"I Wanna Be Like You" is a song sung by King Louie, Baloo and Mowgli from Walt Disney's 1967 film, The Jungle Book. The song was sung by Louis Prima and written by songwriters Robert and Richard Sherman.
The lyrics tell about King Louie's wish to be a man and know how to make fire, possibly knowing that, with fire, the apes would rule the Jungle because all animals fear it including Shere Khan.
Richard Sherman said he and his brother aimed for a jazz sound, with a Dixieland-like melody. 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. The "scat dialogue" between Baloo and King Louie was the result of two recording sessions. Louis Prima recorded first, with the intent that Baloo - played in his recording by Butera - would simply repeat what Louie scatted, but Phil Harris decided not to imitate Prima's recording and made up his own. The song was released the same date as the motion picture itself.
Lyrics[]
Original Version[]
King Louie: Now I'm the king of the swingers, whoa
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, ooh-bee-doo, (Oop-dee-wee)
I wanna be like you-hu-hu (Hop-dee-doo-bee-do-bow)
I wanna walk like you (Cheep)
Talk like you (Cheep)
To-o-oo! (Wee-bee-dee-bee-dee-boo)
You'll see it's tru-u-ue (Shoo-be-dee-doo)
An ape like me-e-e (Scooby-doo-bee-doo-bee)
Can learn to be
Hu-u-uman
To-o-oo!
(Instrumental Bridge)
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!
(Instrumental Bridge)
Baloo: HEY!
De-zop-ba-ronie
Hap-da-dee-ba-lat
Da-dat-dat-non
Hey, a-baby-dot-doo
Zaba-doo-doo-day-doo-bop
Doo-boo-doo-day, ze-bonz
Za-bop-bop-bobby
King Louie: Za-bah-doo-dee!
Baloo: Well, a-ree-bah-naza
King Louie: He-beh-do-beh-doy
Baloo: Well, a-lah-bah-zini
King Louie: Wadahlabat-boodalabat
Baloo: Seebahlalat-dodie
King Louie: Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Baloo: Well, a-ha ha ha ha
King Louie: Rrrrahr-rrrahr!
Baloo: Gettin' mad, baby!
Monkey: Hall-owallo-a-la la
Baloo: Mahata alottado
Monkey:: Hodolata-deetle-do
Baloo: Do-zootle-dot-dot-dot-dot-dot
King Louie: Gingle do doot do do do doot
Baloo: Zeep-i-doo-da hab a daah
King Louie::
You hoo hoo! (Oop-dee-wee)
I wanna be like you-u-u! (Hop-dee-doo-bee-do-bow)
All): I wanna walk like you! (Cheep)
Talk like you (Cheep)
To-o-oo! (Wee-bee-dee-bee-dee-boo)
You'll see it's tru-u-ue! (Shoo-be-dee-doo)
All: Someone like me-e-e (Scooby-doo-bee-doo-bee)
Can learn to be
Like someone
Like me
(Take me home, daddy!)
Can learn to be
Like someone
Like you
(One more time!)
Baloo: Yeah!
Can learn to be
Like someone
Like me-e!
Cee-de-do-bop-bop
Bada-doodle
Dot-andot-andot-andot-andot...
(Man...)
2016 Version[]
Now I'm the king of the swingers, whoa
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, ooh-bee-doo,
I wanna be like you-hu-hu
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you
To-o-oo!
You'll see it's tru-u-ue
Someone like me-e-e
Can learn to be
Like someone
Like you-hu-hu!
Now don't try to kid me, mancub
I'll make 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!
Oh, ooh-bee-doo,
I wanna be like you-hu-hu
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you
To-o-oo!
You'll see it's tru-u-ue
Someone like me-e-e
Can learn to be
Like someone
Like you-hu-hu!
Now you might think it's ridiculous
That me, a Gigantopithecus
Would ever dream, I'd like to team
The likes of you, mancub
But together, we'd have powers
All the jungle's treasures ours
I got desire, you've got the fire
But the dream I dream takes two!
So, oooh,
I wanna be like you-hu-hu
I wanna use that flame
Just the same
You can do it, too
Oh, how magnifiecus it would be
A Gigantopithecus like me
Could learn to do
Like you humans do
Can learn to be
Like someone
Like you
Can learn to be
Like someone
Like me!