Music Appreciation

Figarosmom

(5,366 posts) Fri Feb 21, 2025, 02:38 AM Feb 21

The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens

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History. The original song title was "Mbube" (the Zulu word for "lion&quot

and was written and first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda, a South African Zulu singer, who worked for the Gallo Record Company in Johannesburg as a cleaner and record packer.

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Highlight:

The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens (Original Post) Figarosmom Feb 21 OP

Thanks for posting. This tune has an interesting history. John1956PA Feb 21 #1

The original Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Feb 21 #2

Thanks Figarosmom Feb 21 #3

Always love hearing this song.. hlthe2b Feb 21 #4

John1956PA

(3,988 posts)

1. Thanks for posting. This tune has an interesting history.

Reply to Figarosmom (Original post)

Fri Feb 21, 2025, 02:49 AM

Feb 21

The "Wimoweh" portion comes from Africa. I think it was discovered my western musicians in the 1930s. The Weavers had their version of "Wimoweh" in the 1950s. The Tokens added other melodies, as well as lyrics, to the tune and released "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in the 1960s. Robert John had a robust cover of the song in 1972. In all, the tune in its various forms is a marvelous contribution to the pop musical heritage of the past hundred years.