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The Jungle Book I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song)

music and lyrics by Richard and Robert Sherman, performed by Louis Prima (King Louie), Phil Harris (Baloo) and Bruce Reitherman (Mowgli), clip from The Jungle Book (1967) movie.

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Song lyrics



Now I'm the king of the swingers.
Oh, the jungle VIP.
I've reached the top and had to stop
And that's what botherin' me.
I wanna be a man, mancub
And stroll right into town.
And be just like the other men
I'm tired of monkeyin' around!

Oh, oobee doo
I wanna be like you!
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you, too!
You'll see it's true
An ape like me
Can learn to be humen too!

[MOWGLI speaking]
Gee, cousin Louie, you're doin' real good.

[KING LOUIE speaking]
Now here's your part of the deal, 'cause.
Lay the secret on me of man's red fire.

[MOWGLI speaking]
But I don't know how to make fire.

[KING LOUIE singing]
Now don't try to kid me, mancub
I made a deal with you.
What I desire is man's red fire
To make my dream come true.
Now give me the secret, mancub
Come on, clue me what to do
Give me the power of man's red flower
So I can be like you.

You!
I wanna be like you
I wanna walk like you!
Talk like you, too
You'll see it's true!
Someone like me
Can learn to be
Like someone like me.
Can learn to be
Like someone like you
Can learn to be
Like someone like me!

Snapshot pictures

Notes

The song is included in The Jungle Book Movie Songs.

The instrumentals were originally recorded by Prima, who also played the trumpet, and his band, Sam Butera & The Witnesses, but the music was replaced by one written by the film's composer, George Bruns, and orchestrated by Walter Sheets.

Working with concept art of what the monkeys would look like, Richard Sherman said he and his brother aimed for a jazz sound, with a Dixieland-like melody. He added that "when we first got an idea for 'I Wan'na Be Like You,' we said an ape swings from a tree, and he's the king of apes. We'll make him 'the king of the swingers.' That's the idea, we'll make him a jazz man." (wikipedia)


Watch songs from movie original soundtrack