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"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[]

Specs: Ah-ha-ha-ha! Did ya ever see a elephant fly?
Preacher: Well, I seen a horse fly.
Fats: Ha ha! I seen a dragon fly!
Dopey: Hee hee hee. I seen a house fly.
(all laugh)

Dandy Crow: Hey, I seen all that, too!

I seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I seen a needle that winked its eye
But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

(What d'you say, boy?)
I said when I see an elephant fly
I seen a front porch swing, heard a diamond ring
I seen a polka-dot railroad tie
But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

(Rat-a-dat-dat-doo-doo-dah-wow!)

(I saw a clothes horse, he r'ar up and buck)
(And they tell me that a man made a vegetable truck)
(I didn't see that, I only heard)
(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 be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

(scat break)

Well I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly
(With the wind)

When I see an elephant fly

Chorus: I seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band
I seen a needle that winked its eye

Elephants: But I be done seen 'bout ev'rything
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 ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly

I saw a clothes horse r'ar 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 ev'rything
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 ev'rything
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 ev'rything
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 ev'rything
When I see an elephant fly!

Ernest:
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 and 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 sea an elephant fly

But I think I will have been seen ev'rything
When I see and 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.

Gallery[]

Videos[]


v - e - d
Dumbo Logo
Media
Films: Dumbo (soundtrack/video) • Dumbo (2019) (soundtrack/video)

Television: Mickey Mouse ClubDumbo's CircusHouse of Mouse
Books: The Art and Making of Dumbo
Video Games: Disney's Villains' RevengeDisney Emoji Blitz
Cancelled projects: Dumbo II

Disney Parks
Casey Jr. Circus TrainCasey Jr. Splash 'n' Soak StationDisney Animation BuildingDumbo the Flying ElephantGames of the Boardwalk

Entertainment: AnimagiqueFantasmic!Once Upon a Mouse
Restaurants: Timothy's Treats
Shops: Casey Jr. Trinket Train
Parades: Disney's Dreams On Parade: Moving OnFlights of Fantasy ParadeFestival of Fantasy ParadeHappiness is Here ParadeJubilation!Main Street Electrical ParadeMickey's Storybook ExpressThe Wonderful World of Disney Parade (The Float)
Fireworks: Celebrate the MagicDisneyland ForeverHappily Ever AfterMagical: Disney's New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical CelebrationsMomentousOnce Upon a TimeRemember... Dreams Come TrueWonderful World of AnimationWondrous Journeys
Halloween: Happy Hallowishes

Characters
Original: DumboTimothy Q. MouseMrs. JumboCircus ElephantsRingmasterMr. StorkCasey JuniorPink ElephantsThe CrowsCircus AnimalsClownsSmitty

Dumbo's Circus: LionelFair DinkumQ.T.BarnabyLilliSebastianFlip & FlapLittle Bo PeepLittle Red Riding HoodBig Bad Wolf
Remake: Holt FarrierV.A. VandevereColette MarchantMilly FarrierMax MediciJoe FarrierMiss AtlantisRongoPuckPramesh SinghIvan the WonderfulCatherine the GreaterNeils SkelligJ. Griffin RemingtonSothebyHans BrugelbeckerRufus SorghumBaritone BatesCircus Cook

Songs
Look Out for Mr. StorkCasey, Jr.RoustaboutsBaby MineHit the Big BossPink Elephants on ParadeWhen I See an Elephant Fly
Locations
FloridaCircusDreamland Nightmare IslandWonders of ScienceMedici Brothers' Circus
Objects
The Magic Feather


v - e - d
The Country Bears logo
Media
Film: The Country Bears (soundtrack)

Books: Big Albert Moves In

Disney Parks
Country Bear JamboreeCountry Bear Vacation HoedownCountry Bear Christmas SpecialCountry Bear Musical Jamboree
Characters
HenryFive Bear RugsMelvin, Buff, and MaxBig AlLiver Lips McGrowlWendellShakerTeddi BarraSun BonnetsTrixie St. ClaireGomerErnestSammyRandy the SkunkDolores the OctopusUrsus H. BearRufus the Bear

Movie: Beary BarringtonTed BedderheadFred BedderheadZeb ZooberTennessee O'NealReed ThimpleRoadieOfficer Hamm and Officer CheetsNorbert BarringtonMrs. BarringtonDexter BarringtonRip Hollard

Locations
Country Bear Hall
Songs
Bear Band SerenadeThe Great OutdoorsCome Again (Come On In)The Ballad of Davy CrockettThe Bare NecessitiesOne SongWhen I See An Elephant FlyHe's A TrampPecos BillI Won't Say (I'm in Love)Once Upon a DreamYou've Got a Friend in MeOn My Way

Movie: Kick It Into GearThe Kid In You

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