Why is this reprise pivotal to the plot?

It signals Simba’s acceptance of his father’s legacy and his decision to reclaim the throne.

What does the chant mean?

“Ingonyama nengw' enamabala” translates roughly to “a lion and a leopard come to this place,” evoking ancestral presence.

Who composed the music?

Mark Mancina and Lebo M collaborated on the composition.

Is the reprise used elsewhere in Disney lore?

Yes, a variation opens The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride during Kiara’s presentation scene.

How does this piece differ from “They Live in You”?

While the original affirms heritage, the reprise adds urgency—prompting action based on that heritage.

He Lives in You (Reprise) Lyrics – Lion King

He Lives in You (Reprise) Lyrics

ENSEMBLE:
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala

RAFIKI:
Night
And the spirit of life
Calling
(Oh oh iyo)
Mamela
(Oh oh iyo)
And a voice
Just the fear of a child
Answers
(Oh oh iyo)
Oh, i yeah mamela
(Oh oh iyo)

Ubu khosi bo khokho

ENSEMBLE:
We ndodana ye sizwe sonke

RAFIKI:
Wait
(Wait, wait, wait, wait)
There's no mountain too great
Hear these words and have faith
(Oh oh iyo)
Whoa whoa whoa-oh
(Oh oh iyo)

Have faith

Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela
Hela

He lives in you
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
He lives in me
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
He watches over
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
Everything we see
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
Into the water
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
Into the truth
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
In your reflection
He lives in you

He lives in you
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
He lives in me
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
He watches over
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
Everything we see
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
Into the water
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
Into the truth
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
In your reflection
He lives in you

ENSEMBLE:
He lives in you
He lives in you
He lives in you
He lives in you

RAFIKI:
He lives in you
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
Ah yo
He lives in me
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
(He watches over)
Ah, he watches over
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
Everything we see
(Hela hey mamela, hela)
Ah, into the water
(Hela hey mamela)
Hey, into the truth
(Hela hey mamela)
In your reflection

Hala hala hala ya
Hala hala hala yo

ENSEMBLE:
He lives in you!

SIMBA:
Whoa-oh-oh
Oh, he lives in me
(Hela hey mamela)
Oh, oh
(He watches over)
He watches over
(Everything we see)
Oh, everything we see
(Into the water)
Into the water
(Into the truth)
(In your reflection)
In my reflection

He lives in you!
Last Update: June, 27th 2025

Song Overview

Screenshot from He Lives in You (Reprise) lyrics video by Jason Raize, Tsidii Le Loka & The Lion King Ensemble — Jason Raize lifts the roof while singing the 'He Lives in You (Reprise)' lyrics in the Broadway performance.

Song Credits

Featured Artists: Jason Raize (Simba), Tsidii Le Loka (Rafiki) & The Lion King Ensemble
Writers: Jay Rifkin, Mark Mancina & Lebo M
Vocal Arranger: Lebo M
Release Date: July 8, 1997
Album: The Lion King (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Genre: Broadway, Disney Musical, Pop-Choral
Language: English & Zulu
Label: Walt Disney Records
Length: Approximately 4 min 15 s
Orchestration: Bruce Fowler, Dave Metzger & Robert Elhai
Recording & Mixing: Steve Kempster — Mastering: Joe Gastwirt
? & © 1997 Walt Disney Records

Song Meaning and Annotations

Tsidii Le Loka performing He Lives in You (Reprise) — Rafiki invokes ancestral power on stage.

The first heartbeat of He Lives in You (Reprise) feels like the curtain lifting on a cosmic family reunion. The song text—part lullaby, part rallying cry—picks up the ancestral thread first spun in “They Live in You,” now woven tighter around Simba’s destiny. Rafiki’s chant, soaked in Zulu cadences, cracks open the evening sky so the spirit world can lean in and whisper. Musically, we’re cradled by layered vocal cushions, hand drums and shimmering strings. It’s a sonic sunrise inside a moonlit jungle: soft enough for comfort, powerful enough to jolt a reluctant prince out of exile. When the ensemble repeats “Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala”, it feels like the whole animal kingdom stepping forward to testify: the past is not past at all—it’s singing right behind your rib cage.

“There’s no mountain too great,
Hear these words and have faith…”

The lyric paints resilience as geography: each doubt a hill, each memory a lantern. By the time Simba joins the refrain—voice cracking then soaring—the number has transformed into a coronation of self-belief.

Call-and-Response Structure

The repeated “Hela, hey mamela” functions like spiritual Morse code, Rafiki throwing courage across the stage while the chorus answers with echoes of community.

Water & Reflection Metaphors

“Into the water, into the truth, in your reflection…”—water serves both as mirror and portal. Simba gazes into a pool, but sees lineage, not just skin. The metaphor reminds us that identity is a tide: always moving, always carrying yesterday into tomorrow.

Translations of Zulu Lines

Ingonyama nengw' enamabala: “A lion and a leopard come to this place.”
Mamela: “Listen.”
Ubu khosi bo khokho: “This is the throne of our ancestors.”
We ndodana ye sizwe sonke: “Oh, son of the nation.”

Similar Songs

Thumbnail from He Lives in You (Reprise) lyric video — A quiet moment before Simba’s revelation.

“Remember Me (Lullaby)” – Coco cast
Both songs turn farewell into benediction, showing how the departed linger in melody and memory. Each waltzes between worlds, promising that love outlives flesh.
“You’ll Be in My Heart” – Phil Collins, Tarzan
Collins’ ballad and this reprise share the heartbeat of guardianship. They reassure younger selves that someone unseen still watches the winding path ahead.
“Shadowland” – The Lion King Broadway
Where Nala’s solo channels courage for departure, He Lives in You (Reprise) fuels courage for return. Together they form mirror images: exile’s dusk and homecoming’s dawn.

Questions and Answers

Starry scene in He Lives in You (Reprise) — Mufasa’s visage appears among the constellations.

Why is this reprise pivotal to the plot?: It marks the moment Simba accepts his father’s legacy and commits to reclaiming the Pride Lands.
What does the chant “Ingonyama nengw' enamabala” mean?: In Zulu: “A lion and a leopard come to this place,” symbolizing ancestral spirits gathering.
Who composed the music?: Mark Mancina and Lebo M crafted the score, blending Western orchestration with African choral textures.
Is the reprise used elsewhere in Disney lore?: Yes—an adapted version opens The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, blessing Kiara’s presentation.
How does this piece differ from “They Live in You”?: The original affirms heritage; the reprise adds urgency, pushing the heir to act on that heritage.

Fan and Media Reactions

“The reprise hits harder live—when Simba’s voice cracks, so does everyone’s composure.”
BroadwayWorld forum user

“Lebo M’s choral writing turns grief into gospel. I get chills every single show.”
Theater Mania critic review

“Disney has plenty of tear-jerkers, but this one feels like a direct phone call from your ancestors.”
Audience tweet

“The harmonic stack on ‘He lives in you’ is an aural sunrise; impossible not to feel lifted.”
Playbill feature

“Kids hum it on the way out, parents hum it in the car park—the song sticks like stardust.”
Local arts blogger

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