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TOTO - "Africa" - Bass Tab
I think this may be in cut time, but I've written it in (4/4)
standard tuning(EADG)
INTRO:
|------------------|----------|
|*-----------------|---------*|
|*---------------4-|---------*| (x4)
|--5---5-5-5-5-4---|----------|
1 & a 2 & 3 & 4 1 2 3 4
VERSE:
|------------------|-1---1-1---------|-----------------|
|*---------1---1-1-|---------4---4-4-|-2---2-2-4---4-4-|
|*-2---2-2---------|-----------------|-----------------|
|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4
|-------------------|--------|
|-6---6-6-7---7-7-7-|-7-6---*|
|-------------------|-----4-*| (x3)
|-------------------|--------|
1 & a 2 3 & a 4 & 1 & 2
|-----------------|-----------------|---------------6-|---------|
|-----------------|-6---6-6-6---6-6-|-7---7-7-7-7-6---|---------|
|-2---2-2-6---6-6-|-----------------|-----------------|---------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------|
1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 & 3 & 4 1 2 3 4
CHORUS:
|------------------|------------------|
|*-4---4-4---------|-----------------*|
|*---------5---5-5-|-0---0-0-7---7-5-*| (x3)
|------------------|------------------|
1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4
|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
|-4---4-4---------|-----------------|---------4---4-4-6-|
|---------5---5-5-|-0---0-0-4---4-4-|-7---7-7-----------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4 &
|------------------|----------|
|*-----------------|---------*|
|*---------------4-|---------*| (x2)
|--5---5-5-5-5-4---|----------|
1 & a 2 & 3 & 4 1 2 3 4
KEYBOARD SOLO:
|-----------------|-1---1-1---------|-----------------|
|---------1---1-1-|---------4---4-4-|-2---2-2-4---4-4-|
|-2---2-2---------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4
|-------------------|-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-6---6-6-7---7-7-7-|-7-6---|-----------------|-6---6-6-6---6-6-|
|-------------------|-----4-|-2---2-2-6---6-6-|-----------------|
|-------------------|-------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 & a 2 3 & a 4 & 1 & 2 1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4
|---------------6-|---------|
|-7---7-7-7-7-6---|---------|
|-----------------|---------|
|-----------------|---------|
1 & a 2 & 3 & 4 1 2 3 4
END:
|------------------|------------------|
|*-4---4-4---------|-----------------*|
|*---------5---5-5-|-0---0-0-7---7-5-*| (x7)
|------------------|------------------|
1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4
|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
|-4---4-4---------|-----------------|---------4---4-4-6-|
|---------5---5-5-|-0---0-0-4---4-4-|-7---7-7-----------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4 1 & a 2 3 & a 4 &
|------------------|---------|-----------------|
|*-----------------|---------|-----------------|
|*---------------4-|---------|---------------4-|
|--5---5-5-5-5-4---|---------|-5---5-5-5-5-4---|
1 & a 2 & 3 & 4 1 2 3 4
|------------------------------------|
|-----------18-------18-------18----*|
|-----16-18----16-18----16-18----18-*| (fade-out)
|------------------------------------|
1 & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4
By: Johari Taylor
E-mail: viking@powerup.com.au
Taken from BASSMASTA.NET - http://www.bassmasta.net
|
No Picture
Justin Average |
#1 by Justin at Apr 10, 1974 at 6:27 PM EST |
| Why do they compare Kilimanjaro to Olympus? So they are saying that a mountain is like... another mountain? How creative. And what is "solitary company"? Isn't that an oxymoron? | |
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D-K Average |
#2 by D-K at May 12, 1975 at 6:19 PM EST |
| South African with an 'n' at the end - no edit button - and was a tad mad. | |
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Rob Wanna Be |
#3 by Rob Goode at Aug 1, 1977 at 5:48 PM EST |
| I'm not really sure what this song has to do with either love or slavery. I'm confused. The song to me sounds like it's just about some guy who has a longing to visit Africa, it is something that just draws him in. Perhaps he's getting the tourist bug. I really don't see the Africa analogy at all obviously, though I know that there must be a figurative or symbolic connection somewhere. Anyone care to describe the love/slavery connections in this song in detail and why he even talks about Africa at all? Help me out. | |
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Hilary Wanna Be |
#4 by Hilary at Mar 13, 1982 at 5:41 PM EST |
| Is passing rains like passing gas? But the comparing Kilimanjaro to Olympus isn't comparing the mountains, it's comparing it to the mythical Olympus as in the mountain that was the home of the gods. Uh and guys, the racist comments were all poor attempts at humour. You gotta catch these things. | |
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Andrew Average |
#5 by Andrew Safwat at Aug 31, 1983 at 4:29 PM EST |
| The words are "I bless the rains down in Africa" Trust me, i had to sing this song in concert. As for racism, I don´t really think this song has anything to do with it. I think its more about a guy that loves this woman, and he´s trying to find some way to tell her that. There´s more, but it will have to wait for another time. | |
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Laura Average |
#6 by Laura at Jun 27, 1984 at 3:45 PM EST |
| And um yeah, its I bless the rains. What is passing rains? lol | |
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AJM Average |
#7 by AJM at Nov 11, 1985 at 3:43 PM EST |
| Holy cow! I love Africa too - in fact I'm a born and bred South Africa. Whether I am black or white is totally irrelevant. No matter where I am in the world, when I hear this song tears well up in my eyes. So, if the Nerdy whatever the heck he calls himself wants to call me racist too - go ahead. | |
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Minkin Rhythm Player |
#8 by Minkin MQ at Sep 1, 1989 at 12:18 AM EST |
| i really love africa | |
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Dylan Wanna Be |
#9 by Dylan Johnson at Mar 16, 1990 at 4:50 PM EST |
