The Disney Song Encyclopedia - fieldi

“SCARECROW” 171
sequel to the popular film Old Yeller (1957). A male chorus sings the narrative
ballad about the brave and mischievous dog Savage Sam during the
opening credits, while the canine is seen chasing a fox and sniffing out other
critters. The number, sometimes listed as “The Land of the Old Countree,”
is reprised at the very end of the film.
“Savages” is a potent chorus number by Alan Menken (music) and Stephen
Schwartz (lyric) that is featured with great effect in the animated
film Pocahontas (1995). Governor Ratcliffe (voice of David Odgen
Stiers) and the other European settlers sing about the heathen Native
Americans in Virginia, considering them less than human and hoping to
drive them away from the colony. The song is reprised by the natives,
who, seeing the settlers destroy the natural resources, look on the Europeans
as invading savages. Soon the two choruses are united in a warlike
chant of destruction.
“Say It with a Slap” is the energetic hillbilly number written by Buddy
Kaye and Eliot Daniel for the “Bongo” sequence in the animated film
anthology Fun and Fancy Free (1947). The circus bear Bongo escapes to
the wilderness, where he meets other bears and falls in love with Lulu
Belle, who gives him a slap. Bongo doesn’t understand that this is a sign
of affection among bears until this merry song is sung by Dinah Shore on
the soundtrack. The bears join in singing it then break into a lively square
dance, slapping each other with abandon.
“Scales and Arpeggios” is the inventive music lesson written by Robert B.
and Richard M. Sherman for the animated movie The Aristocats (1970). The
feline Duchess (voice of Eva Gabor) and her three kittens practice their piano
playing in their wealthy Paris home by jumping back and forth on the keyboard,
singing about how important it is to master the two piano techniques
of the song title.
“Scarecrow” is the rousing folk ballad by Terry Gilkyson that serves as
the theme song for the television movie The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh
(1964) on the Disneyland program. A male soloist sings the marching
number—all about the eighteenth-century English vicar who disguises
himself as a scarecrow and helps the oppressed people with his Robin
Hood–like night activities—on the soundtrack during the credits. The
song is punctuated by a squealing laugh, the trademark of the mysterious
scarecrow hero.