Menu
Listening To Music

50+ Old-School Disney Songs That Everyone Knows

When it comes to Disney songs, we’re sure you’ll agree that the older ones are some of the best in Disney’s entire musical repertoire.

In this article, our gang of writers-slash-vintage-Disney-fans have put together this ultimate list of 50+ old-school Disney songs that everyone knows, along with an insight into what makes each track so great.

Let’s dive in!

50+ Old-School Disney Songs

1. When You Wish Upon a Star

Movie: Pinocchio
Release date: 1940

No other song on this list is more representative of Disney as a company than this. But it first appeared in Pinocchio in 1940. Sung by Cliff Edwards as Jiminy Cricket, the song plays over the opening credits.

2. Heigh-Ho

Movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Release date: 1937

Sung by seven dwarves as they mine for rubies and diamonds, this is one of the best-known songs in Snow White, and one of the best-known old Disney sings ever. Frank Churchill wrote the music, and Larry Morey wrote the lyrics.

3. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

Movie: Cinderella
Release date: 1950

Also sometimes called “The Magic Song,” the song is famously sung by the Fairy Godmother (her voiced by Verna Felton) during Cinderella’s “transformation scene.” 

4. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

Written by the Sherman Brothers, who are responsible for some of the best-known old Disney songs – including “It’s a Small World” – Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is one of a handful of catchy songs from this film. It occurs in the chalk-drawing scene featuring Dick Van Dyke. 

5. Someday My Prince Will Come

Movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Release date: 1937

Someday My Prince Will Come sits at the top of this list because not only is it a preeminent Disney song, it is also a cultural standard, having been ranked the 19th greatest film song of all time by AFI. But no one can top Adiana Caselotti’s version for the original film. 

6. A Spoonful of Sugar

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

The melody of this song makes up the leitmotif of the Mary Poppins film. Julie Andrews character sings it to instruct the two children (Jane and Michael) to clean their room. 

7. The Bare Necessities

Movie: The Jungle Book
Release date: 1967

Although the Sherman Brothers wrote all the other songs in the Jungle Book (in addition to the music for Mary Poppins), this song was written by Terry Gilkyson for a previous version of the film. The Sherman Brothers liked it so much they kept it in.

8. A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Movie: Cinderella
Release date: 1950

Ilene Woods famously sings this song based on a theme from one of Franz Liszt’s Etudes. It is one of the best-known old Disney songs of all time. Expressing similar sentiments to “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “A Dream Is a Wish…” equates a dream with a desire that, if long for hard enough, will come true.  

9. Chim-Chim-Cheree

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

In a film that is chock-full of great songs, it’s this one that impressed the Academy most. “Chim-Chim-Cheree,” written by the Sherman Brothers, took home the 1964 Academy Award for Best Original Song, in addition to the Award for Best Musical Motion Picture.

10. I’m Late

Movie: Alice in Wonderland
Release date: 1951

Sung by the fabulous American voice actor Bill Thompson, “I’m Late” was one of over 30 original songs written for the 1951 film version of Alice in Wonderland, the most for any Disney song up until that point. 

11. You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!

Movie: Peter Pan
Release date: 1953

Maybe it’s not so surprising that 4-time Oscar winner Sammy Cahn wrote this song. He is also responsible for the 1945 hit Christmas single: “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!.” “You Can Fly!” was performed by The Jud Conlon Chorus & The Mellomen.

12. Cruella De Vil

Movie: One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Release date: 1961

Having a down-and-out songwriter as the film’s protagonist certainly helps pepper a film with songs, and that’s when Disney thought when they constructed the narrative for this 101 Dalmations. Songwriter Mel Leven was tasked with writing “Cruella” first, and he wrote three versions before landing on this one.

13. I’ve Got No Strings

Movie: Pinocchio
Release date: 1940

When Pinocchio was released in 1940, there was no such thing as a film “Soundtrack”. In fact, Pinnochio’s music was one of the first films to release accompanying music. “I’ve Got No Strings” was written by Ned Washington and Leigh Harline. 

14. The Siamese Cat Song

Movie: Lady and the Tramp
Release date: 1955

Peggy Lee lends her voice to this and a handful of other songs from the Lady and the Tramp film. The song occurs at a pivotal moment when Aunt Sarah takes care of the new baby, and her trouble-making cats get Lady into trouble, resulting in the muzzle that terrifies her enough to flee into the arms of the Tramp.  

