They Live in You
- Kris
- Jan 6, 2018
- 3 min read
This fall my mom treated me to a Mom-Daughter date to see The Lion King Broadway musical when the touring cast came to Baltimore for a couple weeks. It is only natural that I, a young human who grew up in the 90's, would consider The Lion King the movie of my childhood, if not my favorite movie from that time, a title that is only contested by perhaps Fantasia and 101 Dalmations.
My mom likes to talk about how Goodnight Moon sparked this habit in me to wish all things in my room goodnight before going to bed, and I'm sure the multitude of stuffed animals on my bed were no exception: Goodnight lamp, goodnight book, goodnight Simba, goodnight Lucky. In fact, I asked mom to provide a quick picture of this gem:
He looks cleaner than I remember. Perhaps he had a bath recently.
As an adult, I still love The Lion King for the lessons it teaches us, the legacy of its iconic characters, the warm memories it brings, and, of course, above all else, the music which has stood the test of time.
It made me incredibly happy to see the number of young kids at the show with their parents and grandparents.
Everyone is seated, the house lights are down, and the musical opens with "Circle of Life." From the rear doors of the theater, the cast surges to the stage, adorned in the elaborate costumes that make the show an immersive experience.
My favorite moment of the show is when Mufasa teaches Simba about courage after he recklessly enters the elephant graveyard with Nala. In the movie, the scene is beneath the stars. The solemn scene turns lighthearted as Mufasa and Simba play, and then Simba asks Mufasa the heaviest question a child can ask an adult.
We're pals, right? [...] And we'll always be together, right?
Mufasa then tells Simba that the great kings of the past are in the stars looking over them and that whenever he feels alone, they will be there to guide him.
"And so will I," he says.
In the show, this scene is a musical number. I recognized the song immediately when it began, but not from the original Lion King. No, this song was from Lion King II; it is the opening number representing new life as Rafiki introduces Simba's daughter, Kiara, to the animal kingdom. Mufasa watches among the clouds in the sky as the music repeats the theme: he lives in you, he lives in me.
I was surprised to hear it here, in what is supposed to be the first story. But I always did like that song, so I was also excited. The music and story of The Lion King II always felt like it could stand almost equal to its predecessor in certain aspects. This song was one of them in my opinion, so I kept an open mind:
Here these words
and have faith...
They live in you They live in me They're watching over Everything we see In every creature In every star In your reflection They live in you
As I listened, it made more and more sense why it had also been used in the musical adaptation, and I am so glad I never spoiled it for myself considering the longevity of the show. The song is called "He Lives in You," but for this scene it is "They Live in You" to represent the great kings of the past. It is used again later in the show. In the Reprise, the song begins with Rafiki's wise words, summons the spirit of Mufasa, and builds with the ensemble as Simba remembers who he is and the legacy he has turned away from for all these years. With the energy of his renewed spirit, he turns back to save Pride Rock. The version in Lion King II had felt solely celebratory, paralleling the joy of "Circle of Life." In the musical, it's not just a song, it is an entire theme that grows with the story.
And so, if there's any song that represents the experience for me, its this one. Below is the official Broadway lyric video for "They Live In You." Although nothing will compare to seeing the show live and the costumes in person, this shares a piece of the magic that is the Broadway show. If you have never heard the song before, listen to it. And if the show ever comes your way, see it and share it with someone that you love.
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