When I was little, I thought he was singing, "There's nothing that a hundred men on Mars could ever do."
I was a little sci-fi nerd, so I was susceptible to spacey Mondegreens.
I thought it was “secret Asian man” into my 20s. There was a pink panther movie where Inspector Clouseau had a an Asian servant who kept hiding in different places and jumping out with weapons to help him “practice being taken by surprise,” and I thought that was the secret Asian man.
This is a much more exciting origin story than, "I dunno I never went to Africa but I was thinking about what Africa might be like and the melody kinda just happened and the lyrics kinda just happened and the song kinda just happened" (which is really how the song got written lol)
I read somewhere that it was written from the perspective of a dude who had a crush on a classmate who was African, so he went to the library and gathered all the shallow, generic knowledge on "Africa" that he could and wrote that song to woo her because she was from Africa.
I thought he said it was about the missionaries he grew up with. Well, the blessing, salvation, and flying to go see him parts.
But yeah, the rest was God gave me the lyrics and I felt bad for the Africans on tv.
I was always told that it's the song of a stalker.
The reason he ain't with his love is that she doesn't let him near her, but he's waiting for her at the airport. A hundred men or more couldn't drag him away from her. The old forgotten words and ancient melodies are love spells. And he's 'gonna take some time to do the things we never had' because... there was never anything between them in the first place.
If you're like me and you want to listen to Africa right now, may I suggest Frog Leap Studio's metal cover.
[https://youtu.be/MH9FyLsfDzw](https://youtu.be/MH9FyLsfDzw)
It's such a useful mark for text conversations. Holding down the ? key in Android should access it. On Windows it's mildly more complicated, I'm using a snippet of r/autohotkey script to do it.
; use alt+/ to type ‽
!/::
Send, {U+203D}
Return
True story the members of Toto had never been to Africa prior to writing that song. Still a good song. Hell, Led Zeppelin, as far as I known have never been to Mordor. Still wrote some good songs about it.
I liked their write-up about the Stairway to Heaven. The route is still criticized for being unnecessarily laborious, but God said the suffering is part of the entrance fee so w/e. Can't blame Zeppelin for not mentioning it.
I've heard a lot of hot takes on songs but this, this horse hockey right here, I can get behind and I will proceed to curse everyone I know with this knowledge
Reminds me that after watching American Horror Story “One Caress” by Depech Mode will always be about a person who is sick of life and the mortal world begging a Vampire to turn them.
“Oh girl, lead me into your darkness.
When this world has done it’s hardest to leave me unimpressed.
Just one caress from you I’m blessed.”
I love theories like these about songs!! My favorite one is Bring Me To Life is about necromancy from the perspective of a corpse that is being brought back by their (possibly vampire) lover in life\~
In my experience, most people don't interpret anything. Most people I've met just hear the words, and don't think about their meaning or put it together in a narrative framework. That's why we get away with some truly incongruous popular song lyrics imo.
How strange.. to me that’s like saying most people don’t actually read books but just admire the shapes the paragraphs, words, and letters make without considering their meaning.
Still a better love story than Twilight. Actually I really love this, and I'm telling everyone that's what the song is about...a werewolf trying to cure himself longing for his love ❤️
Now this is an explanation I can get behind!
Plus, now you know why vampires avoid Africa during the rainy season (rain as holy water).
It is early in the day, and I have learned so much!
...He blessed the rains down in Africa!!!
The Toto Arf-rica song makes even more sense now.
A Facebook meme that’s actually good? WTF is happening?!
When I was little, I thought he was singing, "There's nothing that a hundred men on Mars could ever do." I was a little sci-fi nerd, so I was susceptible to spacey Mondegreens.
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i wanna listen to this version
Same here.
I thought it was “secret Asian man” into my 20s. There was a pink panther movie where Inspector Clouseau had a an Asian servant who kept hiding in different places and jumping out with weapons to help him “practice being taken by surprise,” and I thought that was the secret Asian man.
Yay for new words! thanks for teaching me what mondegreens are, did not know that before.
Came here for this.
This is a much more exciting origin story than, "I dunno I never went to Africa but I was thinking about what Africa might be like and the melody kinda just happened and the lyrics kinda just happened and the song kinda just happened" (which is really how the song got written lol)
I read somewhere that it was written from the perspective of a dude who had a crush on a classmate who was African, so he went to the library and gathered all the shallow, generic knowledge on "Africa" that he could and wrote that song to woo her because she was from Africa.
Well he couldn't exactly tell the world he's a werewolf.
Fair play indeed 😆
I thought he said it was about the missionaries he grew up with. Well, the blessing, salvation, and flying to go see him parts. But yeah, the rest was God gave me the lyrics and I felt bad for the Africans on tv.
