Colin Snow
The Lion Sleeps Tonight is a song that has enchanted generations and sold millions of copies. The song was originally written and first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda, a Zulu migrant worker from South Africa, under the title Mbube. The song has since been adapted and covered internationally by many pop and folk artists, including a version by the Tokens, which became a number-one hit in the United States in 1961. The song gained even more popularity after being featured in Disney's The Lion King film and musical stage productions, sparking a long and tangled royalty battle with Linda's family.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original name | Mbube |
| Original writer | Solomon Linda |
| Year of first recording | 1939 |
| Lyrics | Zulu |
| English adaptation | The Tokens |
| Year of English adaptation | 1961 |
| English adaptation writers | George David Weiss |
| Year the song was featured in The Lion King | 1994 |
| Year the song was included in the Lion King remake | 2019 |
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What You'll Learn
The song's roots in Mbube
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a song originally written and first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda under the title "Mbube". Linda was a South African Zulu singer and songwriter who worked for the Gallo Record Company in Johannesburg as a cleaner and record packer. He spent his weekends performing with his musical ensemble, "The Evening Birds".
The original "Mbube" was recorded with the Gallo Record Company, under the direction of producer Griffiths Motsieloa. The song incorporated a call-and-response pattern common among many Sub-Saharan African ethnic groups, including the Zulu. The lyrics of Linda's original version were written in Zulu. According to journalist Rian Malan, "'Mbube' wasn't the most remarkable tune, but there was something terribly compelling about the underlying chant, a dense meshing of low male voices above which Solomon yodelled and howled for two exhilarating minutes, occasionally making it up as he went along."
In 1961, a version adapted into English by the doo-wop group the Tokens became a number-one hit in the United States. It earned millions in royalties from cover versions and film licensing. The English lyrics for "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" were written by George David Weiss. The song has been adapted and covered internationally by many pop and folk artists. It was first recorded in the United States by the Weavers in November 1951, and published under the title "Wimoweh" by a branch of Folkways Records in December of the same year.
The song "Mbube" fell into the public domain in 2012 due to South African copyright law, while "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is still copyrighted. The copyright issues surrounding the song were treated in the 2019 documentary "ReMastered: The Lion's Share".
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The Lion King's use of the song
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a song originally written and recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda under the title "Mbube" ("Lion" in Zulu). The song was first used in The Lion King franchise in the original 1994 film, where it was sung by Timon and Pumbaa. The song was also featured in the third episode of The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa, where Timon, Pumbaa, and Rafiki sing the song while being stalked by a lion, who turns out to be Simba.
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" has been a significant part of The Lion King franchise, appearing in various forms across different media. In addition to its appearance in the original film and the Timon & Pumbaa series, the song has also been included in the Rhythm of the Pride Lands CD, the 2003 release of Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Circle of Life, and the Festival of the Lion King shows at Disney Parks. The song has also been featured in the stage musical productions of The Lion King and was included in the Broadway soundtrack.
The use of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in The Lion King has had a significant impact on the song's popularity and cultural influence. The song has become a well-known and beloved part of the franchise, with its catchy melody and lyrics enchanting generations of audiences. The inclusion of the song in the film and musical productions has also contributed to its enduring legacy and has helped to introduce it to new audiences.
The Lion King's use of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" has also been the subject of some controversy. In 2004, a lawsuit was filed by Linda's estate against Disney, claiming that they owed $1.6 million in royalties for the use of the song in the film and musical stage productions. The lawsuit brought attention to the complicated ownership history of the song, which involved multiple copyright transfers and disputes. Ultimately, a legal settlement was reached, and Linda's descendants began receiving compensation for the use of the song.
The Lion King's use of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" has had a lasting impact on the song's legacy. The song has become closely associated with the franchise, and its appearance in The Lion King has helped to introduce it to new generations of fans. While the legal disputes surrounding its use in the film have highlighted the complexities of copyright and ownership, they have also brought attention to the song's rich history and the importance of crediting and compensating original artists.
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The Tokens' English version
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a song that was originally written and recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda under the title "Mbube". The English version of the song, adapted and performed by the Tokens, was released in 1961. This version became a number-one hit in the United States and earned millions in royalties from cover versions and film licensing.
The Tokens were a doo-wop group from Brooklyn who heard a live recording of the song by the Weavers and decided to record their own version. Their producers felt that the song needed English lyrics, so they hired songwriter George David Weiss to adapt the song. The Tokens' version climbed the charts, and the song became a standard part of popular culture.
