Wimoweh
Pete Seeger (Family) Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Oh le oh la
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Oh le oh la la

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh

Oh oh oh oh oh la la la la

Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Oh oh oh oh oh la la la la

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Oh le oh ba ba

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh

Oh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Ah

Oh oh oh oh oh la la la

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh
Wimoweh

Wimoweh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pete Seeger's song Wimoweh are not telling a story, but rather a series of sounds and words that create a feeling and rhythm. The repetition of "Wimoweh" throughout the song serves as a kind of chant or chorus that is both energetic and joyful. The addition of "oh le oh la" and "oh oh oh oh" also creates a feeling of celebration and community. The song is a mix of different languages and cultures, which enhances the feeling of unity. The lyrics are meant to be sung and danced to, with the focus on the sounds and rhythm rather than the meaning behind the words.

Overall, the lyrics to Wimoweh are meant to create a feeling of joy and celebration through the use of repetition and a mix of different languages and cultures.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, wimoweh
The song starts with the repetition of the word 'wimoweh' in a rhythmic pattern, serving as a call to action or getting everyone's attention.

Wimoweh
Continued repetition of 'wimoweh' to create a musical rhythm and to build up anticipation for the next lyrics.

Oh le oh la
A phrase that has no direct meaning but is used to create a tropical, upbeat vibe and add to the overall atmosphere of the song.

Wimoweh
Repetition of the word 'wimoweh' as it progresses to create a crescendo effect, building excitement for the next part of the song.

Oh le oh la la
Continuation of the meaningless phrase added for rhythm and style purposes.

Oh oh oh oh oh la la la la
Another meaningless phrase accompanied by a catchy melody to create an unforgettable moment in the song.

Oh le oh ba ba
Another meaningless phrase used for its rhythmic value and to maintain the song's tropical and upbeat feel.

Wimoweh
Final repetition of 'wimoweh,' which continues to serve as a rhythmic element and a memorable catchphrase in the song.

Oh
A simple exclamation that marks the end of the song.

Ah
Another exclamation that provides a concluding effect to the song and emphasizes the overall upbeat and lively atmosphere.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@termikesmike

1y↑2

@@nonzerosum8943
btw what did Solomon or any of his fans think about the Tokens hit ?
How many bought that 45 ???? heck, how many on their Continent bought one
of Pete Seeger's 'stolen fruit' -
Why did he allow the song to be 'field recorded' in the first place -
wasn't that 'reward enough' -- he said it was !!!
If it was such a wonderful recording ie the original recording - why didn't he get a major recording contract with a US label ? -

how many 'labels' were trying to sign him up !!!
It's only because someone like Seeger who found it interesting
and then some 'white kids' who were creative enough to transform
the song into a 'one hit wonder ' that anyone still remembers it -
if he had released it himself in the US it would have gone nowhere -
he's a great guy, but there's nothing but bloodsuckers surrounding him ...

All comments from YouTube:

@sandarco

14y↑37

The original recording was made by Solomon Linda a southafrican musician, in 1939 (its named mbube that means lion in zulu and what you listen in the chorus is uyimbube, that means "he is the lion" in zulu) Then Pete Seeger listened and recorded it in the states in 1950 (wimoweh for the chorus). Then the tokens in 1960 made a recording based in this and named the lion sleeps tonight (the most famous version) Only in the 90s Solomon Linda was finally recognized as the original autor (in a trial)

@termikesmike

2y↑5

Pete Seeger understood this to be a "folk song " recorded by Solomon Linda ....
(like - who did Solomon steal the song from and where did his Mother steal the name " Solomon " .....)
I read up on this years ago and Linda was happy to learn that anyone would be inspired and record the song .... Linda didn't simply 'make this up out of thin air all on his own' .... and it's obvious 'The World' would not have known about Linda if Disney hadn't used it in the kid's movie ...
I was in love with the female vocal in the recording by The Tokens when I was a lad ....and that version is still better than Seeger's and Linda's and nobody is recognizing the fact that the girl's vocal is what makes that song a hit !!!
GIVE HER THE MONEY and FAME - that's where it belongs !!!!

@sandcastle1417

@@termikesmike NOPE!! Sorry "mike" just because YOU like the female blah blah blah doesn't mean that the original melody was STOLEN buy a bunch of thieves from a African man... gtfoh with your thievery sympathy smh

@nonzerosum8943

@@termikesmike
PETE SEEGER sent Solomon Linda ......( THE TRUE SOUTH AFRICAN COMPOSER of Mbube = lion...[real title of song] Zulu accapella group. )...only $1,000. CHUMP CHANGE...the phoney white ..m'fer and Seeger died worth over 4 million dollars as the "suffering folk singer " he " posed" as.... making his big white face photographed with likes of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee black bluesmen...trying to portray himself as some hard times freight train wandering minstrel..sheeeeeeee IT !!

