you are studying in London I highly recommend you go and see it. In this case, I have removed all the animals from the lyrics. As the song is very fast, I have written which animals you have to listen out for at the top of this lesson. Also, I am feeling quite generous today, so I have given you some key vocabulary. Enjoy it!
Buffalo
Flamingoes
Hornbills
Elephants
Chimps
Birds
Warthogs
Beetles
Crocodiles
Vultures
Giraffes
Other Key Vocabulary:
Privilege - an advantage or source of pleasure
Realm - a royal kingdom
Fauna - all the animal life in a certain place
Pounce - to jump on something unexpectedly
Herd - a group of animals
It's an honor and a privilege, a duty I perform
With due sense of decorum and with pride
With deference and great respect very much the norm
Plus a hint of sycophancy on the side
To lay before my ruler all the facts about his realm
To fill him in on all the beastly news
[MUFASA]
[spoken] Yes, yes, Zazu, get on with it!
[ZAZU]
In order that His Majesty stands sturdy at the helm
Aware of all the fauna's latest views
[MUFASA]
[spoken] Zazu! The morning report!
[ZAZU]
[spoken] Er - yes, Sire - the morning report
_(1)_ are going ape, _(2)_ remain above it all
_(3)_remember, though just what I can't recall
_(4)_ are snapping up fresh offers from the banks
Showed interest in my nest egg but I quickly said, "No thanks!"
We haven't paid the _(5)_ and the _(6)_ have a hunch
Not everyone invited will be coming back from lunch
This is the morning report
Gives you the long and the short
Every grunt, roar and snort
Not a tale I distort
On the morning report
[MUFASA]
[spoken] What are you doing, son?
[YOUNG SIMBA]
[spoken] Pouncing
[MUFASA]
[spoken] Let an old pro show you how it's done
[ZAZU]
[spoken] The_(7)_ have got a beef
About this season's grass
_(8)_ have been thwarted
In attempts to save their gas
_(9)_ in the pink
Chasing secretary _(10)_
Saffron is this season's color
Seen in all the herds
Moving down the rank and file
To near the bottom rung
Far too many _(11)_ are
[sung] Quite frankly in the dung
Aaaaaaaaak!
This is the morning report
Gives you the long and the short
Every grunt, roar and snort
Not a tale I distort
On the morning report
[MUFASA AND ZAZU AND YOUNG SIMBA]
This is the morning report
Gives you the long and the short
Every grunt, roar and snort
Not a tale I distort
On the morning report
Which animals are missing from the song? Write the names in the boxes below.
Lesson by Caroline
