Africa
Toto 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 rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa




(Gonna take the time)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had (ooh, ooh)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Toto's song "Africa" tell a story of a person traveling to Africa in search of something, something to heal the fear and anxiety that plagues them. The song is a journey that explores the unknown fears that come when we venture into the unknown, into places that are not familiar. The opening lines of the song, "I hear the drums echoing tonight, but she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation," creates a juxtaposition between the familiarity of the drums and the unfamiliar whispers. The singer is on a journey to find the unknown, to find that which they do not yet know.


Throughout the song, there are references to classical African natural features such as Serengeti and Kilimanjaro. These references give the song a sense of place, grounding it in a specific location. As the singer moves closer to their goal, they start to understand what they seek is not the physical location but instead the personal growth they will gain from their journey. "I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become," is a reflection of the inner struggle they face, knowing that they must keep going no matter what.


The chorus, "I bless the rains down in Africa, gonna take some time to do the things we never had," is an acknowledgment that it will not be easy to let go of the fear and anxiety that holds us back. But through perseverance and the willingness to go and explore what is unknown, we can find that inner peace we desire.


Line by Line Meaning

I hear the drums echoing tonight
The singer hears the sounds of drums in the distance.


But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
The person he is thinking of can only hear faint background conversations.


She's coming in, 12:30 flight
The person he is thinking of is arriving on a flight at 12:30.


The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
The wings of the plane he is on reflect the stars and give him hope that he will find what he is looking for.


I stopped an old man along the way hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
He encounters an old man and hopes to learn something from him, perhaps some ancient wisdom.


He turned to me as if to say 'Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you'
The old man tells the singer to hurry because what he is searching for is nearby.


It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
The singer is committed to someone and it will be difficult to separate him from that person.


There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
No matter how many people try, they will not be able to keep the artist from his loved one.


I bless the rains down in Africa
The artist appreciates the natural beauty of Africa, and is grateful for the rain that nourishes the land and its people.


Gonna take some time to do the things we never had (ooh, ooh)
The artist intends to take time to discover new experiences and enjoy life.


The wild dogs cry out in the night, as they grow restless longing for some solitary company
The singer observes the restless behavior of wild dogs at night, and wonders if they are lonely like himself.


I know that I must do what's right, as sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
The artist recognizes the importance of making the right choices, just as he recognizes the grandeur of Kilimanjaro rising above the Serengeti.


I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become
The singer seeks to heal his innermost fears and doubts, and is afraid of who he has become.


Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you
The person he is thinking of is waiting for him to join her.


I bless the rains down in Africa
The singer expresses his gratitude for the life-giving rains in Africa.


(I bless the rain)
The artist repeats his blessing for emphasis.


Gonna take some time to do the things we never had (ooh, ooh)
The artist reiterates his intention to enjoy life and seek new experiences.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David F Paich, Jeffrey T Porcaro

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@puppet4978

I played this to my cat



Now he's Simba

@julieparker1954

Hahahahaha

@Ndayaki

😂🤣😂😂😂

@katarzynadyda9824

XDDDD

@adversemiller

Oof

@olie_brown07

Lmaoo AHHH

19 More Replies...

@mithrasrose9727

Im 98 and still jam to this song. My wife died 33 years ago and this was our song. I miss you Agnus. See you soon

@nahhh...

Still going strong, keep going strong gramp 🔥🔥

@Mr.Lo-FiKitty

Damn you're old! I hope you live a longer luxurious life. You're wife up there cheering for you!

@mrsz1988

Aww I love this. Rock on sir

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