The World of Forgotten Disney

The Madness of King Scar

In honor of the Lion Guard on November 22, here is the deleted song from the Lion King.

The video is a gift for you readers. I thought you may like to watch something in color.

The Madness of King Scar: The Lion King

Deleted Disney Song

In this song, King Scar worries about not being favored among the Pridelanders while dealing with the problems mentioned by the hyenas and Nala. On top of that, Scar is driven mad by the delusions he has of Mufasa's ghost. To calm his mental illness, Zazu suggests Scar gets a queen which leads Scar to choose Nala, but she scratched him across the face as an act of refusal. Like the song Me from the Beauty and the Beast musical, this song has the male going on about how his wife will bear only sons and do only what her husband wants, instead of viewing his wife as an equal marital partner. (However, the original version intended for the filmhad Scar imply that he would give her the same regency powers that he would have, effectively making her not a mere queen to him, but his co-regent).

The song was actually implemented for the movie, but it was cut due to the concept of sexual harassment in a family film being considered inappropriate at the time.

Scar having delusions of Mufasa's ghost strongly implied that he felt remorse for murdering Mufasa deep down, which was also implied (although to a far lesser degree) in the final film when Simba reveals himself ("Mufasa...? No, you're dead...")

The 2010 cuts to the show eliminated much of the song, including the beginning and Scar's delusions and talking to himself, making the song feel less like Scar is "mad". The song now begins when the heyenas complain to Scar.

Scar (spoken): Zazu, why am I not loved? (sung) I am that rare and awesome thing I'm every inch a king

Yet I feel a twinge of doubt

As I go walk about

Hyenas (spoken): Hey, boss!

Scar (sung): When my name is whispered through the pride

Is this talk of love or regicide?

Shenzi (spoken): Reggie who?

Scar (sung): Tell me I'm adored

Please tell me I'm adored

Hyenas (spoken): Hey, boss!

Scar (spoken): Oh, what is it?

Banzai (spoken): We got a bone to pick with you

Shenzi (spoken): There's no food, no water...

Banzai (spoken): Yeah. It's dinnertime, and there ain't no stinkin' entrées!

Scar (spoken): Oh, you and your petty complaints.

You don't know what real hunger is.

Day after day it gnaws at the very core of my being

Shenzi (spoken): I had that once. It was worms

Scar (spoken): No, no, no... it's like an itch... deep, persistent, profound...

Banzai (spoken): That's it-- worms!

When they get really bad all you gotta do is... hunker down and scoot

Scar (spoken): Thanks for the tip. Ingrates!