A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs Episode 92: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by the Tokens
Aug 2, 2020
This podcast explores the story of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' by The Tokens and the exploitation faced by its creator. It also delves into the rise of The Evening Birds in South Africa, the influence of Pete Seeger and The Weavers, the recording and release of the song, copyright issues, and the legal battles for its ownership.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Solomon Linda and Imbu Bay
- Solomon Linda, a Zulu singer, created Imbu Bay (Lion) in 1939, a song about hunting lions.
- Exploited under South Africa's racist regime, Linda earned only ten shillings for the hit, dying in poverty despite its immense popularity.
Pete Seeger and Wimoweh
- Pete Seeger, a folk singer with socialist principles, discovered Linda's song through discarded records.
- Seeger misheard the lyrics as "Wimoweh" and rearranged the melody, unknowingly starting another chapter of exploitation.
Copyright Disputes and Exploitation
- Seeger's group, The Weavers, copyrighted "Wimoweh" under a pseudonym, leading to legal battles with the original label.
- Despite Seeger's later attempts to redirect royalties to Linda, the agreement failed, and Linda remained uncompensated.