I always had a feeling he was some self righteous fake, but the Oweemoweh Lion Sleeps Tonight really did it. Can you imagine how stupid he made
Solomon Linda feel with Seeger's "pocket change" your praise for some fuc...g white women. THE GIRL is fake news.. Google it bud and find the truth that ...the Rolling Stone magazine found out about another white man's deep pockets off B people...here's a few bucks for ya... ya B fool..."s" your WHITE GIRLS VOICE has nothing absolutely nothing to do with this song. Solomon Linda was ripped off by the American folk music revolution in 60's..I'd like to puke on those nobody liars.
It's possible that Linda's family is NOW receiving large sums hopefully but I think Google stretches. "Truth" as well..Bob Dylan and his tribute to Blind Willie McTell is another whitey making money off original B bluesmen who died penniless.

@termikesmike

1y↑3

@@nonzerosum8943 agh, you need to lighten up - read about the history of the song and Solomon ... he never expected anything for that - his family did ....but Seeger wasn't responsible for the fact that it became a 'world hit wonder' - do you know who actually had "the hit "that made the charts - that's where the fame came from- a powerful song with vocal by ""DUKW" and then redone by Disney - and that's when more 'lawyers' got involved "helping the family get their share' ....as all 'folk songs' - it would have never been known if Seeger hadn't recorded it and this song would be in the dust with his other songs ...
don't forget that Seeger told his lawyers to pay all his royalties to Solomon but the crooks played their games through the record company --- hey, how much did the rest of his 'band ' receive - tell us who recorded the songs and the deals they all made !!
U will be judged as U have judged others !!!

@termikesmike

1y↑2

@puelemueix

2y↑3

We need you back Ol' Pete!🤗

@ytcarol

16y↑16

I just heard this on public radio in the car a couple weeks ago - celebrating some anniversary of his or the music. This man was at the heart of the folk song movement which supported the "common man" - the ordinary worker. It was because of his pro-labor ideas that he was labeled "commie" but he did a great service, as all folk singers have done, to the rights of the little man, the respect of the worker. He is my hero.

@skelterskelter

10y↑27

Rest in Peace Mr. Seeger, thanks for the sweet music.

@Dayglodaydreams

5y↑1

He died 5 years ago?

@tonyblake3459

B3rggddfffdyhrijgvijklklhhIJopo

@OttieBlue

15y↑19

I like to hear him talk almost as much as I like to hear him SING.

@puelemueix

LOL I start stories out with Pete Seeger told me....

@ingriddubbel8468

5y↑6

Pete Senegal was and remains a national treasure.

@adoubleabattery

13y↑10

Aww I love this recording! my parents were in the movement with him and this was one of the recordings I used to listen to when I was little on our record player :) Thanks for this! Listen to Pete yoddle ahaha LOVE

@maregee

15y↑4

One of the greats and a living legend.

@oldronald6560

We were fortunate to hear Pete Seeger in 1958 in Colorado State University, where he gave a concert and then jammed with the Ballad Club. I remember him playing his 12 string guitar, keeping up with Marty Hoffman who sang some Woody Guthrie songs with Marty’s original tunes. A couple of years later we heard him at Reed College in Portland. Great memories. Pete was blacklisted by McCarthy’s hounds back then.

@Abrohill

10y↑5

Descanza en paz hermano, tu música fue un bálsamo en tiempos conflictivos

@unijade

15y↑4

What a beautiful voice!

@ceb2633

16y↑1

rick, I have the same book. Had the banjo, cut my left hand fingernails, practiced until my fingers bled, could play Mary had a little lamb, quit, kissed Pete's "How to play the 5 string banjo" and went back to painting. LOL

@musicalrich1

13y↑3

The comments about Pete Seeger are quite right! Others are good, but he is absolutely a legend!

@vyimbvbe6272

3y↑3

I hear "uyimbube" when he does the bass vocals, even if he's saying "Wimoweh".

@termikesmike

2y↑1

yeah, I don't hear "wimoweh" until the very end

@aurorabertollo7094

the real title is ''Mbube'', a song by Salomon Linda and the evening Birds (1939)

@jimburdick8441

20w

Politically, I think I might be as far to the right of Pete Seeger as he was to the left of me. But, I always loved his joy up music. I think the first time I may have ever seen him, was on an episode of Captain Kangaroo, from when I was a kid.
Whether this makes sense or not, whenever I think of the absolute joy of music and the performing of it, it is both Pete Seeger and Keith Moon that first come to my mind.

