The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) Wimoweh)

Original Tune: Solomon Linda Lyrics: Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore and George Weiss

Eeeeeeeee Wee o wim o wey (bis) Aweem away (x16) In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight. In the jungle, the quiet jungle, the lion sleeps tonight. Near the village, the peacefull village, the lion sleeps tonight. Near the village, the quiet village, the lion sleeps tonight. Awe e e e e aweem away mam away Hush my darlin', don't fear my darlin', the lion sleeps tonight. Hush my darlin', d on't cry my darlin', the lion sleeps tonight.

South Africa The song originated in South Africa as Mbube (which means lion in Zulu) and was about a sleeping lion. Some sample lyrics, Hush! Hush! if we will all be quite, there will be lion meat for dinner." It was sung with a Zulu refrain that sounded like "Wimoweh." The song was first recorded in the 1930s by a South African singer named Solomon Linda and was later adapted into a Top 15 hit called "Wimoweh" by an American folk group named the Weavers. In 1961 a Brooklyn doo-wop group called the Tokens were offered a try-out with RCA, and due to the folk music boom of the time, tried out with "Wimoweh." The RCA exec's liked the song but decided it needed new lyrics, so they wrote "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" for the Tokens, unaware that the original version was about a lion as well. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" hit hit #1 in 1961, but The Tokens never had another hit.
Information taken from Uncle Johns. Legendary Lost Batroom Reader.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) Wimoweh)

Original Tune: Solomon Linda Lyrics: Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore and George Weiss

Eeeeeeeee Wee o wim o wey (bis) Aweem away (x16) In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight. In the jungle, the quiet jungle, the lion sleeps tonight. Near the village, the peacefull village, the lion sleeps tonight. Near the village, the quiet village, the lion sleeps tonight. Awe e e e e aweem away mam away Hush my darlin', don't fear my darlin', the lion sleeps tonight. Hush my darlin', d on't cry my darlin', the lion sleeps tonight.

South Africa The song originated in South Africa as Mbube (which means lion in Zulu) and was about a sleeping lion. Some sample lyrics, Hush! Hush! if we will all be quite, there will be lion meat for dinner." It was sung with a Zulu refrain that sounded like "Wimoweh." The song was first recorded in the 1930s by a South African singer named Solomon Linda and was later adapted into a Top 15 hit called "Wimoweh" by an American folk group named the Weavers. In 1961 a Brooklyn doo-wop group called the Tokens were offered a try-out with RCA, and due to the folk music boom of the time, tried out with "Wimoweh." The RCA exec's liked the song but decided it needed new lyrics, so they wrote "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" for the Tokens, unaware that the original version was about a lion as well. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" hit hit #1 in 1961, but The Tokens never had another hit.
Information taken from Uncle Johns. Legendary Lost Batroom Reader.