“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, also known as “Wimoweh” or “Awimbawe”, is a a number one hit in the United States adapted in English by the the doo-wop group The Tokens from the song recorded by Solomon Linda with the Evening Bird in 1961. The song went on to earn at least US$15 million in royalties from...
[Refrain]
Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh aweem away
Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh aweem away
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 1]
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight, ho, ho!
[Chorus]
Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh 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)
Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee weeoh 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)
[Verse 2]
Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the quiet village
The lion sleeps tonight, ho, ho!
[Chorus]
Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh 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)
Rrrrrr, lalalaba, weeoh 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)
[Bridge]
[Verse 3]
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!
[Chorus]
Whoa, whoa, whoa; whoa, whoa, whoa; whoa, whoa, 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)
Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh 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)
[Refrain]
Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh aweem away
Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh aweem away
Weeheeheehee, dee heeheeheehee, weeoh aweem away
The Lion Sleeps Tonight was written by Solomon Linda & George David Weiss & Luigi Creatore & Hugo Peretti & Hugo & Luigi.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight was produced by Hugo Peretti & Luigi Creatore & Hugo & Luigi.
The Tokens released The Lion Sleeps Tonight on Fri Nov 17 1961.