The Lion Sleeps Tonight

The Kingston Trio

About The Lion Sleeps Tonight

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a song originally written and recorded by Solomon Linda under the title "Mbube" for the South African Gallo Record Company in 1939. Linda's original was written in Zulu, while the English version's lyrics were written by George David Weiss. The song was adapted and covered internationally by many pop and folk revival artists in the 1950s and 1960s, including the Weavers, Jimmy Dorsey, Yma Sumac, Miriam Makeba, and the Kingston Trio. In 1961, it became a number one hit in the United States as adapted in English with the best-known version by the doo-wop group the Tokens. It went on to earn millions in royalties from cover versions and film licensing. The pop group Tight Fit had a number one hit in the UK with the song in 1982. more »

Year:: 1962
: 29 Views

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Lala Kahle
(Sleep well)
In the jungle,
the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle,
the mighty jungle
The lion Sleeps tonight

[Chorus:]
Imbube
Ingonyama ifile
(The lion's in peace)
Ingonyama ilele
(The lion sleeps)
Thula
(Hush)
Near the village,
the peacefull village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village,
the peacefull village
The lion sleeps tonight

[Chorus:]

Ingonyama ilele
(The lion sleeps)
Hush my darling,
don't fear my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush my darling,
don't fear my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chant:]
He, ha helelemama
ohi'mbube
(He, ha helelemama - lion)

[Chorus:]

Ixesha lifikile
(Time has come)
Lala
(Sleep)
Lala kahle
(Sleep well)
Near the village,
the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village,
the peace full village
The Lion sleeps tonight

[Chorus:]

My little darling
Don't fear my little darling
My little darling
Don't fear my little darling
Ingonyama ilele
(The lion sleeps

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The Kingston Trio

The Kingston Trio is an American folk and pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to late 1960s. The group started as a San Francisco Bay Area nightclub act with an original lineup of Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds. It rose to international popularity, fueled by unprecedented sales of 33⅓ rpm long-playing record albums (LPs), and helped to alter the direction of popular music in the U.S. more »

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Written by: George David Weiss, Hugo E Peretti, Luigi Creatore, Solomon Linda

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

10 facts about this song

Origins Initially, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was a South African folk song titled "Mbube," which was written by Solomon Linda in 1939. The lyrics were primarily in Zulu, his native language.
First Recording Solomon Linda, along with his group The Evening Birds, was the first to record the song. It gained huge popularity in South Africa with approximately 100,000 copies sold during the 1940s.
Western Introduction The song was introduced to Western audiences in a modified version by American musicologist Alan Lomax. George Weiss, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore, known as The Weavers, further adapted the song and named it "Wimoweh".
Kingston Trio Version In 1959, the Kingston Trio released their version of the song as "Wimoweh". This version helped popularize the song among folk music audiences in the United States.
The Tokens Version The song gained international fame when The Tokens, a popular American doo-wop group, released their take on it as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1961. This version topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Linda's Royalties Despite the immense success of the song, Solomon Linda saw little financial benefit until 2006, a few years after his death, when a court ruled that the song’s royalties be paid to Linda's estate.
Multimedia Appearance The song has appeared in several forms of media including film, television, and stage performances. Most notably, it was featured in the 1994 Disney film "The Lion King" and its subsequent Broadway adaptation.
Cover Versions and Parodies There have been numerous cover versions and parodies of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Notably, it was covered by artists including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba, and R.E.M. It was also parodied in the comedy film "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" starring Jim Carrey.
Cultural Impact The spiking falsetto bridge of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" has become one of the most recognizable moments in American pop music. The song continues to be recognized and beloved by multiple generations.
Grammy Hall of Fame In 2018, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, acknowledging its historical significance in the music world.

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