Hey, This Is Africa

Dave flew in to Africa to try and save their souls

They said there won't be snow, no rain or river flows

Dave flew in to Africa despite the brutal sun

Working in the slums, to show 'em how it's done

Dave stayed with David, who was his local guide

And who wore that name with pride, as well as names passed from his tribe

Practical and civilised, mild and unconcerned

And fluent in three languages and bits of more he'd learned

But Dave had years of news reports replaying in his mind

They're waiting for a hero if only you'll oblige

Hey, this is Africa, where everyone is poor

They're sleeping on the floor, tribes and civil wars

Hey, this is Africa, can you do us a favour and send us your white saviours?

Africa's one country, they all speak "African"

They're all diseased and hungry, they have too many young

Poverty, corruption, kids out in the heat

Nothing on their feet, lions roam the streets

It's all run by dictators, there's only tragic news

No-one goes to school, they all use stone-age tools

They're never independent and without our foreign aid

They would be in dire straits, yeah aren't we really great?

There's an element of truth of course, but like any stereotype

You simply scratch the surface to see beyond the hype

Hey, this is Africa, where everyone is poor

They're sleeping on the floor, tribes and civil wars

Hey, this is Africa, can you do us a favour and send us your white saviours?

Hey-a! Hey-a! Tunaimba pamoja kwa sababu sisi ni waafrika maskini

Hey-a! Hey-a! Tunaimba pamoja kwa sababu sisi ni waafrika maskini

Hey-a! Hey-a! Tunaimba pamoja kwa sababu sisi ni waafrika maskini

Hey-a! Hey-a! Tunaimba pamoja kwa sababu sisi ni waafrika maskini

Fifty four countries, two thousand mother tongues

Burning desert sun, yet mighty rivers run

Impenetrable jungle, and modern cities too

Stunning mountain views, lakes deep and blue

And who would guess a life so stressing is still counted as a blessing

And materially much less is still seen as just enough?

And who would guess that only three chords could give so many melodies

Sung instantly in harmony, with so much joy and love?

Well, Dave was well-intentioned, and they valued his concern

But he flew back out with way more than he gave them in return

Hey, this is Africa, where everyone is poor

They're sleeping on the floor, tribes and civil wars

Hey, this is Africa, can you do us a favour and send us your white saviours?

Hey, this is Africa, giraffes wander the plains

Down where I bless the rains, so we can eat again

Hey, this is Africa, you've been told all about it, no reason why you'd doubt it