Iron Lion Zion
| "Iron Lion Zion" | ||||
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| Single by Bob Marley | ||||
| from the album Songs of Freedom | ||||
| B-side | "Smile Jamaica" | |||
| Released | 1992 | |||
| Format | CD single, CD maxi, 7" single |
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| Recorded | April 1973 | |||
| Genre | Reggae | |||
| Length | 3:21 | |||
| Label | Tuff Gong | |||
| Writer(s) | Bob Marley | |||
| Producer | Errol Brown, Ingmar Kiang Bob Marley, The Wailers Trevor Wyatt |
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| Bob Marley singles chronology | ||||
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"Iron Lion Zion" is a song written and recorded in April 1973[1][2] or 1974[2] by Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley and first released posthumously in May 1992 on the Songs of Freedom box set, reaching number 5 in the UK Singles Chart. A remixed version was released as a single and later included in 1995 on Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On. The song is played as a post-victory song for the soccer team Real Salt Lake.
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Lyrics [edit]
The song's lyrics are directly related to Rastafarian beliefs. Zion is "the promised land", in the song referring to Ethiopia. The lion refers to the Lion of Judah, which appeared on the old royal Ethiopian flag, and represents Haile Selassie I, the former Ethiopian emperor whom Rastafarians regard as their Messiah.
"I am on the rock and then I check a stock.
"I have to run like a fugitive to save the life i live.
"I'm gonna be iron like a lion in Zion. (Repeat)
"Iron lion Zion.
"I'm on the run but I ain't got no gun.
"See they want to be the star so they fight and try by war.
"And they saying: 'Iron like a lion in Zion'
"Iron like a lion in Zion,
"Iron lion Zion.
"I'm on the rock, (running and you running)"
"I take a stock, (running like a fugitive)"
"I had to run like a fugitive just to save the life I live
"I'm gonna be iron like a lion in Zion. (repeat)
"Iron lion Zion, iron lion Zion, iron lion Zion.
"Iron like a lion in Zion, iron like a lion in Zion.
"Iron like a lion in Zion."
Track listings [edit]
- 7" single
- "Iron Lion Zion" — 3:21
- "Smile Jamaica" (by Bob Marley & The Wailers) — 3:13
- CD maxi
- "Iron Lion Zion" (7" mix) — 3:21
- "Smile Jamaica" (by Bob Marley & The Wailers) — 3:12
- "Three Little Birds" (alternative mix) (by Bob Marley & The Wailers) — 2:55
- "Iron Lion Zion" (12" mix) — 7:02
Charts [edit]
Peak positions [edit]
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End of year charts [edit]
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References [edit]
- ^ Steffens, Roger; Jodie Pierson, Leroy: Bob Marley and the Wailers: The Definitive Discography, page 70. Rounder Books, 2005. ISBN 1-57940-120-1.
- ^ a b Kazo: Bob Marley and the Wailers "Compared discography", version 11, page 63. 2008.
- ^ a b c d e "Iron Lion Zion", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
- ^ a b "Single top 100 over 1992" (pdf) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
- ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
- ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
- ^ Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved January 12, 2009)
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