Àfrica
• TOTO Lyrics

I hear the drums echoing tonight
I can hear the sound of African drums in the distance which echoes through the night

But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
However, the girl that the singer speaks of can only hear faint voices in the background

She's coming in, 12:30 flight
The girl is arriving on a flight scheduled to land at precisely 12:30

The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
The artist is guided by the stars that are reflected on the wings of the plane, as he believes they lead him to salvation

I stopped an old man along the way
As the artist was traveling, he met an old man on his path

Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
The singer was hoping that the old man could provide him with some old, forgotten words or ancient melodies that he remembered

He turned to me as if to say, "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
Instead, the old man reassured the singer that what he was searching for was waiting for him to find it, so he must hurry.

It's gonna take a lot to dragtake me away from you
The artist is committed to staying by his significant other and it would take a lot for anyone to pull him away from her

There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
There is nothing anyone can do to change the artist's mind or get him to leave his significant other

I bless the rains down in Africa
The artist finds the rain in Africa to be a blessing

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
The singer intends to take time to do things that he and his significant other never got to experience together

The wild dogs cry out in the night
The artist hears the cries of wild dogs in the distance during the night

As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
The singer believes the wild dogs to be growing restless and seeking some companionship

I know that I must do what's right
The singer realizes that he must do what he believes is right

As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
The singer is certain that his decision is as significant as the towering mountain of Kilimanjaro stands above the Serengeti

I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become
The artist is trying to heal the fear and uncertainty he has about himself that has grown within him

Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you
The artist is reminded to hurry because his significant other is waiting for him

I bless the rains down in Africa
The singer continues to see the rain in Africa as a blessing

I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rain)
The singer repeats his admiration for the rain in Africa

I bless the rains down in Africa
Once again, the artist blesses the rain in Africa

I bless the rains down in Africa (ah, gonna take the time)
In conclusion, the artist intends to take the time to appreciate the beauty and blessings of Africa's rain.