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Africa by Toto
Release Date
Performed by
TotoProduced by
TotoWrited by
David Paich & Jeff PorcaroAbout
“Africa” is the third single from Toto’s 1982 album titled Toto IV. It is the group’s most popular song and reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in early 1983.
The lyrics comprise a heartfelt (if somewhat fantastical and stereotyped) vision of the beauty of Africa. There are undercurrents of embodyin...
Africa Lyrics
[Instrumental Intro]
[Verse 1: David Paich]
I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's comin' in, 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hopin' 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"
[Chorus: Bobby Kimball]
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothin' 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, hoo
[Verse 2: David Paich]
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
[Chorus: Bobby Kimball]
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothin' 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, hoo
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge: David Paich & Bobby Kimball]
"Hurry, boy, she's waiting there for you"
[Chorus: Bobby Kimball]
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothin' 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 rains)
I bless the rains down in Africa (I bless the rains)
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa (I'm gonna take the time)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
Ooh, hoo
[Instrumental Outro]
Africa Q&A
Who wrote Africa's ?
Africa was written by David Paich & Jeff Porcaro.
Who produced Africa's ?
Africa was produced by Toto.
What did Toto say about "Africa"?
Contrary to popular opinion, David Paich said in 2015 that the song is more about a love for a place, rather than a romantic love for another person.
What is the story behind the song?
In a 2005 interview with Grantland co-writer and keyboardist David Paich said:
I would see UNICEF commercials on TV, way back in the day, and I was a big reader of National Geographic. I’ve just always kind of been fascinated with Africa. I just kind of romanticized this story about a social worker...
Iconic moments where the Toto performed the song.
There are a number of iconic moments where the band played “Africa”; Dave Paich explains:
I was asked to perform it at the United Nations, to bring on Bishop Desmond Tutu, when he got a humanitarian award there.
…in the late ’90s, we were able to go back to South Africa, after apartheid was ended,...
Has the song been featured in TV shows?
“Africa” was featured on the twenty-third episode and season finale of the tenth season of an American animated sitcom television series Family Guy:
Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon also did a sketch on The Tonight Show in March 2013:
Does this track have any RIAA certifications?
Yes. “Africa” was certified 6x platinum by the RIAA on October 20, 2020.
What have the artists said about this song?
Keyboardist David Paich explained:
At the beginning of the ‘80s I watched a late night documentary on TV about all the terrible death and suffering of the people in Africa. It both moved and appalled me and the pictures just wouldn’t leave my head. I tried to imagine how I’d feel about if I was the...