"Colonel Hathi's March (The Elephant Song)" is a song in the widely popular
Walt Disney film,
The Jungle Book, from 1967. The song was sung by
J. Pat O'Malley, playing the part of "
Colonel Hathi". The song was also sung by
Thurl Ravenscroft and
The Mellomen, originally
Terry-Thomas and Disney Chorus. The song was written by Disney staff songwriters,
Robert and Richard Sherman. It is written in the spirit of a light commentary on the pointlessness of constant military drilling.
Sherman, Robert B.,
from before to beyond, Camphor Tree Publishers,
Santa Clarita, California,
1998, p 81., ISBN 0-9646059-3-7
The Sherman Treatment
The Shermans were brought into the film by
Walt Disney due to his feeling that the film was keeping too true to the
Rudyard Kipling book. In a deliberate effort to keep the score "light", this song as well as the Sherman Brothers' other contributions to the score generally concern darker subject matter than the accompanying music would suggest.
Sherman, Robert B.,
from before to beyond, Camphor Tree Publishers,
Santa Clarita, California,
1998, p 80., ISBN 0-9646059-3-7
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