The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Album: The Lion Sleeps Tonight (1961)
Charted: 11 1
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Songfacts®:

  • A hunting song originally sung in Zulu in what is now Swaziland, the original title was "Mbube," which means lion.
  • This was popularized in the 1930s by South African singer Solomon Linda, who recorded it in 1939 with his group, The Evening Birds. Apparently they were a bold bunch, and got the idea from when they used to chase lions who were going after the cattle owned by their families.
  • Solomon Linda recorded the song in Johannesburg, South Africa after being discovered by a talent scout. The chanting was mostly improvised, but worked extraordinarily well. Released on the Gallo label, it became a huge hit across South Africa. Around 1948, Gallo sent a copy to Decca Records in the US, hoping to get it distributed there. Folk singer Pete Seeger got a hold of it and started working on an English version.
  • In the 1950s, Miriam Makeba recorded this with the Zulu lyrics, and Pete Seeger recorded it with his band, The Weavers (who dominated the charts with "Goodnight Irene"). The Weavers recorded the refrain of the song (no verses) and called it "Wimoweh." Their version hit #15 on the US Best Sellers charts in 1952. In 1957, it was included on, The Weavers At Carnegie Hall, a very popular album in the world of folk music.
  • 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." It was misheard for "Wimeoweh" because when pronounced, Uyimbube sounds like: oo-yim-bweh-beh.
  • Hank Medress, Jay Siegel, and Phil and Mitch Margo, who made up The Tokens, had a Top 15 hit "Tonight I Fell in Love" in 1960, but didn't have a record label in 1961. They auditioned for producers Hugo and Luigi (Peretti and 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, Hugo and Luigi rewrote the song, giving it the title "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The Tokens thought this had been nothing more than an elaborate audition - "Who is gonna buy a song about a lion sleeping" was their general sentiment. They were so embarrassed with the new title and lyrics that they fought the release of the recording (it was scheduled to be the B-side of another "import," a Portuguese song that they recorded in the same May 1961 session, "Tina").
  • Influential disc jockey Murray the K pushed "Tina," but once a New England DJ started playing the B-side on the air, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" started its climb to the #1 position, hitting the top of the charts in the Christmas holidays of 1961-62.
  • The run at #1 for "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was interrupted by a unique event: the return to #1 by Chubby Checker's "The Twist" 17 months after it hit the top spot on the Hot 100 for the first time.
  • The Kingston Trio recorded this in 1959 on their Live From The Hungry i LP. When introducing the song, singer Dave Guard stated that "Mbube" was a song about a sleeping lion (he doesn't refer to the song by name: he gives the background of the song before the Trio sings it). Part of the translated lyrics, as given by Guard: "Hush! Hush! If we all be quiet, there will be lion meat for dinner."
  • The success of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" didn't ensure long-term recording security for The Tokens as a singing group. They didn't have a singing/recording contract, but they DID have a producing contract! After "Lion," members of the group had producing success with the Chiffons ("He's So Fine," "One Fine Day," "Sweet Talkin' Guy"), the Happenings ("See You in September," "My Mammy") and Dawn ("Knock Three Times," "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree"). In 1971, they produced a note-for-note remake of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by Robert John - with Jay, Hank, and Mitch singing backgrounds and Ellie Greenwich singing bass. The new version peaked at #3.
  • When Hank left the group in 1972, the Tokens renamed themselves Cross Country and recorded an album. Their version of the Wilson Pickett hit "In the Midnight Hour" hit the Top 30 in 1973; the group disbanded shortly afterwards.
  • A number of movies and TV series have used this song, often sung by the characters. The most popular (and obvious) is in Disney's 1994 movie The Lion King, where it is sung by Timon the meerkat (Nathan Lane) and Pumba the warthog (Ernie Sabella). Other uses include:

    TV:
    Friends ("The One After the Superbowl: Part 1" - 1996, sung by the six friends)
    The Office ("Product Recall" - 2007, sung by John Krasinski and Ed Helms)
    The Simpsons ("Insane Clown Poppy" - 2000, "Treehouse of Horror XIII" - 2002, My Big Fat Geek Wedding - 2004)
    The Big Bang Theory ("The Convention Conundrum" - 2014, sung by Jim Parsons and James Earl Jones)
    Empire ("The Lyon's Roar" - 2015, sung by Jussie Smollett and Leah Jeffries)

