Back The Lion Sleeps Tonight AF The Lion Sleeps Tonight Danish The Lion Sleeps Tonight German The Lion Sleeps Tonight Spanish Wimoweh Finnish The Lion Sleeps Tonight French The Lion Sleeps Tonight HE The Lion Sleeps Tonight Croatian The Lion Sleeps Tonight Hungarian The Lion Sleeps Tonight ID
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2019) |
| "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by the Tokens | |
| from the album The Lion Sleeps Tonight | |
| A-side | "Tina" |
| Released | 1961 |
| Recorded | 1961 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 2:41 |
| Label | RCA Victor |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Audio | |
| The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) (Audio) on YouTube | |
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a song originally written and recorded by Solomon Linda[2] under the title "Mbube"[3] 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 has been adapted and covered internationally by many pop and folk artists. It was recorded as "Wimoweh" by the Weavers in November 1951, and published by Folkways Music Publishers in December 1951.[4] Artists who have recorded various versions of the song include R.E.M., NSYNC, Henri Salvador, Karl Denver, Jimmy Dorsey, Yma Sumac, Noro Morales, Miriam Makeba, and the Kingston Trio.[5]
In 1961, a version adapted into English with the title "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the doo-wop group The Tokens became a number-one hit in the United States. 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. This song is written and composed in the key of F major.
- ^ Stanley, Bob (2022). "Revival: Trad Jazz and Folk". Let's Do It - The Birth of Pop Music: A History. New York: Pegasus Books. p. 477.
- ^ Malan, Rian (2000). "In the Jungle". Longform.org. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Seeking justice for Lion Sleeps Tonight composer". BBC News. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1952). Catalog of Copyright Entries 1952 Published Music Jan-Dec 3D Ser Vol 6 Pt 5A. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
- ^ William and Mary Libraries Special Collections Research Center (17 May 1952). Cash Box. Cash Box Pub. Co.