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Africa
Quietdrive Lyrics


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I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's coming in, 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"

It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had (ooh, ooh)

The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become

It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had (ooh, ooh)

Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you

It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
(I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa (ah, gonna take the time)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had (ooh, ooh)

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of the song "Africa" by Quietdrive describe the juxtaposition between the singer's sensory experience and that of his companion. While he hears the drums echoing, his companion hears only whispers of a quiet conversation. This contrast highlights the singer’s spiritual journey of seeking a cure for something deep inside of him, which he is afraid to face. This journey takes him to Africa, where he seeks the forgotten words and ancient melodies of the land. However, the old man he meets along the way advises him to hurry, as whatever he is seeking is waiting for him.


As the singer continues to explore Africa, he is confronted with wild dogs crying out in the night, longing for company. This is another symbol of his internal struggle, as he knows he must do what is right even if he is frightened of who he has become. Moreover, he highlights his connection with Africa by blessing the rains down in Africa, acknowledging the beauty and power of the land. He realizes that it is going to take some time to do things that he has never done before and to connect with a place that seems foreign but holds an inexplicable attraction.


In summary, "Africa" is a soulful song that explores themes of internal conflict, cultural exploration and appreciation, and spiritual discovery. The lyrics detail the singer's journey of finding himself and facing his fears, with Africa as a symbolic representation of his spiritual journey.


Line by Line Meaning

I hear the drums echoing tonight
I hear the drums playing loudly tonight


But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She hears only faint words of a silent talk


She's coming in, 12:30 flight
She's arriving on the 12:30 flight


The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
The wings of the plane shine in the moonlight, showing me the stars that guide me to safety


I stopped an old man along the way
I met an old man while traveling


Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
I hoped to discover some forgotten words or ancient songs


He turned to me as if to say, "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
He looked at me as if to say, "Hurry up, it's waiting for you"


It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
It will require a strong effort to separate me from you


There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
Even a hundred men cannot change my feelings


I bless the rains down in Africa
I celebrate the rains falling in Africa


Gonna take some time to do the things we never had (ooh, ooh)
We need to take time to experience things we've never done before


The wild dogs cry out in the night
Wild dogs howl in the darkness


As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
As they become uneasy, looking for someone to be alone with


I know that I must do what's right
I understand that I need to do what's best


As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
Just like Kilimanjaro towering above the Serengeti, it's a certainty


I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become
I try to fix what's bothering me inside, afraid of the person I've turned into


Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you
Hurry up, she's waiting for you


I bless the rains down in Africa
I celebrate the rains falling in Africa


Gonna take some time to do the things we never had (ooh, ooh)
We need to take time to experience things we've never done before




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Paich, Jeff Porcaro

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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