The Disney Song Encyclopedia - fieldi

234 “THE WORLD OWES ME A LIVING”
“The World Owes Me a Living” is the droll folk-like song about playing
today and working tomorrow that Leigh Harline (music) and Larry Morey
(lyric) wrote for the Silly Symphony movie short The Grasshopper and the
Ants (1934). While all the ants are busy preparing for winter, their friend
the Grasshopper (voice of Pinto Colvig) fiddles away his time and sings this
catchy ditty about a lazy lifestyle. When winter comes, the ants rescue the
Grasshopper from starvation and cold and he changes his tune, entertaining
his friends by singing the song with a revised lyric that shows he has learned
his lesson.
“The World Will Know” is the musical battle cry Alan Menken (music)
and Jack Feldman (lyric) wrote for the period film Newsies (1992). When
the New York newspaper the World raises its price for the newsboys who
sell it on street corners, the “newsie” Jack Kelly (Christian Bale) tries to
organize the boys into a union with this tenacious call to arms, arguing that
they ought to fight for the rights they deserve. The song is reprised at the
climax of the film when child laborers from all over the city show up at the
strike to show their support.
“World without Fences” is the driving “I am” song for the young canine
hero in the animated video sequel Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure
(2001). Melissa Manchester and Norman Gimbel wrote the passionate
song of yearning sung by the puppy Scamp (singing voice of Roger Bart)
who has been chained up in the backyard and aches for a life in the world
outside his yard.
“The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind” is the waltzing tribute to the
villain, the rat Professor Ratigan (voice of Vincent Price), in the animated
adventure movie The Great Mouse Detective (1986). Ratigan sings to his
henchmen that all his glorious crimes of the past are nothing compared to
the caper he is planning, and his mouse henchmen celebrate the plot with
this cheerful ditty about their boss, the world’s finest villain. The music
hall–like number was written by Henry Mancini (music), Larry Grossman,
and Ellen Fitzhugh (lyric).
“Wringle Wrangle” is the square dance number written by Stan Jones for
the adventure film Westward Ho the Wagons! (1956). After the pioneers
on the Oregon Trail put their wagons in a circle for the night, they dance
by the light of the campfire to this western hoedown number with a happy
nonsense lyric.