The original "Mbube" was an a cappella Zulu song, with lyrics and melody improvised by Solomon Linda. It was recorded in Johannesburg and released by the Gallo Record Company, the oldest independent label in South Africa. Linda was a Zulu migrant worker with a remarkable falsetto voice and a talent for songwriting. He led an a cappella band that performed in local beer halls, singing in a high soprano over four-part harmony chants.
The English version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens is just one of many adaptations and covers of the song. Within two years of its release, there were over 150 cover versions worldwide, in languages from Japanese to Finnish. The song has been a part of several films, including the Disney film "The Lion King" and its sequels, which have further increased its popularity.
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Solomon Linda's lack of credit
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight", originally known as Mbube, was first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda, a South African musician, singer, and composer. The song was recorded through the South African Gallo Record Company, and its lyrics were written in Zulu.
Despite the popularity of the song, Linda died impoverished in 1962 of kidney failure. He had unknowingly sold the rights to the song for a meagre sum of 10 shillings (less than US$2) to Eric Gallo, the owner of the studio where he recorded the song. The song went on to sell more than 100,000 copies in South Africa by 1949 and became a major success for Linda and his group, the Evening Birds. However, Linda did not receive the royalties he was owed.
In the following decades, the song was adapted and covered by various artists, including the Weavers, who recorded it in 1951 and published it under the title "Wimoweh". In 1961, the Tokens released a version with English lyrics by George David Weiss, which became a worldwide smash hit. Despite the song's success, Linda's name was often missing from the writing credits, and he did not receive the royalties he was entitled to.
It was not until 2004 that Linda's story gained widespread attention, thanks to a feature article by South African journalist Rian Malan in Rolling Stone magazine. The article highlighted the estimated $15 million in royalties earned from the use of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in Disney's "The Lion King" alone. This sparked a lawsuit between Linda's estate and Disney, with a settlement finally reached in 2006. The settlement acknowledged Linda as a co-composer of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and ensured his descendants would receive payment for past and future uses of the song.
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The song's journey from South Africa
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a song with a long and complicated history that began in South Africa in the 1930s. The song was originally written and recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda, a South African Zulu singer and songwriter from Johannesburg. Linda worked as a cleaner and record packer for the Gallo Record Company and spent his weekends performing with his musical ensemble, "The Evening Birds".
The original song was titled "Mbube" (the Zulu word for "lion") and was recorded through the South African Gallo Record Company. "Mbube" incorporated a call-and-response pattern common among many Sub-Saharan African ethnic groups, including the Zulu. The song became a hit in South Africa, selling over 100,000 copies in Africa and among black South African immigrants in Great Britain by 1948, and Linda became a star. The song also gave rise to a style of African a cappella music called Isicathamiya (also known as Mbube music), popularized by the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
In 1949, folk music director for Decca Records, Alan Lomax, introduced Solomon Linda's recording to Pete Seeger, leader of the folk group The Weavers. In November 1951, The Weavers recorded an adapted version with brass, string orchestra, and chorus, releasing it as a 78-rpm single titled "Wimoweh". This title was a mishearing of the original song's chorus "Uyimbube" ("You are a lion" in Zulu). The Weavers' version became popular, spreading deeper into the US, and was also performed live by the group, giving the song another boost in 1957.
In 1959, the Kingston Trio had a minor hit with the song, and in 1961, producers Hugo & Luigi hired Brill Building tunesmith George David Weiss to add English lyrics to "Wimoweh". The Tokens, a doo-wop group from Brooklyn, recorded the new version, which became a number-one hit in the United States in 1961. Within two years, there were over 150 cover versions worldwide, and the song became a standard part of popular culture.
Despite the song's success, Solomon Linda's name was notably absent from the writing credits, and he did not receive the royalties he was supposed to be receiving. In 2004, Linda's daughters sued Disney, which had prominently featured the song in its 1994 film "The Lion King" and subsequent musical stage productions, for royalties. A legal settlement was reached in 2006, and Linda's descendants began receiving compensation.
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Frequently asked questions
The song was first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda, under the title "Mbube".
The song was adapted into English by the doo-wop group the Tokens and became a number-one hit in the United States.
The song became extremely popular after it was featured in the Disney film "The Lion King" and its subsequent musical stage productions.
