"When I See an Elephant Fly" is a song from the 1941 Disney film Dumbo. It was sung by the Crows while making fun of Timothy's idea of a "flying elephant". A reprise of the song is performed at the end of the film when Dumbo becomes a circus star using his flying skills, as he reunites with Mrs. Jumbo and the crows bid him farewell as the train leaves.
Lyrics[]
I've seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I've seen a needle that winked its eye
But I've be done seen 'bout everything
When I see an elephant fly
(What d'you say, boy?)
I said when I see an elephant fly
I've seen a front porch swing, heard a diamond ring
I've seen a polka-dot railroad tie
But I've be done seen 'bout everything
When I see an elephant fly
(I saw a clothes horse, he'd rear up and buck)
(And 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 your word)
(I heard a fireside chat, I saw a baseball bat)
(And I just laughed till I thought I'd die)
But I've be done seen 'bout everything
When I see an elephant fly
Well I've be done seen 'bout everything
When I see an elephant fly
(With the wind)
When I see an elephant fly
Chorus: I've seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I've seen a needle that winked its eye
Elephants: But I've be done seen 'bout everything
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, I got 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 everything
When I see an elephant fly
I saw a clothes horse rear 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 everything
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 everything
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 everything
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 everything
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's 1995 live-action film Operation 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 on Disney Sing Along Songs: You Can Fly!, Disney Silly Songs, and Disney Sing Along Songs: Collection of All Time Favorites: The Early Years.
- While not physically sung in the 2019 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 with Colette 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.
Videos[]
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es:When I See an Elephant Fly
nl:Als Ik Een Olifant Zien Zou Die Vloog