15. Give A Little Whistle

Movie: Pinocchio
Release date: 1940

Cliff Edwards and Dickie Jones give this charming song all the appeal that it needs. It’s a friendly song sung as Jiminy hops on Pinocchios toes and performs this number. It is during this song that Jiminy Cricket utters his famous phrase “always let your conscience be your guide.”

16. A Pirate’s Life 

Movie: Peter Pan
Release date: 1953

The music for the 1953 film Peter Pan had a long development. “A Pirate’s Life” was written during the second attempt at making the film, with Oliver Wallace completing the score before the film was temporarily shelved to work on Cinderella.

17. Someday My Prince Will Come

Movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Release date: 1937

It’s hard to believe this song is sung by 18-year-old Adriana Caselotti, who was paid a nominal fee for her role as Snow White. To get the part, she interrupted a phone call her talent scout father was having with the producers of the film to tell them she would make a good candidate.

Snow White sings the song late in the movie as she consoles herself the prince she just met will someday come back for her.

18. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

Movie: Song of the South
Release date: 1946

Song of the South is not a very well-known Disney film, but this 1946 film – a combination of live-action and animation – this little earworm that almost every child (and parent) knows. It won the Academy Award for Best Song that year. 

19. I’m Wishing

Movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Release date: 1937

Not the song the opens the movie, that belongs to Magic Mirror, our first introduction to evil in the film. But “I’m Wishing” is our first introduction to good, sung by the beautifully voiced Adriana Caselotti.

20. The Unbirthday Song

Movie: Alice in Wonderland
Release date: 1951

Lewis Carroll’s idea of an Unbirthday is made even more famous than it already was in this scene from the richly colored Disney version of the story. The song is what the Mad Hatter and March Hare are singing when Alice stumbles upon them. 

21. Baby Mine

Movie: Dumbo
Release date: 1941

One of Disney’s most heartbreaking songs, written by none other than Frank Churchill, whose other compositions are scattered all over this list. Although it comes from the film Dumbo, this lullaby-like ballad has been covered by many popular recording artists over the decades. 

22. Let’s Go Fly A Kite

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

Mary Poppins again. But Richard and Rob Sherman really hit it out of the park with this film score. The fact that most of the songs from this film are on this list. “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” is performed at the film’s end when the father realizes his family’s more important than his job and takes them kite-flying.

23. Belle Notte

Movie: Lady and the Tramp
Release date: 1955

“Belle Notte” is Italian for “Beautiful Night”, and indeed it is a beautiful night on which this song plays. George Vivot’s enthusiastic waiter – Tony – plays host to the blooming love between Lady and the Tramp. 

24. Once Upon a Dream

Movie: Sleeping Beauty
Release date: 1958

With lyrics written by Jack Lawrence and music by Sammy Fain, “Once Upon a Dream” serves as the centerpiece of the film. The melody is based on a theme from The Sleeping Beauty ballet by Tchaikovsky. 

25. Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat

Movie: The Aristocats
Release date: 1970

The Sherman Brothers are at work again behind this still-popular Disney song. In fact, they wrote many more songs for The Aristocats than were shown in the final film. 

26. Step in Time

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

The chimney sweep Bert sings this song in the memorable scene where the chimney sweeps of London dance on the rooftops. The song bears resemblances to the old standard “Knees Up Mother Brown.”

27. I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song)

Movie: The Jungle Book
Release date: 1967

Louis Prima sings as King Louie and Phil Harris as Baloo in this catchy Dixieland-like song. Yet another example of the playful genius of the Sherman Brothers.

28. He’s a Tramp

Movie: Lady and the Tramp
Release date: 1955

Peggy Lee and the Mellomen perform this song, but did you also know that the inimitable Peggy Lee also wrote most of the lyrics for the film?

Sonny Burke assisted her with the score. She won 2.3 million dollars in 1991 after a lengthy legal battle with Disney over the rights to her songs for the film. 

29. Jolly Holiday

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

Jolly Holiday is sung by Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in the pastel-colored sequence and was arranged by the famous arranger Irwin Kostal. The song’s writer Richard Sherman voiced the penguins.

30. The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers

Movie: Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day
Release date: 1968

The “personal anthem” of Tigger himself, this song is featured in the original Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. This was a featurette that came out in 1968, before being included in the 1977 release of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. 

31. That’s What Friends Are For

Movie: The Jungle Book
Release date: 1967

This song is sung at the end of the film, just before Mowgli’s confrontation with Sher Khan. The characters of the four vultures are modeled after the fab-four themselves: John, Paul, George, and Ringo. 

