For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday theme, Jim Adams has given us songs that feature Lion, Tiger, Bear, Eagle, and Shark, as suggested by Paula of Light Motifs II. I’m pretty sure that the song I’m choosing is one that a lot of others will also select. It’s the Token’s song, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” was originally written by Solomon Linda under the title “Mbube,” which means lion in Zulu, for the South African Gallo Record Company in 1939. The song was recorded by Solomon Linda with his group, The Evening Birds, who allegedly got the idea for the song from when they used to chase lions who were going after the cattle owned by their families.
It became a huge hit across South Africa. Around 1948, Gallo sent a copy to Decca Records in the U.S., hoping to get it distributed there. Folk singer Pete Seeger got a hold of it and started working on an English version. Seeger thought they were saying “Wimoweh” on the original, and that’s what he wrote down and how it was recorded in English. They were actually saying “Uyimbube,” which means “You’re a Lion.” The Weavers’ version, titled “Wimoweh,” hit number 15 on the U.S. best sellers charts in 1952.
In 1961, the Tokens auditioned for producers Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore by singing “Wimoweh” to them. Hugh and Luigi were impressed by the performance but decided that the song needed new lyrics. With help from George Weiss, Peretti and Creatore rewrote the song, giving it the title “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” In 1961, the version by the Tokens became a number one hit in the U.S. and remains the best-known version of the song.
There have been dozens of covers of “Wimoweh” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” including from artists like Miriam Makeba, The Kingston Trio, Glen Campbell, Robert John, The New Christie Minstrels, Tight Fit, and a host of others.
Here are the lyrics for “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
Wee-ooh wim-o-weh. Wee-ooh wim-o-weh
Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh
Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh
In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight
Wee-ooh wim-o-weh
Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh
Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh
Near the village, the peaceful village, the lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the peaceful village, the lion sleeps tonight
Wee-ooh wim-o-weh. Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh
Wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh
o-wim-o-weh o-wim-o-weh o-wim-weh
Hush, my darling, don’t fear, my darling, the lion sleeps tonight
Hush, my darling, don’t fear, my darling, the lion sleeps tonight
Whuh whuh whuh wim-o-weh. Wee-ooh wim-o-weh wee-ooh
wim-o-weh wee-ooh wim-o-weh
Great choice Fandango.
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Thanks, Di.
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This is my Mums favourite version, but I’m not sure I agree with her…
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Sounds like he’s singing the Zulu-language version. Interesting, but like you, I can’t agree that it’s the best.
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I was singing this once and my spouse had never heard the song. He accused me of making up the lyrics. Much later, the song came on the radio, and I had my moment of redemption.
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That’s funny!
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This song should be voted the most likely to become a group sing along when it comes on the radio. Great choice, Fandango!
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Thanks, Maggie.
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Perfect choice! A favorite of mine and so happy to hear it today. Thanks for the explanation of Wimoweh! Fascinating fact Fandango! ☺️
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Glad you enjoyed it, Christine.
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Christine … but that’s ok 🤣
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Yeah, I caught that AFTER I hit send. Sorry about that!
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I could have sworn you said Paula!
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I did. But I went back and corrected my egregious error as soon as I discovered it!
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Oh it was definitely egregious 😧 LOL 🤣
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You’re the first I’ve seen with it! 🎶❤️
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That surprises me. I expected a lot to pick this song.
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Somebody had to add this classic today Fandango. Nice choice.
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Best choice ever, I love this song so much for so many reasons …. Dancing round the house now 💜
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Yay!
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💜💜💜🎶😊
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I nearly chose this one. I love it. We have special memories connected with it. It was also the song we sang at work during the start of the Pandemic to help us de-stress.
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It’s a fun song to sing with a group of close friends.
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Hush-hush, Darlin’; hush hush, Darlin. Hush. Hush…
No Doubt – Don’t Speak (Official 4K Music Video)
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Songs always seem to be a work in progress
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Another good one Fandango. 🙂
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Thanks, Brian.
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I love this song! Its a good one! Xo
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