The Lion Sleeps Tonight

[saxomonica]

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► Says Johnny: The Lion Sleeps Tonight Saxophone Music

This version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight is a saxophone instrumental. The original melody behind the song that was eventually called “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” was recorded in 1939 by South African singer Salomon Linda.

It was a popular Zulu a cappella song, later adapted into “Wimoweh” by the Weavers in 1952 and then finally completed by The Tokens’ 1961 who had the biggest hit version of the song most recognized today.

Song Key

This version is in the key of F major. That puts the Bb sax music chart in G major. The alto sheet music is in D major.
After the purchasing process you will have access to the download page which contains all the links for the mp3 audio backing tracks and the saxophone sheet music.

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Lyrics

Wee-hee-hee-hee, dee hee-hee-hee-hee
Wee-oh aweem away
Wee-hee-hee-hee, dee hee-hee-hee-hee
Wee-oh aweem away
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight (ho, ho)
Wee-hee-hee-hee (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Wee-oh aweem away (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Wee-hee-hee-hee (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Wee-oh aweem away (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the quiet village
The lion sleeps tonight (hey, hey)
Wee-hee-hee-hee (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Wee-oh aweem away (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Rrr, la-la-la-ba (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Wee-oh aweem away (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Hush, my darling, don’t fear, my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush, my darling, don’t fear, my darling
The lion sleeps tonight (ho, ho)
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Whoa, whoa, aweem away (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Wee-hee-hee, hee-hee-hee (a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Wee-oh aweem away (A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh)
Wee-hee-hee-hee, dee hee-hee-hee-hee
Wee-oh aweem away
Wee-hee-hee-hee, dee hee-hee-hee-hee
Wee-oh aweem away
Wee-hee-hee-hee, dee hee

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Luigi Creatore / Hugo Peretti / George David Weiss / John C. Flansburgh / John S. Linnell

The Lion Sleeps Tonight lyrics © Abilene Music, T M B G Music, Luigi Creatore Music, Hugo Peretti Music, Hjp Music, Ctm Outlander Music Publishing Lp Songs

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► Says Google ~
These are results for story behind the lion sleeps tonight

AI Overview

“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” originated as the 1939 Zulu song “Mbube” (“Lion”) by South African songwriter Solomon Linda. Linda, a migrant worker, wrote it based on childhood memories of protecting cattle from lions. Despite the song generating millions in royalties globally, Linda sold the rights for a pittance and died impoverished in 1962. His heirs eventually secured a landmark settlement with Disney in 2004 for its use.

Performing Songwriter

Origins: “Mbube” (1939)
In 1939, Solomon Linda and his singing group, The Original Evening Birds, recorded “Mbube” in Johannesburg. The song featured a haunting, repetitive Zulu chant (“mbube,” meaning “lion”) and a soaring, improvised melody by Linda. It became a massive hit in South Africa, selling over 100,000 copies—an extraordinary feat for a Black South African artist under apartheid.

The Transformation

The song’s journey to the West was marked by exploitation and cultural appropriation:
“Wimoweh”: A copy of the record reached the U.S. in the 1950s. The folk group The Weavers adapted it as “Wimoweh” (a mishearing of the Zulu lyrics “uyimbube,” meaning “you are a lion”).
“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”: In 1961, the American doo-wop group The Tokens recorded the version most familiar today, complete with English lyrics written by George Weiss. This version turned the song into a global pop standard.

Exploitation and Justice

For decades, Solomon Linda’s role was largely erased or ignored by the American music industry, which treated the melody as public domain or copyrighted it under other names.

Death in Poverty

While the song earned millions of dollars from covers, movies (most notably The Lion King), and merchandise, Linda died in 1962 with virtually nothing to his name.
Legal Action: In 2004, prompted by investigative journalism that exposed the story, Linda’s descendants sued Disney and others. The case resulted in an undisclosed settlement and, significantly, the formal recognition of Solomon Linda as a co-composer of the song.

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https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/in-the-jungle-inside-the-long-hidden-genealogy-of-the-lion-sleeps-tonight-108274/

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https://performingsongwriter.com/lion-sleeps-tonight/

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“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – A Song That’s Awakened Generations 

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https://www.ailantha.com/blog/the-sad-story-behind-the-lion-sleeps-tonight

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(apologies somethink about pinball wizard has come up here – you’ll need to locate file for this air on site, thanking you)

Episode 92: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens

[Leo Salu]

Ahoy Mark another great and interesting review, good to hear from you…btw appropriation of songs was quite common in the sixties

[Author]

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