I Always Wanted a Brother – English Lyrics

• By: Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison, Jr.
• Album: Mufasa: The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with "I Always Wanted a Brother," a heartwarming song from "Mufasa: The Lion King." This song offers a fantastic opportunity to grasp natural English dialogue and expressive vocabulary related to familial bonds. Its compelling lyrics, performed by a talented cast, make it a memorable piece for understanding character emotions and narrative progression, perfect for language learners.

[English]

- I thought you said you were fast? I had to let you win!

- Well, I did just go days with no sleep while riding-

- Anyway, come on, Mufasa. Let's get in some trouble!

(upbeat music)

♪ When I am king ♪

♪ No other animal will break my stride ♪

♪ Break my stride ♪

♪ And my brother ♪

♪ My brother ♪

♪ When I'm king you'll always take my side ♪

- Ha! Yeah, right!

♪ That's right ♪

♪ When I am king ♪

♪ When you are king ♪

♪ No other animal will break our pride ♪

♪ Break our pride ♪

♪ And my brother ♪

♪ My brother ♪

♪ Our prey may run away but they can't hide ♪

♪ Watch your hide ♪

♪ Let's go, let's go, let's go ♪

♪ Hey, did your mama say you could be up this late ♪

♪ Okay, she didn't say either way, hide away, let's go ♪

♪ Hey did your father say you could be out this far ♪

♪ Okay, we're on our way, on our way, run away, let's go ♪

♪ Hey, did your mama say you could be up this late ♪

♪ Ha ha, you're very sharp ♪

♪ Yes you are, yes you are, let's go ♪

♪ Hey, did your father say you could be out this far ♪

♪ Make a wish on the brightest star and I say ♪

♪ I always wanted a brother ♪

♪ I always wanted a brother ♪

♪ I always wanted a brother just like you ♪

♪ And I always wanted a brother ♪

♪ I always wanted a brother ♪

♪ I always wanted a brother just like you ♪

♪ You see that tree ♪

♪ Those birds are watching the world unfold ♪

♪ The world unfold ♪

♪ Oh, brother ♪

♪ My brother ♪

♪ When I'm king they will do as they're told ♪

♪ You may look down on them, but they are free ♪

♪ You can't catch me ♪

♪ And where they go cannot be controlled ♪

♪ No one looks down on me ♪

♪ They look down on us, brother ♪

- [Taka] Ha!

♪ Some things you chase but you cannot hold ♪

♪ Okay, it's getting old, let's go ♪

♪ Let's go ♪

♪ Hey, did your mama say that you could learn this way ♪

♪ I've got to find a way, find our prey ♪

♪ Fine, I'll wait, let's go ♪

♪ I heard his father say he doesn't want this stray ♪

♪ I dare you to say that again to my face ♪

♪ What did you say 'bout my brother ♪

♪ That's not a stray, that's my brother ♪

♪ You stay away from my brother, 'cause I say so ♪

♪ If you put your paws on my brother ♪

♪ You'll meet the jaws of his brother ♪

♪ Those are the laws for my brother ♪

- Where'd he go?

(soft music)

♪ I always wanted a brother ♪

♪ I still remember my mother ♪

♪ One season after another ♪

♪ One season after another ♪

♪ One season after another ♪

♪ One season after another ♪

♪ Everyone sing for my brother ♪

♪ Do anything for my brother ♪

♪ Soon I'll be king with my brother by my side ♪

♪ I always wanted a brother ♪

♪ Now we rely on each other ♪

♪ One season after another ♪

♪ Hey, Mufasa ♪

♪ Yes, Taka ♪

♪ I'll race you to the other side ♪

♪ Race you to the other side ♪

♪ Race you to the other side ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
king /kɪŋ/ A1	noun - a male ruler of a country
brother /ˈbrʌðər/ A1	noun - a male sibling
hide /haɪd/ A2	verb - to conceal oneself noun - animal skin
mama /ˈmɑːmə/ A1	noun - mother
father /ˈfɑːðər/ A1	noun - male parent
brightest /ˈbraɪtɪst/ B2	adjective - most luminous, emitting or reflecting the most light
star /stɑːr/ A1	noun - a celestial body
tree /triː/ A1	noun - a woody perennial plant
birds /bɜːrdz/ A1	noun - avian creatures
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth
prey /preɪ/ B2	noun - an animal hunted or killed by another for food verb - hunt and kill for food
chase /tʃeɪs/ A2	verb - to pursue noun - act of pursuing
learn /lɜːrn/ A1	verb - to gain knowledge or skill
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front of the head verb - to confront
remember /rɪˈmembər/ A2	verb - to recall something
race /reɪs/ A2	noun - a competition to see who is fastest verb - to compete in a race

Key Grammar Structures

• I thought you said you were fast?

  ➔ Past Simple in Reported Speech

  ➔ The verb "said" introduces reported speech, shifting "you are fast" to "you *were* fast."

• Let's get in some trouble!

  ➔ "Let's" followed by base form of the verb (imperative)

  ➔ "Let's" is a contraction of "let us" and is used to make a suggestion or invitation. "Get in" is a phrasal verb.

• No other animal will break my stride

  ➔ Future Simple with "will" (prediction/determination)

  ➔ "Will break" expresses a future action that the speaker is determined to happen. "No other animal" uses negative concord to create emphasis.

• Our prey may run away but they can't hide

  ➔ Modal verbs "may" (possibility) and "can't" (impossibility)

  ➔ "May run away" indicates a possibility, while "can't hide" expresses something that is not possible.

• Did your mama say you could be up this late?

  ➔ Past Simple "did" in question form for asking about permission.

  ➔ The use of "did" indicates a question about a past event (the mother's statement). "Could" is used as the past form of "can" to inquire about permission.

• I always wanted a brother just like you

  ➔ Past Simple with "always" expressing a long-term desire.

  ➔ "Wanted" in the past simple expresses a desire that existed in the past, and "always" indicates that it was a consistent desire.

• Some things you chase but you cannot hold

  ➔ Conjunction "but" contrasting two clauses. Modal verb "cannot" expressing inability.

  ➔ "But" connects two contrasting ideas: chasing something and not being able to hold it. "Cannot hold" indicates an inability to maintain possession.

• I heard his father say he doesn't want this stray

  ➔ Reported Speech with Present Simple Negative ("doesn't want")

  ➔ "Heard" introduces reported speech. Since the original statement implies a general truth or present state, the present simple tense "doesn't want" is used in the reported clause.