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The Lion Sleeps Tonight Song

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The Lion Sleeps Tonight Song is Catchy & Fun

The Lion Sleeps Tonight song has a challenging and long history that goes beyond the successes of musical groups such as The Tokens and the movie, The Lion King.

The original writer of this song was Solomon Linda, a South African Zulu composer, musician and singer. He wrote this song in 1939 as "Mbube," which is Zulu for the word, lion. Somehow, this song got away from Solomon Linda and became a runaway hit in South Africa with very little money and royalties going to Linda.

As you can imagine, he was probably taken advantage of...

And then new lyrics to this song was written and The Tokens came out with their cover of The Lion Sleeps Tonight in 1961. There are lots of other versions of this song but the one by The Tokens is probably the most recognized version.

And that song rose to #1 on the Billboard and still gets a lot of replays in the American radio stations that tends to play the oldies. The Lion Sleeps Tonight is a folk music staple that is often covered by other musical groups and remains popular to this day.

The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Amazon Price: $10.95 (as of 02/17/2012)Buy Now
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"This is The Tokens most acclaimed hit and in my view, their greatest work.The Tokens are one of the best old time bands and this cd is their best work, pick one up today!"

Release Date: 11/08/1994

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The Lawsuit Over The Lion Sleeps Tonight

RIP Solomon Linda

The Lion Sleeps Tonight in the Lion King MovieApparently wrongs became righted when a lawsuit was filed in 2004 by the family of Solomon Linda that claimed Disney owed $1.6 million in royalties for the use of the Lion Sleeps Tonight in the overnight sensation movie, The Lion King.

Happily, in 2006, the family of Linda prevailed and reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount of money with Abilene Music which held the worldwide rights to the song and licensed that song to Disney in the first place.

However, Solomon Linda never enjoyed the successes of his song, The Lion Sleeps Tonight because he died in poverty back in 1962 of Renal failure. His family was so poor, it took another eighteen years before a tombstone was erected at his graveside.

I find it ironic that music companies think it is OK to license songs to others without paying royalties for them... and at the same time, go after anyone... especially broke college students for swapping songs illegally... in a very hostile and litigious manner.

Well, RIP Solomon Linda... you wrote a very catchy and fun song that is still going strong fifty years and counting after you wrote it... that is an accomplishment that is rarely ever duplicated.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Hippo & Dog

Pat the Hippo and Stanley the Dog sings and dances in this hilarious video that is twice as fast of The Lion Sleeps Tonight! Watch the dog... he is so funny when the video is quicker...

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The Lion King - The Lion Sleeps Tonight Video

The lyrics may be slightly different... but it is still The Lion Sleeps Tonight that is wonderfully sung by the characters in The Lion King movie.


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Lyrics to The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Pat and StanleyThis is just one of the many versions of lyrics for the The Lion Sleeps Tonight song. The music is usually the same...

We-de-de-de
De-de-de-de-de
De-we-um-um-a-way
We-de-de-de
De-de-de-de-de
We-um-um-a-way

A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh

In the jungle
The mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle
The quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight

A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh

Near the village
The peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village
The quiet village
The lion sleeps tonight

A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh

Hush, my darling
Don't fear my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush, my darling
Don't fear my darling
The lion sleeps tonight

A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh
A-wimoweh, a-wimoweh

We-de-de-de
De-de-de-de-de
De-we-um-um-a-way
We-de-de-de
De-de-de-de-de
We-um-um-a-way

Source: Robert John lyrics

The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight Video

One of the most well-known version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight is performed by The Tokens. Although the original recording was released almost fifty years ago, back in 1961... The Tokens were still performing this song in 2008. Talk about a very favorite classic song being timeless!

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Play The Lion Sleeps Tonight

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  • Reply
    Thailandinfo Feb 12, 2012 @ 4:57 pm | delete
    I have always been a fan of this song, thanks for the post!
  • Reply
    gonzalezdenise Apr 12, 2011 @ 3:11 pm | delete
    Very nice song. Enjoyed your lens.
  • Reply
    gonzalezdenise Apr 12, 2011 @ 3:11 pm | delete
    Very nice song.
  • Reply
    Wednesday_Elf Mar 8, 2011 @ 8:03 am | delete
    Better late than never.... finally compiled my SquidAngel Lens from my 'angel flight' back in the Fall of 2010 :-) So.... returning to tell you that this lens has now been 'featured on' and 'lensrolled to' "SquidAngel Blessings by an Elf".
  • Reply
    Wednesday_Elf Nov 14, 2010 @ 8:58 pm | delete
    I've heard The Tokens' recording of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" many times (and it's wonderful), but somehow never knew the name of their group. I've loved this song since the early 1960s (long, long before The Lion King), but the rendition I'm most familiar with was done by my very favorite folk music group "The Kingston Trio". It was terrific learning more about the history of the song and getting to listen to The Tokens sing it here! I am lensrolling this to my Three Jolly Coachman (a.k.a. The Kingston Trio) lens and leaving behind a ~~SquidAngel Blessing~~
  • Reply
    Veronica Nov 11, 2010 @ 5:14 pm | delete
    Actually, Solomon Linda didn't write The Lion Sleeps Tonight. He wrote a song entitled "Mbube" and sold the rights to it after the recording was made. It was later adapted twice and BECAME The Lion Sleeps Tonight; the version we all know was recorded by The Tokens. Years later, his wife signed over her rights, and years after that, his daughters also signed over the rights to this song, all with legal counsel.

