The Kingston Trio was formed in 1957 in the Palo Alto, California area by original lineup of Dave Guard (1934–1991), Bob Shane (1934–2020), and Nick Reynolds (1933–2008), who were just out of college. Greatly influenced by The Weavers, the calypso sounds of Harry Belafonte, and other semi-popular folk artists such as the Gateway Singers and the Tarriers, they were discovered playing at a college club called the Cracked Pot by Frank Werber, a local publicist then working at the Hungry i. He became their manager, and secured them a one-shot deal with Capitol Records.
Their first hit was a catchy rendition of an old-time folk song, "Tom Dooley", which went gold in 1958. It was so popular that it entered popular culture as a catchphrase: Ella Fitzgerald, for example, parodies it during her recorded version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". It won them the first Grammy award for Best Country & Western Performance in 1959. The next year, they won the first Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording category for the album The Kingston Trio at Large.
At one point in the early 1960s The Kingston Trio had four albums at the same time among the Top 10 selling albums, a record unmatched for nearly 40 years. In spite of this, they had a relatively small number of hit singles.
The group's music was simple and accessible, with much use of tight vocal harmony, signature riffs (often played on the banjo), and repetitive choruses. Capitol producer Voyle Gilmore[1] enhanced their vocal sound to great effect with reverb and the relatively new process of doubletracking, in which the performers sang along with their own pre-recorded part to produce a stronger sound than with a single voice, in part due to a natural time gap of a fraction of a second between the original recording and the overdubbed part. At first pairs of tape recorders were used, then later multitrack recording machines, to produce the effect.
Guard left the band in 1961 as part of a disagreement over its musical direction. He formed the group Whiskey Hill Singers, and was replaced by John Stewart, who led the group through several more years of popularity until the arrival of The Beatles and British invasion rock bands pushed them from the charts.
In 1967 the Trio disbanded after a final performance at the Hungry i, June 17, 1967.
Shane, the lone member to resist the break-up of the Trio, started a new group, aptly named, "The New Kingston Trio," in 1969. Eventually, Shane was successful in reaching a contractual agreement with his former partners, Guard, Reynolds, and Werber, to secure and license once again, the original name, "The Kingston Trio" (unencumbered by the adjective new), in 1976.(Blake et al. 1986.) Shane still owns the property today, 2006.
For a number of years in the 1980s Reynolds, one of the original three members, rejoined Shane.
In 2004 Shane retired from the group due to health problems. He was replaced by Bill Zorn, who had been with Shane in an iteration of the group called The New Kingston Trio; Zorn also has been a member of The Limeliters.
In 2005 Bobby Haworth (a one-time member of The Brothers Four) left the group to be replaced by Rick Dougherty, who also had been a member of The Limeliters.
As of 2006, The Kingston Trio consisted of George Grove, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty.
in October 2017, Grove, Zorn, and Dougherty were replaced as the Trio by new licensees Reynolds and Marvin and their friend, Tim Gorelangton. In 2018, Josh Reynolds left the group and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who became a member of the band for the third time. At the end of 2018, Haworth left the group and was replaced by Don Marovich.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(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's in peace)
Ingonyama ilele
(The lion sleeps)
Thula
(Hush)
Near the village,
the peacefull village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village,
the peacefull village
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chorus:]
Ingonyama ilele
(The lion sleeps)
Hush my darling,
don't fear my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush my darling,
don't fear my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
[Chant:]
He, ha helelemama
ohi'mbube
(He, ha helelemama - 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 peace full 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 lyrics to The Kingston Trio's song The Lion Sleeps Tonight are a reflection of the peaceful slumber of a lion in the jungle and near a village. The song starts with a peaceful Lala Kahle, followed by the calming repetition of lyrics, "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight." The chorus section, "Ingonyama ifile, Ingonyama ilele, Thula," is a panther-like chant meaning "The lion's in peace, The lion sleeps, Hush." It is a call for peacefulness and quietness, as though the singer does not want to wake up the sleeping lion by creating noise.
At the same time, the song talks about a peaceful village where the lion sleeps. The singer calls for hushed tones in the village so that the lion can rest soundly. The lyrics are soothing, and the repetition of the phrase, "The lion sleeps tonight" throughout the song communicates a message of calmness and peacefulness.
The song still holds significant relevance today, as its message of peacefulness and tranquillity are themes that are needed in today's world. It serves as a reminder to take a break from the high-paced, chaotic life and find moments of peacefulness in our daily activities.
Line by Line Meaning
Lala Kahle
Sleep well
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
In the vast and dense forest, far away from civilization
The lion sleeps tonight
The king of the jungle is taking a nap
Near the village, the peaceful village
Close to the small rural community, which lies undisturbed
Imbube, Ingonyama ifile
The lion is in peace and contentment
Ingonyama ilele
The lion sleeps
Thula
Be quiet and calm
[Chorus:]
Refrain
Hush my darling, don't fear my darling
Calm down, my dear, don't be afraid
He, ha helelemama ohi'mbube
Chant calling upon the lion
Ixesha lifikile
The time has come
Lala
Sleep
Lala Kahle
Sleep well
My little darling, don't fear my little darling
My beloved child, do not have any worries
Ingonyama ilele
The lion sleeps tonight
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: George David Weiss, Hugo E Peretti, Luigi Creatore, Solomon Linda
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Larry Talbott
"Wimoweh" was always the title until a pop group called The Tokens recorded a version of it, re-titling it "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." South African singer Miriam Mekama (sp?) brought the song to the attention of The Weavers and from them to The Kingston Trio, among others. The Trio's best version was on their album "From The Hungry i" yet The Weavers did the best folk version on their earlier concert albums. Admittedly, these details are clouded by the mists of time!
Larry Talbott
Addendum: The Trio never called it "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The Tokens' title was on their later version of the song.
vania1917
That's more an high strung insomniac lion than a sleeping one.
JeffGuy Poe
I don't like this one at all. Has anyone ever counted how many times he said Wimoweh?
Aileen Lightbody
Don't like this version. The Tokens is much better.