The term THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT is a reference to the 1961 song of the same name, written by South African composer Solomon Linda and made popular by American singer-songwriter Pete Seeger. The song was later covered by many other artists, including The Tokens in 1961 and Tight Fit in 1982. It has become an iconic pop culture reference, with its lyrics and melody being used in various films, television shows, and advertisements.