Africa

"Africa" is a cover version of Toto's popular 1982 song, as performed by American rock band Weezer. The cover was released as a single on May 29, 2018, and later included on Weezer's self-titled 12th studio album, nicknamed the Teal Album.

## Background

In December 2017, Twitter user "@WeezerAfrica," run by 14-year-old Cleveland, Ohio resident Mary Klym, tweeted, "@RiversCuomo it's about time you bless the rains down in Africa." After much back-and-forth between Mary and Pat Wilson, the band released a cover of Toto's "Rosanna" instead, as a digital download, on May 24, 2018. The band would, in fact, release a cover of "Africa" days later, on May 29.

A limited edition 7-inch vinyl pressing was released by Weezer in July 2018 and sold exclusively through the store Urban Outfitters. The pressing was limited to 1500 copies. A picture disc vinyl was also released for Black Friday 2018 and limited to 3000 copies. Both releases feature "Rosanna" as a b-side.

A video starring "Weird Al" Yankovic was released on September 24, 2018. On September 27, Weezer released a remix of the song by Portuguese DJ RAC. On January 24, 2019, Weezer surprise-released a self-titled album of cover songs ("The Teal Album") with "Africa" as the first track. In April of 2019, an instrumental version of the track was leaked online.
"Africa" was the band's first Hot 100 hit since "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" in 2009. "Africa" reached number 51 on the Hot 100 and peaked at number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in August 2018, becoming the band's first number-one single since "Pork and Beans" in 2008.

The band Toto responded to Weezer's cover by performing the song "Hash Pipe" at a concert on July 30, 2018, soon thereafter releasing a studio recording on August 9, 2018. Toto guitarist Steve Lukather commented on Weezer's cover in a Rolling Stone article in 2020.

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

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"

[Chorus]

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 have

[Verse 2]

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]

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 have

[Instrumental]

[Bridge]

Hurry, boy, she's waiting there for you

[Chorus]

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)

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

Gonna take some time to do the things we never have

## See Also

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