The Lion Sleeps Tonight

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a well-known song featured in both the film and musical versions of The Lion King, as well as at the end of the third episode of Timon & Pumbaa and on Track 3 from the CD Rhythm of the Pride Lands.
It was originally sung by , as well as written and recorded as "Mbube" ("Lion" in Zulu) in South Africa by in 1939. The song is also performed in the Festival of the Lion King shows at the Disney Parks.
==Lyrics==
<tabber>
Original version=
Whee-hee-hee-hee, whee-hee-hee-hee, a-we-um Mbube (x2)
Chorus: A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh (x4)
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chorus]
Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the quiet village
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chorus]
[vocalizes]
Hush my darling, don't fear my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush my darling, don't fear my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chorus]
Whee-hee-hee-hee, whee-hee-hee-hee, a-we-um Mbube (x2)
[repeat until fade]
|-|Lebo M version=
Lala kahle (Sleep well)
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chorus]
Imbube
Ingonyama ifile	(The lion is in peace)
Ingonyama ilele (The lion sleeps)
Thula (Hush)
Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chorus]
Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
He, ha helelemama
He, ha helelemama
Ohi'mbube (Lion)
[Chorus]
Ixesha lifikile	(Time has come)
Lala (Sleep)
Lala kahle (Sleep well)
Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chorus]
My little darling
Don't fear, my little darling
My little darling
Don't fear, my little darling
Ingonyama ilele	(The lion sleeps)
|-|The Lion King (1994 version)=
Pumbaa: A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh (x4)
Timon: In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps to...
(speaks) I can't hear ya, buddy, back me up!
(returns to singing) A-weeeeeeeeeeeee 
A-Pumbaa-bumba-waaaayyy
|-|The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa version=
Rafiki: Whee-hee-hee-hee, whee-hee-hee-hee, a-we-um Mbube (x2)
Pumbaa: A-weema-weh, a-weema, a-weema...
Chorus: A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh (x4)
[repeats]
Rafiki: Whee-hee-hee-hee, a-we-um Mbube 
Timon: 
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chorus]
Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the quiet village
The lion sleeps tonight...
Simba: 
Whoa, whoa! Whoa, whoa!
Whoa, I'm on my way!
Rafiki: [trills/chants]
Timon: [vocalizes]
Hush my darling, don't fear my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush my darling...
Pumbaa: Don't fear my darling!
The lion sleeps tonight! (Hey, hey!)
Simba: 
Whoa, whoa! Whoa, whoa!
Whoa, I'm on my way!
I'm on my way! I'm on my way!
[scats]
[Chorus]
Rafiki: Whee-hee-hee-hee, whee-hee-hee-hee, a-we-um Mbube...
|-|Musical version=
Pumbaa: A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh (x4)
Timon: In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
(speaks) I can't hear ya, buddy, back me up!
(returns to singing) A-weeeeeeeeeeeee 
A-Pumbaa-bumba-waaaayyy
A-weeeeeeeeeeeee 
A-Pumbaa-bumba-waaaayyy
|-|Festival of the Lion King version=
Chorus:
Hey-um-ah
A-wim-o-weh, a-wim-o-weh, a-wim-o-weh
[repeat two more times]
A-wim-o-weh, a-wim-o-weh
A-wim-o-weh, a-wim-o-weh
Hee-eee-eee-eee
Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh
(A-wim-o-weh, a-wim-o-weh)
Hum-a-wim-o-weh
Hum-a-wim-o-weh
A-wim-o-weh, a-wim-o-weh
A-wim-o-weh, a-wim-o-weh
Timon: 
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
Chorus:
Hee-eee-eee-eee
Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh
Hee-eee-eee-eee
Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh
Timon: Hush my darling, don't fear my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
Chorus: I said, "Hush my darling",
Don't fear my darling!
The lion sleeps tonight!
(Timon: One more time!)
Chorus:
Whoa-o-whoa
Whoa-o-whoa
Whoa-o-wim-o-weh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-o-whoa
Whoa-o-whoa
Whoa-o-wim-o-weh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Wim-o-weh
|-|The Lion King (2019 version)=
Pumbaa: A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh...
[verse repeatedly heard when Timon sings]
Timon: Whee-hee-hee-hee, whee-hee-hee-hee, a-we-um Mbube (x2)
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chorus]
Near the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the quiet village
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chorus]
[ends with Nala roaring, scaring Timon and Pumbaa]
</tabber>
==Other performances==
This song was also performed by a jungle full of Muppet animals in Episode 103 of , much to the dismay of a Muppet lion attempting to get a good night's sleep. After making a futile attempt to shut out the noise by covering his ears with pillows, the lion charges into the jungle, yelling at the animals to "STOP SINGING!" and chasing them off the stage (running over Clifford in the process) and eventually out of the studio.
==Videos==
The Lion sleeps tonight
Rhythm of the Pride Lands - The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Timon & Pumbaa The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Song)
Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen - The Lion Sleeps Tonight (From "The Lion King" Audio Only)
Muppets Tonight - "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
==Trivia==
*The song is played in different keys: 
**The original version by and the version heard in the 2019 CGI remake of The Lion King plays in F major.
**The original Lion King version plays in G major.
**The Lion King 1½, Rhythm of the Pride Lands, and the musical versions play in E major.
**The Timon & Pumbaa version plays in F-sharp/G-flat major.
Category:The Lion King songs
Category:Timon & Pumbaa
Category:The Disney Afternoon songs
Category:Songs in Disney Sing Along Songs videos
Category:Hero/Heroine songs
Category:Area-Music
Category:The Muppets songs
Category:Non-Disney songs
Category:Songs with alternate lyrics
Category:Songs in theme park attractions
Category:Music Videos
Category:Reprise