    Movies:
    Troop Beverly Hills (1989)
    Matinee (1993)
    The Sandlot (1993)
    Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
    Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)
    Private Parts (1997)
    Bandits (2001)
    The Bucket List (2007)
    Dark Shadows (2012)
  • Opera singer Anita Darien was brought in for the soprano during and after the sax solo. Her voice almost sounds like an instrument on the record.
  • The Tokens sang backup on another version of the song made popular by Robert John 10 years later.
  • In 1982 the group Tight Fit had a UK #1 hit with their cover version. None of Tight Fit actually sang on the record, but they looked good and promoted it well. Roy Ward of City Boy recorded the real vocals.
  • The original version by Solomon Linda and the Evening Birds can be found on the album Crocodiles, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Solomon Linda and The Evening Birds and Others: Mbube Roots--Zulu Choral Music from South Africa, 1930s-1960s.
  • The three surviving daughters of Solomon Linda sued for royalty rights to this song in 1999 and won a settlement in the case six years later. Solomon Linda died in poverty from kidney disease in 1962 at age 53. As part of the settlement with Abilene Music, which owns the publishing rights, Linda's heirs receive 25% of past and future royalties from the song, which are considerable since it is used in so many movies and still receives airplay. In the 1950s Linda sold the rights to this song to Gallo Records of South Africa for 10 shillings (about $1.70), at a time when apartheid laws robbed blacks of negotiating rights. In the 1970s, Linda's widow signed over the rights to Abilene.
  • Thanks to its use in the The Lion King, in America, the Tokens version of the song was re-released in 1994, going to #51. Unusually, it was not included on the soundtrack album.
  • The original members of The Tokens reunited in 1981 for a "farewell concert," although one incarnation or another continued to perform off-and-on since then.

Comments: 31

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NySixty years ago today in 1961 {December 18th} "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by The Tokens peaked at #1 {for 3 weeks} on Billboard's Top 100 chart, and it spent fifteen weeks on the Top 100...
    And the week before, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" also peaked at #1 {for 3 weeks} on the Canadian Kennedy's Weekly Singles chart...
    Between 1961 and 1994 the Brooklyn, New York doo-wop group had thirteen records on the Top 100 chart, one made the Top 10, the above "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", thirty-three years later on August 14th, 1994, it re-entered the Top 100 at position #68, two weeks later it peaked at #51 for one week...
    They had one Top 20 record, "Tonight I Fell in Love", it reached #15 {for 1 week} on May 8th, 1961...
    Sadly, original member Henry 'Hank' Medress passed away at the age of 68 on June 18th, 2007...
    May he R.I.P.
    And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Top 10 on December 18th, 1961:
    At #2. "Please Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes {it was the #1 record the previous week}
    #3. "Run To Him" by Bobby Vee
    #4. "The Twist" by Chubby Checker
    #5. "Walk On By" by Leroy Van Dyke
    #6. "Goodbye Cruel World" by James Darren
    #7. "Let There Be Drums" by Sandy Nelson
    #8. "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen" by Neil Sedaka
    #9. "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean
    #10. "Peppermint Twist (Part 1)" by Joey Dee and the Starliters
  • Shaun Mcguinness from Brookings OregonIts so sad how people can just forget who the original singer is his name was Doug McGuinness he was 16 years old the younger member of the tokens he left to go into Vietnam so they replaced him and lied about it because they couldn't get him to do it again he didn't have it in him anymore but i tell ya when he drank hot lemon water he could sing it just like it was on vinyl record he was my grandpa he died when i was 5 but i still remember it like it was yesterday me and my dad can sing it just like him.
  • Victor Dominic from KenyaAwesome, I just like it
  • James from Diamond Bar Ca So Unforgettable - it was George David Weiss - who put those lyrics on there - That Sealed the Deal - an Immortal Classic - ' In the jungle - the mighty jungle. ----- - Such a masterpiece
  • Indy Sun from UkAt the end of 2020 this story appeared concerning efforts to help the descendants of the original writer, Solomon Linda.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-55333535
  • Siahara Shyne Carter from United StatesAdditional in the Movies