32. When I See an Elephant Fly

Movie: Dumbo
Release date: 1941

It’s not the only time in a movie when a group of birds urged the hero on in their journey; that distinction also belongs to the Jungle Book. In this song, Timothy’s idea for a “flying elephant” is made fun of by the crows. 

33. Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

Unconvinced with his father’s pleas to invest his tuppence, little Michael – in Mary Poppins – decides instead to feed the birds in Trafalgar Square. 

34. Scales and Arpeggios

Movie: The Aristocats
Release date: 1970

One of the most memorable songs of the Aristocats, “Scales and Arpeggios” takes place as Maurice and his sister duet in a fun little piano number. 

35. Swing, Sweet Nightingale

Movie: Cinderella
Release date: 1950

The first time we hear this lovely song, it is off-key and being sung unpleasantly by Drizella during her lessons. But we soon hear Cinderella’s far more appealing voice take over as she scrubs the floors of the castle. 

36. I Love to Laugh

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

It’s quite a surprise seeing Uncle Albert float with Bert in the air. It takes “lightening the mood” to a whole new level. But that’s just what the Sherman Brothers had in mind when they wrote this song. 

37. Winnie the Pooh

Movie: Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree
Release date: 1966

Unsurprisingly, most of the classic “Pooh” songs were products of the Sherman Brothers’ bounteous imagination. The titular song comes from the 1966 short “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.”

38. Thomas O’ Malley Cat

Movie: The Aristocats
Release date: 1970

Sung by Phil Harris character, Thomas O’Malley after the Duchess wakes up and hears someone singing. Soon, he’ll become her ride back to Paris. 

39. The Perfect Nanny

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

Sung by Jane and Michael Banks, this song has the children explaining what they’d like to see in their perfect version of a nanny. “No warts” and “rosy cheeks”!

40. Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum (The Dwarfs’ Washing Song)

Movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Release date: 1937

Led by Doc, the dwarfs wash their hands and faces after Snow White’s orders before they have supper. Grumpy sits nearby and refuses to join them. But eventually, they throw him in the tub too!

41. Stay Awake

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

Mary Poppins herself sings this song as she tries to get Jane and Michael to go to sleep. 

42. The Walrus and the Carpenter

Movie: Alice and Wonderland
Release date: 1951

The song – based on the ballad of the same name in Lewis Caroll’s book – is sung by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum to Alice.

43. Little April Shower

Movie: Bambi
Release date: 1942

Bambi contains only four songs, with “Little April Shower” being arguably the most famous. It’s written by Larry Morey, composed by Disney staple Frank Churchill, and sung by the Disney Studio Chorus. 

44. A British Bank (The Life I Lead)

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

Another duet from Mary Poppins, this time between David Tomlinson (who plays the father) and Julie Andrews, the titular Mary Poppins herself. 

45. In a World of My Own

Movie: Alice in Wonderland
Release date: 1951

Retired voice actor Kathryn Beaumont – who plays Alice – sings this song at the beginning of the film. She longs for “a world of her own creation,” and she certainly finds that and more on her adventures down the rabbit hole. 

46. Fidelity Fiduciary Bank

Movie: Mary Poppins
Release date: 1964

The full name of the bank is the Dawes, Tomes, Mousely Grubbs Fidelity Fiduciary Bank. The sung is sung to convince the young Michael Banks to invest his tuppence. 

47. One Song

Movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Release date: 1937

One Song doesn’t get enough credit because it’s buried between the astonishing vocals of Adriana Caselotti’s Snow White. But it’s a great song. In the film, it is sung by Harry Stockwell.

48. Painting the Roses Red

Movie: Alice in Wonderland
Release date: 1951

This song features the vocal talents of the Mellomen. They were a popular quartet whose career spans the 1940s-1970s. They are well-known outside the world of Disney, but their voices add distinctive tones to Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, and The Jungle Book. 

49. The Aristocats

Movie: The Aristocats
Release date: 1970

The catchy title song plays over the opening credits introducing us to the playfulness of the movie and setting the scene. It was performed by Maurice Chevalier. 

50. How D’ye Do and Shake Hands

Movie: Alice in Wonderland
Release date: 1951

The Tweedles perform this silly song when they meet Alice for the first time, just after the caucus race. 

Closing Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed our ultimate list of old Disney songs! Why not check out our list of the best Disney songs about friendship next?

This article is part of our series on Disney songs.

About Author

I'm George; the founder of Indie Panda. I'm passionate about helping independent musicians realize the full potential of their talents and abilities through a strong work ethic, coherent project identity and a strong logistical foundation.