Iron Lion Zion

"Iron Lion Zion" is a song written and recorded in April 1973^[2][3] or 1974^[4] by Jamaican singer and songwriter Bob Marley. It was first released posthumously on 7 September 1992 on the Songs of Freedom box set, reaching number five in the UK Singles Chart. The single also peaked within the top 10 in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Iron Lion Zion" peaked at number eight. Outside Europe, it reached number two in New Zealand, number 71 in Australia and number 11 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. A remixed version was released as a single and later included in 1995 on Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On.

"Iron Lion Zion"
Single by Bob Marley
from the album Songs of Freedom
B-side	"Smile Jamaica"
Released	7 September 1992 (1992-09-07)[1]
Recorded	April 1973 or 1974
Genre	Reggae
Length	3:21
Label	Tuff Gong
Songwriter(s)	Bob Marley
Producer(s)	Errol Brown Ingmar Kiang Bob Marley The Wailers Trevor Wyatt
Bob Marley singles chronology
"One Love/People Get Ready" (1984) "Iron Lion Zion" (1992) "Why Should I" (1992)

Lyrics

The song's lyrics are directly related to Rastafarian beliefs. The "lion" refers to the Lion of Judah which appeared on the old royal Ethiopian flag and represents Haile Selassie - the former Ethiopian emperor whom Rastafarians regard as their Messiah.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Rockers' reggae with pop swing and dance sizzle, this propulsive, previously unreleased jewel from the new Songs of Freedom boxed set features a wonderfully exultant vocal from Marley, plus the terrific horn of Courtney Pine. A smash in the U.K., it deserves to explode here."^[5] Randy Clark of Cash Box felt the cut "is both club- and radio-friendly".^[6] Melody Maker praised the song, writing, "...I must say that Marley's "Iron Lion Zion" is a work of god-like genius; every second as noble as the title suggests."^[7]

A reviewer from Music & Media said, "Of course it's a little bit reworked in the studios with additional musicians such as the jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine and female vocal trio I Trees, featuring Marley's widow Rita. Bound to be a classic like the posthumously released "Buffalo Soldier" in 1983."^[8] Alan Jones from Music Week named it Pick of the Week and declared it as a "Marley masterpiece", and "a hugely commercial, lightly dubbed and joyous reminder of his talent".^[9] New Musical Express wrote, "Cleverly completed and a probable hit, still carrying all the broad-sweep magnitude of his vision." The reviewer added, "I like it. It's top. Will that do?"^[10] Another NME editor, Gavin Martin, complimented it as a "horn bolstered stomp".^[11] J.D. Considine for Rolling Stone viewed it as "fiery".^[12] Eric Snider from the Tampa Bay Times described it as "infectious".^[13]

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 (1992–1993) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[14] 71 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 5 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 8 Europe (European Dance Radio)[18] 9 Finland (IFPI)[19] 10 France (SNEP)[20] 3 Germany (GfK)[21] 17 Ireland (IRMA)[22] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25] 2 Spain (AFYVE)[26] 9 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 9 UK Singles (OCC)[29] 5 UK Dance (Music Week)[30] 8 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[31] 11

Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[32] 48 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[33] 65 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[34] 36 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 61 UK Singles (OCC)[36] 68 Chart (1993) Position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[37] 91

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38]	Gold	5,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 5 September 1992. p. 21.
2. Steffens, Roger; Jodie Pierson, Leroy (2005). Bob Marley and the Wailers: The Definitive Discography. Rounder Books. p. 70. ISBN 1-57940-120-1.
3. Kazo 2009, p. 65
4. Kazo 2009, p. 65
5. Flick, Larry (31 October 1992). "Single Reviews > Pop" (PDF). Billboard. p. 95.
6. Clark, Randy (21 November 1992). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 13. p. 5. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
7. "Singles". Melody Maker. 12 September 1992. p. 41. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
8. "New Releases > Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 October 1992. p. 18.
9. Jones, Alan (5 September 1992). "Mainstream > Singles > Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
10. "Singles". New Musical Express. 12 September 1992. p. 19. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
11. Martin, Gavin (3 June 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 50. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
12. Considine, J.D. (10 December 1992-24 December 1992). "Season of box sets". Rolling Stone. Issue 645/646.
13. Snider, Eric (12 October 2005). "Marley set traces a legend". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
14. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 176.
15. "Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
16. "Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 44. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
18. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 42. 17 October 1992. p. 32. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
19. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 43. 24 October 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
20. "Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
21. "Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
22. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Iron Lion Zion". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 45, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
24. "Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
25. "Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
26. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
27. "Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
28. "Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
30. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 19 September 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
31. "Bob Marley – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016.
32. "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
33. "1992 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
34. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
35. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
36. "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 8.
37. "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
38. "New Zealand single certifications – Bob Marley – Iron Lion Zion". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.

Sources

• Kazo (2009). Bob Marley and the Wailers: "Compared discography" (PDF) (11 ed.).