@stevenwalkersongs

Had no idea this was part of the history of this song, amazing

@singwolf

13y↑13

@jonohx Your understanding of Pete Seger's role in all of this is wrong. You have to keep in mind that at the time artists were artists and management were management. When he heard and recorded the song, he was under the impression that the song was a trad song. And the mgmt was happy to let him believe that. When he found out otherwise, he actually sent a cheque for $1K to Linda (huge amount in the 50's) and donated his portion of the royalties to Linda. The publisher never kept to his word.

@zaaritha

16y↑2

Great version!

@ngiyaxolisa

15y↑5

I'm not sure I'd say this song was "stolen" by Pete Seeter,ThomasAlmeida . Seeger personally sent $1000 to Linda in recognition of his having created it-- considerably more money than Linda ever received in royalties from it. And Seeger always gave proper credit. Also, Shaka was not the "Last King of the Zulu people"! The Zulu have a king right now, His Highness Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and have never not had a king since Shaka.

@Trim1013

I love how your entire channel is this song in different versions

@Nkelebe

4y↑1

I just wanna run out and dance to this, some traditional Zulu intoxicating liquid in tow, and dance like I have no care in the world

@sandarco

14y

@LetArtsLiveThe original recording was made by Solomon Linda a southafrican musician, in 1939 (its called mbube that means lion in zulu and what you listen in the corus is uyimbube, that means he is the lion in zulu. Then pete seeger listen recorded it in the states in 1950 (wimoweh). Then the tokens in 1960 made a recording based in this and named the lion sleeps tonight (the most famous version) Only in the 90s Solomon Linda was finally recognized as the original autor (in a trial)

@inuksuk44

12y↑1

a singular talent

@VolsungsDaughter1

There is a lot of talk about how this melody was used in “The Lion King” and it being cultural appropriation but as you can hear in this recording, already in the 1950s and 1960s, ethnomusicologist and civil rights and union activist Pete Seeger was telling audiences about this somg coming from South Africa.

@senoramariposa

14y

@MarxBakuninMe THANK YOU so much for your post. It was refreshing to read.

@gretchendekok2795

11y

You were VERY lucky to have parents like that!

@Mycroftsbrother

15y↑2

Good ol' Pete... he's always trying to get people singing. Anyone who has seen Pete in concert remembers the sing-alongs, I'm sure. I think Pete had it right, people need to sing and not just listen all the time. Regardless of your political leanings, you would have to give him credit for his passion and honesty. Pete always met life head-on and lived his life his way...with integrity. You don't have to agree with his politics to appreciate that. God bless Mr. Seeger!

@LeonTrimble

10y↑12

someone forget to mic up the crowd?

@jaumellaberia9396

5y↑2

Rare version but wonderful

@kingofjokers1

3y↑2

in the village, the peaceful village, the lion sleeps toniiight!

@ashtonfranklin4620

3y↑1

He got vocals

@stanibol

13y↑7

Funny how some people want to dwell on politics in an attempt to diminish a singer who only wants for us, the audience, to be happy and sing Wimoweh Wimoweh Wimoweh

@10secondlaughs96

3y↑2

Actually this song was political to him too. He described it as being about the Zulus' readiness to rise against their British oppressors

@mikehumphrey4039

Two greatest songs ever Lion sleeps tonight, & the other is Joli Blonde by the Beau Brothers

@LetArtsLive

14y↑2

sounds exactly like the song lion sleeps tonight who did it firsT??

@denizbluemusic

45w

TIL pete could sing that high

@constellatiocom

45w

Sacré Pete Seeger !

@Rakeatthegatesofhell

15y↑2

The Socialists are the only political party that always championed equal rights for ALL. This is why they've tended to attract compassionate, intelligent people, including artists. After all, who, generally contributes more joy and inspiration to posterity? Bankers and real estate developers, or musicians, writers and artists?

@JoeyJustJoking.

8y↑1

Name the adds you got

I got Alabama vs Clemson January 11 (my birthday) 2016

@thallassocracy

14y

Fascinating to see that people think Tshaka means 'Lion'. It means 'Bug'. Tshaka was a great general, and a great king. He didn't need Disneyfication.

@juslookin3

14y↑1

@MarxBakuninMe Pete Seeger is a national treasure.

@wiglaugh

15y

Well, the SONG is called "Wimoweh", but that's only because Seeger misunderstood what they were actually saying (uyimbube). Dunno if that's what you meant or not, so I'm only clarifying for the others here.

@mapn123

12y↑3

Well, I hope it's not out of place to comment on the song itself in the middle of all the political bickering, not that I don't have my own opinions. I've been looking up different versions of this since a chance comment clued me in to where it came from. Musically, I liked Ladysmith Black Mambazo's version the best. But after reading that "wimoweh" was just a mis-hearing of "mbube", it certainly sounds like Seeger really is singing "mbube", or im boo Bay, just like the African singers.