| To me this song has nothing to do with slavery, I can't pick it out at all. What I do think it's about is a boy who's heart is deeply fond of Africa, with deep rooted respect for it "I bless the rains down in Africa" and "As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serangetti" who is being asked to leave it. His lover, in my opinion, is flying in to meet him and then he will leave with her, hence stopping to ask the old man "some long forgotten words or ancient melodies" in hope of quickly deepening his knowledge of Africa or gaining knowledge that would otherwise be lost to him when/if he leaves, it is like a memoir to take with him, possibly his last memory of encountering a respected elder african. I think the "hurry boy it's waiting there for you" is not in reference to a physical object, but a decision that has to be made by the boy, whether he should leave with his lover, or stay where his roots are, yet the “Hurry boy she’s waiting there for you” is making it clear that his mind is already made up that he is leaving, even if his heart is against it. "It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you" That line I think is supposed to be ambiguous, and give the impression that he doesn't want to be separated from his lover. I am of the impression though, that as he doesn't mention a human, he is talking about how hard it will be for him to leave Africa, not the lover. Throughout the song there are references to the boy taking in the sights and sounds, maybe knowing that he will never hear/see them again “I hear the drums echoing tonight” and “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” and “Gonna take some time to do the things we never had” are, imho, speaking of his impending departure and the oppertunities that lie ahead of him in a richer country. The oppertunities that are now open to him, that may not be there for generations after him in Africa. “I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become” I’m not entirely sure what this line means and I would greatly appreciate if somebody could explain this in better detail to me. My only guess is that the boy is turning into his ancestors, and by going away he hopes that he can fight that and avoid becoming his forfathers by bettering himself, although possibly he knows that he may fail, demonstrated my saying that it’s deep inside, ie, something almost unchangable and inherent in everything that he is. Also note: It’s not “I passed the rains down in Africa”, it’s “I blessed the rains down in Africa” | |
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klfsd Rhythm Player |
#10 by klfsd at Jul 7, 1990 at 9:58 PM EST |
| Ok, first things first Sindy. You are a small petty person and the only reason you like Africa is a because you are racist. I am sorry if it hurts Sindy, but things need to need ot be said.....RACIST | |
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Emmanuel Average |
#11 by Emmanuel Morales at Oct 31, 1992 at 8:48 AM EST |
| The line is "rising like an EMPRESS above the Seranghetti" that ought to de-fuse the controversy over 'comparing a moutain to a mountain.' Also, it's interesting to think the song may be about slavery, as I'd allways thought the line about the rains was "I MISS the rains down in Africa." Slavery or not, it seems it could be a man who spent some significant time in Africa, met a woman he fell in love with, returned home, and now is awaiting her arrival to join him, while fondly remembering the magical time on the continent where they met. Interesting. I am no fan of Toto, but for some reason this song always captured my imagination. I've always wanted to go to Africa as a day-dreaming student in school, and go on great adventures bring aid to famine-struck areas, travelling via bush pilots, hanging out with ex-patriot big game hunters and stuff. But the real world Peace Corp.s requiers you to have some sort of abillity or training they are in need of, so I guess its back to the coal mine for me. Anyway, I always secretly loved this song. | |
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Kaleb Average |
#12 by Kaleb Loyer at Apr 13, 1993 at 4:24 PM EST |
| how the fuck does liking this song make you racist? only really lame chavs and things like it like music just cus of the lyrics, i have no idea what the lyrics mean but i love it. i would never have thought the lyrics were about racism or whatever it's about. i dont exactly see people going on queen - we are the champions and saying "you only like this song cus you're a cocky arrogant bastard." You lot think too much and over analyse, and take everything too personally. | |
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Sybren Average |
#13 by Sybren .... at Dec 11, 1994 at 3:34 PM EST |
| Actually Rusty, I'm pretty sure it's "rising like Olympus". Comparing a mountain to another mountain in this particular instance makes sense, as he is describing how Kilimanjaro looks over Africa like the Olympic Gods looked over the Greeks. | |
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Madman Professional Badass |
#14 by Madman at Nov 3, 1995 at 12:42 PM EST |
| how does loving Africa make anybody racist? | |
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Alex Average |
#15 by Alex Moore at Dec 3, 2002 at 4:04 AM EST |
| Aha, teddy, your a racist too. making fun of my black heritage just because my peeps are from africa, y'aint nothin' but a cracka! KNAMEAN?! This song makes me reflect on my fallen rappin' bruthas, sometimes i weep. Its also da white man, trying to bring the black man down. Theres another term for a hundred WHITE men, a 'lynch mob.' sho'nuff. ps: this post is as much a joke as those two up there. I AM white, and I love the black man and their large penises. | |
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lee michael Wanna Be |
#16 by lee michael turner II at Sep 19, 2003 at 9:25 AM EST |
| Oh, I forgot to add, I think the line is "hurry boy, SHE'S wating there for you." That would add to my theory that it's partly about discovering his soul mate. | |
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Basstard Professional |
#17 by Basstard at Jun 5, 2007 at 4:00 AM EST |
| Synthesizers will never die. | |
