Iron Lion Zion

"Iron Lion Zion"
Single by Bob Marley
from the album Songs of Freedom
B-side	"Smile Jamaica"
Released	7 September 1992
Format	CD single CD maxi 7" single
Recorded	April 1973
Genre	Reggae
Length	3:21
Label	Tuff Gong
Writer(s)	Bob Marley
Producer(s)	Errol Brown Ingmar Kiang Bob Marley The Wailers Trevor Wyatt
Bob Marley singles chronology
"Buffalo Soldier" (1983) "Iron Lion Zion" (1992)

"Iron Lion Zion" is a song written and recorded in April 1973^[1][2] or 1974^[2] by Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley. It was first released posthumously on 7 September 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.

Lyrics

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.

Track listings

7" single

1. "Iron Lion Zion" – 3:21
2. "Smile Jamaica" (by Bob Marley & The Wailers) – 3:13

CD maxi

1. "Iron Lion Zion" (7" mix) – 3:21
2. "Smile Jamaica" (by Bob Marley & The Wailers) – 3:12
3. "Three Little Birds" (alternative mix) (by Bob Marley & The Wailers) – 2:55
4. "Iron Lion Zion" (12" mix) – 7:02

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992–93) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 5 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[5] 6 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] 10 France (SNEP)[7] 3 Germany (Official German Charts)[8] 17 Ireland (IRMA)[9] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 2 Poland (LP3)[13] 33 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 9 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] 5 US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[17] 11

Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 48 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 36 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 61

Cover versions and uses

• Santana's cover of the song was included in 2014 on the album Corazón.
• The song is played as a post-victory song for the soccer team Real Salt Lake.

References

1. Steffens, Roger; Jodie Pierson, Leroy (2005). Bob Marley and the Wailers: The Definitive Discography. Rounder Books. p. 70. ISBN 1-57940-120-1.
2. Kazo (2008). Bob Marley and the Wailers "Compared discography" (PDF) (11 ed.). p. 65.
3. "Austriancharts.at – Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
4. "Ultratop.be – Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
5. "Radio 2 Top 30 : 5 december 1992" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
6. "Hits of the World". Billboard 104 (48): 61. 28 November 1992. ISSN 0006-2510.
7. "Lescharts.com – Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
8. "Officialcharts.de – Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Iron Lion Zion". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bob Marley - Iron Lion Zion search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
11. "Dutchcharts.nl – Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
12. "Charts.org.nz – Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
13. "IRON LION ZION – Bob Marley" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
14. "Swedishcharts.com – Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
15. "Swisscharts.com – Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
16. "Archive Chart: 1992-10-03" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
17. "Bob Marley – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
18. "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
19. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
20. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 January 2014.