    Wolf Creek 2016?
    starring Ryan Corr

    I heard this on that movie really cool
  • Jay Siegel from New York Jay Siegel was the Falsetto lead singer on The Lion Sleeps Tonight & all of The Tokens Hits
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
    Mitch Margo, high tenor voice of the Tokens died in his sleep Friday (November 24th, 2017) at the age of 70...
    Mitch will always be remembered for the falsetto on the group's "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (#1 in 1961). He and brother Phil joined the second incarnation of the Tokens in 1960 when Mitch was only 13. He co-wrote "Tonight I Fell In Love" (#15 in 1961) and "I Hear Trumpets Blow" (#30 in 1966)...
    He also recorded with Phil and Jay Siegel of the Tokens as Cross Country*, reaching #30 in 1973 with "In The Midnight Hour". He continued performing with the Tokens until his death...
    May he R.I.P.
    * Exactly forty-four years prior to the day of Mr. Margo's death, on Nov. 24th, 1973, Cross Country performed "In the Midnight Hour" on the Dick Clark produced ABC-TV weekday-afternoon program 'Where The Action Is'...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 1st 1972 Robert John performed "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #5 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; the month before on March 5th it peaked at #3 for three weeks...
    {See third post below}.
  • Randy from Fayettevile, ArYep, I bought this single in late 1961 as it was topping the charts. At first, I thought it was so weird, but the beat was so good that I had to have the record. I played the heck out of that record. Then my little brother accidentally broke it. I went out & bought another copy at the record store. But my friends were at the record store too buying copies of Chubby Checker's re-release of his 1960 #1 mega-hit, "The Twist." It too was all over the radio stations by that time. So I went home with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "The Twist." As the months went by, I didn't hear much from The Tokens again, but Chubby Checker kept having hits. Anyway, "Lion" has a long history with many performers. Cool.
  • Peter from Coventry, United KingdomVery good song.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 5th 1972, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by Robert John peaked at #3 (for 3 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on December 26th, 1971 at position #89 and spent 17 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 7 of those 17 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
    It reached #6 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    In 1958 he entered the Top 100 with "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes", the record was released under his birth name of Bobby Pedrick, Jr. and it peaked at #74...
    And on December 18th, 1961 the Tokens version of "The Lions Sleeps Tonight" peaked at #1 (for 3 weeks) on the Top 100...
    In 1994 when the Walt Disney's movie 'The Lion King' was released, the Tokens' version re-entered the Top 100 on August 14th for a one week stay at position #68.
  • Jack from Mesa, Azif the lion is sleeping near the village that seems like a reason to cry because he will wake up at some point
  • Lisa from Port Jefferson Sta., NyI know Anita Darian and she definitely sang the soprano. She is a wonderful singer and a great person. She was called in last minute, late at night to do it, and did the part 1,2,3...
  • Cory Stoczynski from Lancaster, NyThat Song Was Sung On Muppets Tonight With Billy Crystal Where The Jungle Animals Attempted To
    Perform The Tokens' Greatest Hit, Much To The Dismay Of The Lion, Who Is Trying To Get Some Sleep, And
    Ends Up Chasing Them All Around The Set, Off The Stage, And Ran Over Clifford, Who Tried To Tell Them
    Why Aren't They Finishing The Song They Were Singing!!!!!!
  • Camille from Toronto, OhThis is one of the most incredibly unique songs to ever hit the airwaves. It can give me chills when it comes on the car radio. I love it.
  • George from Vermilion, OhThe soprano singer who sang Anita Darian's part on "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" on the Doo Wop TV special was Donna Groom. I thought she did an outstanding job. Her husband was playing drums with the Tokens in that same TV special, She a member of the Skyliners and is not only a great singer, she is an accomplished keyboard/piano player as well. She and her husband also perform as "The Grooms".
  • Michael from Mebane, NcI am curious about something. It is stated that Anita Darien sung the soprano solo in the song. On the doo wop special that they had on public tv a few months back, I do not remember her name being metioned but another womans name whom I cannot remember. I had the information saved but my computer got infected with viruses and I cannot find the clip nor the name. It wasn't the same woman. Does anyone know who or what I am asking about? Thanks for your help.
  • Craig from San Diego, CaThis song brings back many happy memories of a
    time when life was much simpler and choices
    much easier.
