Africa
Jeff Hall Lyrics


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I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's coming in twelve-thirty flight
Her 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
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
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
Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you

Overall Meaning

The song "Africa" by Jeff Hall is a beautiful tribute to the continent of Africa, as well as a love letter to those who have a deep connection to it. The opening lines set the scene, with the singer hearing the sound of drums echoing in the distance. However, the person they are with only hears "whispers" of a "quiet conversation." This establishes a disconnect between the two, as the singer is attuned to the sounds of Africa, while the other person is not.


The singer then mentions that someone is coming in on a flight at twelve-thirty, with "moonlit wings" that will guide them towards salvation. This person likely represents hope, as they are a positive force that will bring light to the darkness.


As the singer journeys through Africa, they meet an old man who they hope will provide some guidance or inspiration. The old man encourages the singer to keep moving forward, as there is something wonderful waiting for them. The somber yet hopeful tone of the song is exemplified in the refrain, where the singer blesses the rains down in Africa, acknowledging the power and beauty of nature. The song ends with a call to action, urging the listener to hurry towards the one they love.


Overall, "Africa" is a powerful and evocative song that captures the spirit of the continent in all its complexity and beauty.


Line by Line Meaning

I hear the drums echoing tonight
I can hear the sound of the drums beating incessantly tonight.


But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
The woman I love, on the other hand, can only hear fragments of a soft conversation.


She's coming in twelve-thirty flight
My beloved is going to arrive on the airplane that's scheduled to land at twelve thirty in the morning.


Her moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
The light reflecting from the wings of the airplane carrying my partner is like a beacon, showing me the path towards my freedom or salvation.


I stopped an old man along the way
While on the way, I came across an old man.


Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
I wanted to understand some ancient tunes and words that might be forgotten with time, hoping the old man would tell me about them.


He turned to me as if to say: "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
The old man's reply was as if he was telling me - there is something significant that I'm yet to discover or achieve, and it's waiting for me to grab it quickly.


It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
The struggle to separate me from my significant other is going to be incredibly challenging.


There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
Even if an army of thousands tried to take my beloved away from me, they would not be successful.


I bless the rains down in Africa
I have deep reverence for the natural forces that bless Africa, particularly the rain that falls in the continent.


Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
It may take a while, but we will engage in activities we've never set out to do before.


The wild dogs cry out in the night
The wild dogs utter sounds of anguish on starry nights.


As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
Their howls are a reflection of their need for a companion or someone to spend time with.


I know that I must do what's right
I am aware that I must follow the right path to stay on course.


Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
It's a certainty that Kilimanjaro will stand towering like Olympus above the Serengeti grasslands.


I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become
I try to find a remedy for something that's been plaguing me, and it's making me wary of what I'm turning into.


Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you
I am urged to hasten since my love interest is waiting for me.




Writer(s): David F Paich, Jeffrey T Porcaro

Contributed by Landon O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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@mikemasse

For a complete list of upcoming concert dates and tickets, visit my site: https://mikemasse.com/concerts
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@stephanelavagna9527

I wish i could ! Your voice and talent are a gift...for us 😁 & HNY2019 from France...sub and big up from me 😉

@ihatekillerclowns

Will you be performing this song?

@mikemasse

Absolutely. 👍

@seant.m5318

@@mikemasse If you come to Toronto I'm totally coming. Legendary voices!

@mikemasse

@@seant.m5318 I really hope to come back soon! I loved that city when I visited a few months ago for a private event.

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@TrapMusicNow

That chorus though. WOW

@dukedalington

Amazing!!

@nitramza861

I know. Raw talent here, folks.

@Dom-nn1kg

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