Covers – The Lion Sleeps Tonight

The original version, known as “Mbube,” was written and recorded by South African musician Solomon Linda in 1939. The song was a hit in South Africa, featuring Linda’s distinctive high-pitched vocal style and a distinctive melody that would later become widely recognized. In 1952, the song caught the attention of American folk singer Pete Seeger,

who heard it on a recording brought to him by an ethnomusicologist. Seeger, along with his group The Weavers, adapted and recorded their own version of the song, titled “Wimoweh”, a mishearing of the original song’s chorus of “Uyimbube” (“You are a lion” in Zulu). The Weavers’ version introduced the song to a broader audience in the United States, and it became a folk standard.

In 1961, two RCA Records producers, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore, hired Juilliard-trained musician and lyricist George David Weiss to arrange a Doo-wop and Rhythm & blues cover of “Wimoweh” for the B-side of a 45-rpm single called “Tina”,

sung by group The Tokens. Weiss wrote the English lines “In the jungle, the mighty jungle, The lion sleeps tonight …” and “Hush, my darling, don’t fear, my darling …” They reworked the song and gave it a more polished and pop-oriented sound. The Tokens’ version reached the top of the charts, making it a global hit and earning the song a lasting place in popular culture.

Despite its success, the story of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” also includes controversies regarding the song’s authorship and compensation. Solomon Linda, the original composer, received little financial recognition during his lifetime. It was only decades later that his family sought legal action to claim royalties and recognition for his contribution to the iconic song.

The history of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” reflects the complex dynamics of cultural appropriation and the challenges faced by many African musicians in receiving proper credit and compensation for their work. The song has become a symbol of the broader issues surrounding the exploitation of African music and the need for fair compensation and acknowledgment of original creators.

Artists who have recorded various versions of the song include R.E.M., Henri Salvador, Karl Denver, Jimmy Dorsey, Yma Sumac, Noro Morales, Miriam Makeba, The New Christy Minstrels, Robert John (US #3), Brian Eno, The Stylistics, The Nylons, They Might Be Giants, ‘N Sync, Baha Men, Rockapella, Billy Joel and Jimmy Fallon, and the Kingston Trio. The pop group Tight Fit had a number one hit in the UK with the song in 1982.