I Hear The Drums Echoing Tonight

I realized late last night that I did not have a post scheduled for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, but I had two scheduled for next week. How pleased I was that one of them could be switched over to this week’s theme of musical instruments.

“Africa” from Toto is effectively inspired by a love story for Africa itself inspired by the writer seeing a documentary about the social and economic situation across the vast continent. It’s chorus has been described as “explosive”. I think anyone who has been over to Africa has probably been ignited with the same love and has this song on a playlist somewhere.

Because most people who love this song, love it because of Africa itself – the continent that makes our soul burn – I have added a video that captures some spectacular scenes of African lands. Stunning.

Credits: David Paich and Jeff Porcaro

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

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

"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 rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

• The Topic On The Table