The Bare Necessities

Bruce Reitherman, Phil Harris

About The Bare Necessities

"The Bare Necessities" is a song, written by Terry Gilkyson, from the animated 1967 Disney film The Jungle Book, sung by Phil Harris as Baloo and Bruce Reitherman as Mowgli. Originally, it was written for an earlier draft of the movie that was never produced. The Sherman Brothers, who wrote the other songs of the film, kept this as the only song used from the previous version. A reprise of the song was sung by Sebastian Cabot as Bagheera and Phil Harris as Baloo at the end of the film. Van Dyke Parks worked on the arrangement, which was his first paid gig after moving to California. The song was also sung by Louis Armstrong. In 1967, "The Bare Necessities" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost to "Talk to the Animals" from Doctor Dolittle. A hip-hop version of the song performed by Lou Rawls was used as the theme song for Jungle Cubs. 


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Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life

Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few

The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life

Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Well next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue?

The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!

Oh man this is really living
So just try and relax, yeah cool it
Fall apart in my backyard
'Cause let me tell you something little britches
If you act like that bee acts, uh uh
You're working too hard

And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true

The bare necessities of life will come to you

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
With just the bare necessities of life

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Phil Harris

Phil Harris (born Wonga Philip Harris; June 24, 1904 – August 11, 1995) was an American singer, songwriter, jazz musician, actor, and comedian. Though successful as an orchestra leader, Harris is remembered today for his recordings as a vocalist, his voice work in animation (probably most famous later in his career for his roles as bears, one being Baloo in Disney's The Jungle Book, and as Little John in Disney's Robin Hood). He also voiced Thomas O'Malley in Disney's The Aristocats. Harris was also a pioneer in radio situation comedy, first with Jack Benny, and then in a series in which he co-starred with his wife, singer-actress Alice Faye in eight years. more »

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5 facts about this song

Composition & Release
"The Bare Necessities" was written by Terry Gilkyson for the animated Disney film "The Jungle Book," released in 1967. - Though the song was written specifically for a children's movie, it quickly became a popular favorite with audiences of all ages.
Performance & Recognition
The song was first performed in the film by Phil Harris, who provided the voice of the character Baleoo. - "The Bare Necessities" was later covered by the famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong. - The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1967, though it did not win.
Unique Lyrics & Melody
The catchy, upbeat tune and memorable lyrics about enjoying the simple essentials of life have made "The Bare Necessities" a classic. - The lyrics of "The Bare Necessities" express the philosophy of taking life easy and maximizing the pleasure from what nature has to provide - essentially, the 'bare necessities'.
Cultural Impact & Legacy
Due to its popularity, "The Bare Necessities" has been covered by numerous artists and featured in several Disney compilation albums. - The song was used as the theme for Disney's Animal Kingdom and also appeared in the video game "Just Dance: Disney Party." - In the 2016 live-action adaptation of "The Jungle Book," the song was sung by Bill Murray, who played Baleoo in the film.
Trivia
Terry Gilkyson, who wrote "The Bare Necessities," was initially hired to write all the songs for "The Jungle Book." However, only "The Bare Necessities" was kept in the final film. - Louis Armstrong's version of "The Bare Necessities" is known for its jazz influence, which adds a unique twist to the original song.

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