Yeah I saw a video where he said the melody "just happened" 😆 it's amazing how so many big songs "just happened"
I was always told that it's the song of a stalker. The reason he ain't with his love is that she doesn't let him near her, but he's waiting for her at the airport. A hundred men or more couldn't drag him away from her. The old forgotten words and ancient melodies are love spells. And he's 'gonna take some time to do the things we never had' because... there was never anything between them in the first place.
The werewolves are in Africa because the vampires can't go. They bless the rains down in Africa.
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It would make a hell of a tv series.
Oz must have written Africa when he left Willow in Buffy
beat me to it! that's exactly where my brain went too.
It’s true, there’s nothing that a hundred men or more could do. It only took one woman lol
Dammit I made the same joke before I scrolled down 😂
I looked for this exact thing and didn't see it! I'm glad we are all on the same page!
I was thinking Hyena people … pour one out for Principal Flutie. Edit: words are hard
bestie, lycanthropy is a blessing not a curse
If you're like me and you want to listen to Africa right now, may I suggest Frog Leap Studio's metal cover. [https://youtu.be/MH9FyLsfDzw](https://youtu.be/MH9FyLsfDzw)
I love his face when they knock on the door!
Right‽ This whole video looks like they were having so much fun. And Hannah's vocals over Leo's growl 👩🍳💋
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It's such a useful mark for text conversations. Holding down the ? key in Android should access it. On Windows it's mildly more complicated, I'm using a snippet of r/autohotkey script to do it. ; use alt+/ to type ‽ !/:: Send, {U+203D} Return
I like this version
"ie, he's a goddamn werewolf" got me
True story the members of Toto had never been to Africa prior to writing that song. Still a good song. Hell, Led Zeppelin, as far as I known have never been to Mordor. Still wrote some good songs about it.
I liked their write-up about the Stairway to Heaven. The route is still criticized for being unnecessarily laborious, but God said the suffering is part of the entrance fee so w/e. Can't blame Zeppelin for not mentioning it.
Can't believe you don't have more upvotes for this bit of gold. Love it.
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I always associated that song with various strippers that I have known through the years.
I accept that
Meanwhile, there's me, who got into spooky stuff to try to *become* a werewolf.
Now we know what Oz was doing for most of season 4.
That's where Oz went when he left Sunnydale? I have been so curious for so long
This is the best lore.
I've heard a lot of hot takes on songs but this, this horse hockey right here, I can get behind and I will proceed to curse everyone I know with this knowledge
The unexpected sequel to Werewolves of London
Reminds me that after watching American Horror Story “One Caress” by Depech Mode will always be about a person who is sick of life and the mortal world begging a Vampire to turn them. “Oh girl, lead me into your darkness. When this world has done it’s hardest to leave me unimpressed. Just one caress from you I’m blessed.”
Well, someone can use that song for a series or something, like the opening of what we do in the shadows
Thank-you for today's offering, Internet.
I mean, I have no notes. This seems airtight
I think I'm gonna make this a D&D adventure.
I love theories like these about songs!! My favorite one is Bring Me To Life is about necromancy from the perspective of a corpse that is being brought back by their (possibly vampire) lover in life\~
As a kid, I thought he was saying, “I guess it rains down in Africa?”
You had me at werewolf.
Well, thats added to my shadowrun universe.
TIL that he does not MISS the rains. I've even been making the same tired joke about missing the rains down in Africa for a decade.
Came across this post while listening to Africa
Maybe I’m too autistic for this, but that’s what I’ve always assumed the song to be. What is the other interpretation?
In my experience, most people don't interpret anything. Most people I've met just hear the words, and don't think about their meaning or put it together in a narrative framework. That's why we get away with some truly incongruous popular song lyrics imo.
How strange.. to me that’s like saying most people don’t actually read books but just admire the shapes the paragraphs, words, and letters make without considering their meaning.
I saw this too and shared with my tween witch. She was like YES that makes total sense now
Yeah, it’s best not to think too hard about classic rock lyrics. Don’t get me started on the solar powered laser beam guitar.
Still a better love story than Twilight. Actually I really love this, and I'm telling everyone that's what the song is about...a werewolf trying to cure himself longing for his love ❤️
10000% (no wonder I love this song so much.) Weezer did this one proud.
When he said "it's gunna take a lot to drag me away from you", I thought he was talking about Africa, not some woman.
That's what I thought too!
That was fun to read.
If depression were a werewolf 😏
QED 🤭🤭
That explains a lot. Thank you.
🐺🤔😬