When I See an Elephant Fly
When I See an Elephant Fly
General information
Feature films
Attractions and stage performances
Albums
Composer
Lyrics
Performers
Hall Johnson ChoirOther performers
Video
Lyrics[]
Specs: Ah-ha-ha-ha! Did ya ever see a elephant fly?
Preacher: Well, I seen ahorse fly.
Fats: Ha ha! I seen adragon fly!
Dopey: Hee hee hee. I seen ahouse fly.
(all laugh)
Dandy Crow: Hey, I seen all that, too!
I seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I seen a needle that winked its eye
But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
(What d'you say, boy?)
I said when I see an elephant fly
I seen a front porch swing, heard a diamond ring
I seen a polka-dot railroad tie
But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
(Rat-a-dat-dat-doo-doo-dah-wow!)
(I saw a clothes horse, he r'ar up and buck)
(And they tell me that a man made a vegetable truck)
(I didn't see that, I only heard)
(Just to be sociable, I'll take your word)
(I heard a fireside chat, I saw a baseball bat)
(And I just laughed till I thought I'd die)
But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
(scat break)
Well I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
(With the wind)
When I see an elephant fly
Chorus: I seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I seen a needle that winked its eye
Elephants: But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
Chorus: Oh my!
Chorus & Crows: When I see...
{Casey Junior gives two whistle blasts}
When I see...
{Casey Junior gives another two blasts}
When I see an elephant fly
(Ooh, look at him go!)
When I see an elephant fly
(Happy landing, son!)
(Whoopee!)
When I see an elephant fly
(I wish I'd have gotten his autograph.)
(Hey, man, Igot his autograph.)
(Well, so long, glamour boy!)
Ho ho! When I think about it
Ho ho! I have to laugh!
Ho ho! Just to think about it
Bends me right in half!
I saw a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I saw a needle that winked its eye
But I think I will have seen everything
When I see an elephant fly
I saw a front porch swing, heard a diamond ring
I saw a polka-dot railroad tie
But I think I will have seen ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
I saw a clothes horse r'ar up and buck
They tell me that a man made a vegetable "Truck"
I didn't see that, I only heard
But just to be sociable, I'll take their word
I saw a lantern slide, saw an old cow hide
And I just laughed till I thought I'd die
But I think I will have seen ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
I saw a garden walk, a banana stalk
I saw a pig with an awful sty
But I think I will have seen ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
I saw the sugar bowl, saw the jelly roll
I saw a picket fence, that's no lie
But I think I will have seen ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
I even heard a chocolate drop
I went into a store, saw a bicycle shop
You can't deny the things that you see
But I know there's certain things that just can't be!
The other day by chance, saw an old barn dance
So I'm a gullible sort of guy
But I think I will have seen ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly!
Trivia[]
- Much of the crows' lip-syncing is out of sync during this number, with them switching rapidly between different singers.
- Part of the song can be heard at the end of Disney's1995 live-action filmOperation Dumbo Drop.
- The line "I didn't see that. I only heard" is a reference to Don Redman's song, "I Heard".
- The song was also included onDisney Sing Along Songs: You Can Fly!,Disney Silly Songs, andDisney Sing Along Songs: Collection of All Time Favorites: The Early Years.
- While not physically sung in the2019 remake, the ringmaster Baritone Bates makes reference to the song's lyrics after the Pink Elephant sequence during the part where he begins the act withColette Marchant flying with Dumbo while announcing about the act. Here, he announces, "You've seen a horse-fly, you've seen a dragon-fly, you've even seen a house-fly... but you haven't seen anything until you see an elephant fly!".
- An instrumental version is later heard during the end of the credits in a marching band tune.
- This song was proposed for the first season ofThe Muppet Show, but was never performed.
Gallery[]
