Listen to The Mahotella Queens perform this song.

This song is available on African Playground.

From African Playground:
      Does this song sound familiar? Most people know this as "The Lion Sleeps
Tonight," which is a popular song around the world. It is based on a song in the Zulu Language from South Africa that was written in 1939 by a musician named Solomon Linda. Someone in America [Pete Seeger] heard it and decided to write English words.
It became a worldwide hit.
      The Zulu word for lion is "imbube." To call to a lion you say "mbube." We're not sure why you would want to call a lion. Usually you want them to go away from you! South Africa is home to many lions, as well as other wildlife.

Njalo Ekuseni Uya Waletha Amathamsanqa
Yebo!
Amathamsanqa

Mbube
Uyimbube
Uyimbube
Uyimbube
(repeat 2 times)

(Lead vocal repeats the following against another two repeats of the chorus above)
Uyimbube
Uyimbube Mama We

(Multiple voice lead repeats the following against another two repeats of the chorus above)
He! He! He! He!
Uyimbube Mama

(Multiple voice lead repeats the following against another two repeats of the chorus above)
We We We We We We
Uyimbube
Uyimbube

(Multiple voice lead repeats the following against another three repeats of the chorus above)
Kusukela Kudala Kuloku Kuthiwa
Uyimbube
Uyimbube Mama

(Some of the choruses above are then repeated)

Every Morning You Bring Us Good Luck
Yes!
Good Luck

Lion
You're A Lion
You're A Lion
You're A Lion
(repeat 2 times)

(lead vocal repeats the following against an additional two repeats of the chorus above)
You're A Lion
You're A Lion, Mama!

(multiple voice lead repeats the following against another two repeats of the chorus above)
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
You're A Lion, Mama

(multiple voice lead repeats the following against another two repeats of the chorus above)
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
You're A Lion
You're A Lion

(multiple voice lead repeats the following against another three repeats of the chorus above)
Long, Long Ago People Used To Say
You're A Lion
You're A Lion, Mama

 

 

This song is available on African Playground.

Many thanks to Putumayo World Music for permission to publish these lyrics.
© Gallo Music Publishing and Putumayo World Music. All rights reserved.
Printed with permission.