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Colonel Hathi's March (The Elephant Song)
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Wikipedia article
'"Colonel Hathi's March (The Elephant Song)"' is a song in the 1967 Walt Disney film, 'The Jungle Book'. The song was sung by J. Pat O'Malley, playing the part of "Colonel Hathi". The song was also sung by Thurl Ravenscroft and The Mellomen, originally Terry-Thomas and Disney Chorus. The song was written by Disney staff songwriters, Robert and Richard Sherman. It is written in the spirit of a light commentary on the pointlessness of constant military drilling.Sherman, Robert B., 'Walt's Time: from before to beyond', Camphor Tree Publishers, Santa Clarita, California, 1998, p 81., A reprise version has the first appearance of Shere Khan.
Composition
The Shermans were brought onto the film by Walt Disney, who felt that the film in keeping with Rudyard Kipling's book was too dark for family viewing. In a deliberate effort to keep the score light, this song as well as the Sherman Brothers' other contributions to the score generally concern darker subject matter than the accompanying music would suggest.Sherman, Robert B., 'Walt's Time: from before to beyond', Camphor Tree Publishers, Santa Clarita, California, 1998, p 80., "Colonel Hathi's March" was the first song written by the siblings. As the elephants were "big clunky animals, crushing everything as they march through", the Shermans thought the best song for them would be a "heavy and ponderous" military march, with feeble lyrics only describing how the platoon tramples what is in its path.Sherman, Robert B. 'The Jungle Book' audio commentary. 'The Jungle Book - Platinum Edition'
References
Category:1967 songs
Category:Songs from The Jungle Book (1967 film)
Category:Military marches
Category:Songs about elephants
Category:Songs about fictional male characters
Category:Songs written by the Sherman Brothers
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