  • Shiloh Noone from Cape Town, South AfricaFolk tradition speaks loudly with the tapestry collection of Pete Seeger (the Weavers), "If I Had A Hammer", Jose Marti's "Guantanamera", the biblical "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To everything there is a season)" and Solomon Ka Linda's "Wimoweh" ("The Lion Sleeps Tonight"). The last of these has been hunted down, molested, raped, and stripped beyond all recognition. The anthemic "Wimoweh", first lauded by the Weavers, has its ethnic roots in an African sing-along entitled "Mbube". The legendary "Mbube" hailed as the first Zulu song to attain international acclaim, appeared under various guises as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", "In The Jungle", and "Wimoweh".The song was written in 1934 by an un-acknowledged migrant labourer called Solomon Ka Linda in the form of an African chant which refers to King Chaka - The Lion who lies in sleep and will awake one day. (Without being too spiritual perhaps he did, in the form of 'Madiba' - Nelson Mandela). The shrilling "Mbube" exonerated the African call & response style that was joyfully chirped by his backup singers, the Evening Birds. This reasonably popular characteristic termed Isis catamiya flaunted its cries in the goldmine hostels and shebeens at a time when the shadow of the fascist vulture was hovering over South Africa. The honourable Seeger, a troubadour who exalted the "Wimoweh" anthem though his Weavers, first hunted down the lion in the roaring forties. The travelling Seeger initially heard it while roaming the Rhodesian countryside in hunt of that elusive traditional folklore that would only reveal itself by the light of the Southern Cross. They say in Africa the little man (Tokoloshe / African Goblin) blows the smoke in your face and no doubt Pete fell victim when he heard "Wimoweh", which was actually "Uyimbube". It was also during this time that Pete travelled on the chugging "Tshotsholosa", that blew its whistle at the historic 'Carnegie Hall' Concert in 1963. Somewhere in mid 1961 "Wimoweh" the Tokens scored #1 hit in the US and a UK # 11 with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"without a cent of roylaties to the Ka linde family. (THe same Tokens - share holders of 'Bright Tunes'who later sued George Harrison for supposedly stealing the Chiffons' "He's So Fine" for "My Sweet Lord")The Lion Sleeps Tonight" springboarded further hits for Karl Denver (UK #4 1962), Robert John (#3 USA), and Bert Kaempfert (UK #20 1966) on his Swinging Safari. Dazed by the success of the African fever the Tokens again tried to stir the ethnic magic by releasing the African "B wa Nina" (Pretty Girl), but this time the Tokoloshe clamped the fever. (Tokens played on Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited.) Solomon died of kidney failure in 1963 having received almost nothing for his song. Although the royalties were not forthcoming from 'Gallo Africa', barring the sincere efforts of Seeger who travelled to South Africa to reward the author personally from his own pocket, recent cheque's have found their way to the bereaved family. The roar of "Mbube" returned to The Lion King soundtrack in the eighties. A concerned Capetonian journalist took up the poverty-stricken Linda family's quest for their share of the fruits of Solomon's efforts. Although he lacked the legal expertise to pursue the matter, his determination did attract enough support to put pressure on the record companies. Eventually they agreed to include the Linda family in royalties. (posted by Rock Journalist Shiloh Noone excerpt from 'Seekers Guide To The Rhythm Of Yesteryear'
  • Annabelle from Eugene, OrTo Jim in Rocky River, OH, the comment about Loulie Jean Norman singing the soprano part on this song comes from another Songfacts member, Bill in Los Angeles, CA. Here's what he wrote. "On the original Tokens record in 1961, the female soprano part was sung by one of LA's very best session singers, Loulie Jean Norman. I know because I dated two of her three daughters."
  • Leah from Brooklyn, NyDuring the performance of the LION KING show at Disney World several times daily, the live cast and audience sing this song together.
  • Jim from Rocky River, OhI just received an email from Jay Siegel-The Tokens
    I asked him who sang the female high part in "Lion"
    The original recording in N.Y. 1961. His reply---
    Quote: "Anita Darian was the one & ONLY"
    The mystery is where does Loulie Jean Norman fit in?
  • Annabelle from Eugene, OrI read somewhere that it was actually Loulie Jean Norman who sang the soprano solos in this song. So, let's clear up this confusion. Was it Anita Darien? Or was it Loulie Jean Norman?
  • Betsy from Albertville, Mni love this song... me and my friends are singing this song for our skool concert.. =)
  • Caitlin from Upper Township, NjI sang this song in my school's production of The Lion King.( BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!) I played Nala!
  • Jon from Oakridge, OrTimon and Pumba sing this in if not one of than the greatest Disney film of all time, The Lion King.
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnThe song was also used as the theme song for the sitcom The Mighty Jungle, a Canadian produced sitcom that aired on The Family Channel from 1993-94. The show was about Dan Winfield, a zookeeper and his family that were surrounded by four animals who would only talk to Dan. Among the voices were Tony Danza and Delta Burke.
  • Bill from Los Angeles, CaOn the original Tokens record in 1961, the female soprano part was sung by one of LA's very best session singers, Loulie Jean Norman. I know because I dated two of her three daughters.
  • Brandon from Seattle, WaInspired by Dion's "A Teenager in Love". Both songs inspired the Four Seasons' "Sherry".
  • Pete from Nowra, AustraliaEnglish band Tight Fit released a version in the mid 80's
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