    Disney just borrowed the song from Abilene Music, a company that they in good faith, believed owned the rights, and they paid to use it fairly.

    The only reason they won this lawsuit was because of a stipulation in British law that states a copyright reverts to the writer's heirs 25 years after their death, which means, if Linda was still alive, he STILL wouldn't be seeing any Lion King money.

    Do a little research before you just take the word of a internet writer.
  • Reply
    HappySeasons Nov 11, 2010 @ 5:27 pm | delete
    Hello Veronica. Thank you for the history lesson. If you can take a moment to actually read the first paragraph on this site... you will notice I said, Solomon wrote the ORIGINAL lyrics. And then NEW lyrics were written into what we all recognize as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Your last comment was uncalled for and is unappreciated.

    Matt
  • Reply
    Sami4u Sep 12, 2010 @ 6:15 am | delete
    Hi,

    I can tell you a lot about the Tokens and their version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Did you know the Neil Sedaka was part of the group? Wonderful song Jay, Bill, and the Margo Brothers are all super people if you get a chance to see them in person do it.
  • Reply
    lisadh Sep 9, 2010 @ 11:46 am | delete
    I love this song, but had no idea about the history of it. I'm glad Solomon Linda's family finally righted the wrong.
  • Reply
    bconnor11 Aug 7, 2010 @ 2:55 pm | delete
    This is a classic song. I didn't know all of this trivia. Great lens!
  • Reply
    fitnessdad70 May 25, 2010 @ 3:32 pm | delete
    Some great trivia information
  • Reply
    PeteSchultz Apr 21, 2010 @ 3:53 pm | delete
    this is fun stuff. I skipped voting because I liked Pat and Stanley the best simply for the amusement value. The tokens would have to be the classic recording.
  • Reply
    skiesgreen Apr 18, 2010 @ 2:52 am | delete
    Wonderful unique lens, Great presentation. Blessed and featured on Sprinkled with Stardust

    Norma
  • Reply
    WordCustard Feb 26, 2010 @ 3:39 pm | delete
    So interesting to learn the history of this song!
  • Reply
    eclecticeducation Jan 26, 2010 @ 1:08 pm | delete
    Very informative! Great lens. Blessed by a Squid Angel. :)
  • Reply
    jgelien Jan 16, 2010 @ 8:00 pm | delete
    One of my all time favorites. I can't think of a catchier tune and I notice that any time it comes on the radio, wherever they are, everyone in the vicinity bursts into song. Thank you for sharing the back story. 5*
  • Reply
    jakealoo Jan 15, 2010 @ 9:06 pm | delete
    Thanks for the great lense
  • Reply
    Sylvestermouse Jan 13, 2010 @ 12:11 pm | delete
    This is totally awesome! You are so right about the imbalance in the music industry! Angel Blessed and added to Squid Angel Mouse Tracks!
  • Reply
    OhMe Jan 13, 2010 @ 5:32 am | delete
    I love this song and this lens was a good way to start the day. I can feel like I am on my last leg and hear this song and energy comes out of nowhere! Love it!
  • Reply
    EdmondHoggeJr Jan 11, 2010 @ 3:37 pm | delete
    Im new here but thats really cool Ive learned a few things here nice work!
  • Reply
    puzzlemaker Jan 11, 2010 @ 12:44 pm | delete
    OMGosh. We (dd and I) just cracked up at that double speed The Lion Sleeps Tonight video. The Hippo and Dog are HILARIOUS. Now she's asking me to play it again :-). So gotta run. Excellent! Ha - the security word is "Fantastic", how appropriate.
  • Reply
    Ramkitten Jan 11, 2010 @ 10:44 am | delete
    Interesting about the lawsuit. I hadn't heard about that.
  • Reply
    HorseAndPony Jan 11, 2010 @ 9:55 am | delete
    I do love the Lion Sleeps Tonight. I also loved all the info you provided. It was all very enjoyable to read.
  • Reply
    whitemoss Jan 11, 2010 @ 9:33 am | delete
    I've always loved this song- love seeing the lyrics all written out like that!
  • Reply
    arncyn Jan 11, 2010 @ 2:36 am | delete
    Wow, I didn't realize that the song was old - I always thought that it was written for the Lion King (oops). It's unfortunate that Linda never got to gain anything for writing such a well-known, catchy tune but it's good to know that his family reached a settlement with the record company that licensed it to Disney. Entertaining lens!
  • Reply
    California_Dreamin Jan 10, 2010 @ 9:34 pm | delete
    Great song and very impressive research on this lens. Five stars from me.
  • Reply
    KarenTBTEN Jan 10, 2010 @ 9:01 pm | delete
    Good song. It was intersting to read the history. I had no idea the song was so old.
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HappySeasons

The Lion Sleeps Tonight is one of the most popular and covered songs today... for a very good reason! It is a fun song to listen to...

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