Song lyrics to Talk To The Animals, Written by Leslie Bricusse, Performed by Rex Harrison in Doctor Dolittle
Doctor Dolittle: If i could talk to the animals –
Just imagine it –
Chatting to a chimp in chimpanzee!
Polynesia: Imagine talking to a tiger –
Doctor Dolittle: Chatting to a cheetah –
Polynesia: Ooh!
Doctor Dolittle: What a neat achievement that would be!
Polynesia: Indeed it would!
Doctor Dolittle: If we could talk to the animals –
Polynesia: Yes, learn their languages –
Doctor Dolittle: Maybe take an animal degree,
Polynesia: Good idea!
Doctor Dolittle: I’d study elephant and eagle,
Polynesia: Buffalo and beagle
Doctor Dolittle: Alligator,
Polynesia: Guinea pig
Doctor Dolittle: And flea!
Polynesia: To name but a few!
You could converse in polar bear and python,
Doctor Dolittle: And i would curse in fluent kangaroo.
Polynesia: If people asked you, “Can you speak speak rhinocerous?”
Doctor Dolittle: I’d say, “of courserous! can’t you?”
Polynesia: You know i can.
Doctor Dolittle: If i conferred with our furry friends –
Man-to-animal –
Polynesia: Think of the amazing repartee!
Doctor Dolittle: If i could walk with the animals –
Polynesia: Talk with the animals –
Both: Grunt and squeal and squawk with the animals
Doctor Dolittle: And they could talk to me!
So you see tom. it just goes to prove, that if you put your mind to
It – anything
Is possible.
If we could talk to the animals,
Think what fun we’d have –
Asking over crocodiles for tea!
Polynesia: What fun!
Doctor Dolittle: Or maybe lunch with two or three lions,
Walruses and sealions
What a lovely place the world would be!
Polynesia: Lovely! lovely!
Doctor Dolittle: If i spoke slang to orang-utans,
The advantages –
Matthew: Any fool on earth can plainly see!
Polynesia: Of course he can!
Doctor Dolittle: Discussing eastern art and drama
With intellectual llamas –
Polynesia: That’s a big step forward, you’ll agree!
Doctor Dolittle: Oh, i agree!
Matthew: I’d learn to speak in antelope and turtle –
Polynesia: Good for you!
Stubbins: My pekinese would be extremely good!
Polynesia: Yes it would!
Doctor Dolittle: If i were asked to sing in hippopotamus,
Polynesia: What would you say?
Doctor Dolittle: I’d say, “why notamus!” –
Polynesia: What would you do?
All: And would!
Polynesia: Good!
Doctor Dolittle: If i could parley with pachyderms,
Stubbins: It’s a fairy tale –
Polynesia: Worthy of Hans Andersen or Grimm! –
Matthew: The man who walks with the animals –
Stubbins: Talks with the animals –
Doctor Dolittle: Grunts and squeals and squawks with the animals…
Polynesia: [Squawks]
All: And they all talk to him!
Doctor Dolittle: I’ll study every living creature’s language
So I can speak to all of them on sight!
If friends say “can he talk in crab or pelican?”
Polynesia: What’ll I say?
Doctor Dolittle: You’ll say “like helican”!
Polynesia: What’ll I be?
Doctor Dolittle: And you’ll be right!
Polynesia: That’s right!
And if you just stop to think a bit –
There’s no doubt of it –
You will have a place in history!
Matthew: The man who walks with the cats ‘n’ dogs –
Polynesia: Talk with the toads ‘n’ frogs –
Doctor Dolittle: Grunt and squeak and squawk
With the pigs ‘n’ hogs!
Dolittle, Matthew, Stubbins, Polynesia & animal company: [In howling harmony] Yes he can squeak – and – squawk –
And – speak – and – talk………
Doctor Dolittle: To me!