@HoboGus

13y↑2

Pete Seeger is a Folk Legend and has given us Great Music. Who gives a shit what he thinks or believes in, this is America and he has the freedom to think and say what ever he wants to. If he's to be judged it won't be by the narrow minded, judgemental mental midgets posting comments here.

@dinofunkTV

15y

Wow.

@josephvaters2947

wimo-wow, pete

@kisakyerita8780

30w

Here comes nonsense U know my uncle used to sing it (wimowe ) to us ,me and my bro but as African i know its only us who sing calling out mother Africa or you can say mama Africa and all i could he was mama we , always my brother remainded me of our uncle's song if i may say, but at 2 9 yrs i found out it was a white person who sang but it always peached thru fr

@memboi6936

Well I saw the documentary like everyone else but Pete informed people it was South African so i dont know where to lean. Anyway, correct me if I’m wrong.

@urnungal

14y

Wasn't Shaka described as "The Great Elephant" rather than "The Lion"?

@LoneMaquis

13y↑1

@migasaguiar: Because the rich and powerful are afraid that the poor of the world will follow Seeger's ideals, rise up and take what's rightly theirs from their exploiters.

@gotch09

14y↑1

If you don't understand Pete then you don't understand folk.

@artiesolomon3292

9y↑4

now please give Solomon Linda's original of this Evening Birds, Mbabe music from south Africa.

@MsAngie213

agree

@theminuteman6211

It wasn't really stolen... he sold his song to the recording company which prevented him from getting the royalties he would have had had he not.

@bill291212

I heard that Solomon Linda just put down on record a much older Zulu tune.

@betweenrockahardplace4386

@@theminuteman6211 Seeger apparently paid the Linda royalties even thought he legally didn't need to.

@Rive138

5y↑2

@@betweenrockahardplace4386 CLose enough. It was'nt Seeger, Disney paid the royalties because it was used in the Lion King. And they paid it after Linda's heirs sued them.

1 More Replies...

@coffeeNTrees

5y↑4

The Lion's share brought me here. Pay the family.

@bluesman6891

Same here. They HAVE to pay the family. This whole "Pete Seeger was a national treasure" was bullshit.

@user-cn8me5nh8g

@Adam Rehn That's way too subtle for today's kill-first-ask-questions-later audience

@waltkraybill5129

@Rce Ease up dude. You seem to have stolen the English language.

@eddiereinhardt

@@bluesman6891 Pete was a national treasure along with other folks like Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie, they were living encyclopedias of music and experience. Also didn't Pete try paying Linda?

@guitarmaniax

15y

This is just Pete and his banjo, I don't hear any of the other Weavers

@ManJay3220

“UYIMBUBE”

@karpov89

13y↑1

@MarxBakuninMe I think that nazi or communist does not matter; a person has the right to believe in whatever he think is right. Seeger should only be judged according to his musical achievements.

@gabrielatovilla3852

¡Bíferas cascadas. Fg

@The1mulc1

12y↑1

Nice didn t know he was communist. But it is nothing wrong with it meny people think or amagine wrong what true communist means it means pure hart an respect of other people it also means no racism no nacionalism it says all people are equal and most important this means people should be reworded with respect and not money and that is a big think cus we know what monney does to ppl and for a men who started comm. idea good bless ya !

@indah007

14y

@MarxBakuninMe and the USA my not be all be that it should - at the end of the day he was a great musician..... end of story.

@sandarco

14y

@getdownadam The autor its Solomon Linda a southafrican musician

@AllBobsAllTheTime

10y↑1

The Tokens did justice to this number.

@chevy266nova

8y↑1

as I remember this song, not The Lion Sleeps Tonight

@jonohx

14y

As a communist who professed a belief in redistribution of wealth, Seeger made sure that none of his royalties ever reached Solomon Linda, the composer of the song, who died in poverty. Seeger collected millions. Some folk hero.

@termikesmike

He was accused of being 'unAmerican',
and he wasn't a millionaire - give me the facts bro !

@vyimbvbe6272

2y↑2

@@termikesmike Seeger wanted the royalties to be sent to Solomon Linda.

@gandalfpres

15y

You clearly don't know good music when you hear it.

@Runescape28

14y

@LetArtsLive It originated in Africa, and then Disney bought the rights for it, manipulating the people.

@daveycard

11y

no political leanings... just the last line that's all weird to me.

@dawnibolical

Mbube

@rhniraq

14y↑4

Such a perversion of Solomon Linda's song ....

@cm6534

3y↑1

You would've never heard solomon linda's song if it weren't for Pete.

@termikesmike

@@cm6534 amen

@user-rz9wz1bx2l

4y↑1

Thief!!!

@jackcrane7853

Why is everything Pete Seeger touches so BORING

@zaaritha

14y↑1

Great version!

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