Africa chords

by Toto

  • Africa was written by David Paich & Jeff Porcaro from the band Toto.
  • Recorded: Oct 25th, 1981
  • Released: Sept, 1982 from the album Toto 1V
  • Music: Key of B Major in 2/2 time at 92 bpm (♩)
  • Chords: A, A/E, B, B/F#, C#m7, D, D#m7, E, F#m, G#m, G#m7
  • If you are finding the timing a little difficult, we have the first 8 bars of sheet music below.
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords   O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings   R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open   X: Don't play string    B: Bass Note
A Major A Major B Major B/F# C#m7 D#m7 D Major E Major F#m G#m G#m7
A Major A Major B Major B/F# C#m7 D#m7 D Major E Major F#m G#m G#m7

Africa chords & lyrics

Intro: 2/2
Timing: 1& 2&  1 &    2 &    1& 2&  1& 2& 
      𝄆 A    |   G#m  C#m7 | C#m7 | C#m7  𝄇 

  B                 D#m7         G#m7
1. I hear the drums ech-o-ing to-night
B/F#               A/E               C#m7           G#m    A  |  G#m  C#m7 |
   She hears on-ly whis-pers of some qui-et con-ver-sa-a-a-tion
  B              D#m7     G#m7
   She’s com-in’ in 12-30 flight
B/F#                 A/E                 C#m7                 G#m    A  |   G#m  C#m7  |
   Moonlit wings ref-lect the stars that guide me towards sal-va-a-a-tion


  B              D#m7               G#m7
2. I stop-ped an old man a-long the way
B/F#                    A/E              C#m7              G#m     A  |   G#m  C#m7  |
   Ho-ping to find some long for-got-ten words or anc-ient me-e-lo-dies
  B              D#m7        G#m7
   He turn-ed to me as if to say
                      A                     |  G#m  C#m7  |   C#m7    |
   Hur-ry boy    It’s wait-ing there for you


     F#m              D                A        E
Chorus: Gon-na take a lot t  o drag me a-way from you
     F#m                        D               A                E
        There’s noth-ing that a hund-red men or more could e-ver do
     F#m            D             A       E
        I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
     F#m                 D               A               C#m7   E     F#m  E   A
        Gon-na take some time to do the things we nev-er ha-a-a-a-a-a-ad   Oo-(Hoo)

         1& 2&  1 &    2 &    1& 2&  1& 2& 
       𝄁 A    |   G#m  C#m7 | C#m7 | C#m7  𝄁 
        (Hoo)

  B              D#m7           G#m7
3. The wild dogs cry out in the night
B/F#                      A/E               C#m7        G#m      A  |  G#m  C#m7  |
   As they grow rest-less long-ing for some sol-i-ta-ry co-om-pa-ny
  B            D#m7             G#m7
   I know that I must do what’s right
B/F#                          A              C#m7              G#m        A  |  G#m  C#m7  |
   As sure as Kil-i-man-ja-ro ris-es like Ol-ym-pus a-bove the Ser-en-get-ti

  B          D#m7                G#m7
** I seek to cure what’s deep in-side
                        A                     |  G#m  C#m7  |   C#m7    |
   Fright-ened of this thing that I’ve be-come

     F#m                   D                A        E
Chorus: It’s gon-na take a lot to drag me a-way from you
     F#m                        D               A                E
        There's noth-ing that a hund-red men or more could e-ver do
     F#m            D             A       E
        I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
     F#m                 D              A                C#m7   E     F#m   E   A
        Gon-na take some time to do the things we nev-er ha-a-a-a-a-a-ad    Oo-(Hoo)

         1& 2&  1 &    2 &    1& 2&  1& 2&
       𝄁 A    |   G#m  C#m7 | C#m7 | C#m7  𝄁
        (Hoo)


Instr:                                  
       𝄁 B | D#m7 | G#m7 | B/F# | A/E | C#m | G#m | A | G#m  C#m7 | B | D#m7 𝄁


    G#m7                   A                    |  G#m  C#m7  |  C#m7  |
     ** Hur-ry boy   She’s wait-ing there for you 


     F#m              D                A        E
Chorus: Gon-na take a lot to drag me a-way from you
     F#m                        D               A                E
        There’s noth-ing that a hund-red men or more could e-ver do
     F#m            D             A       E
        I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
     F#m            D             A       E
        I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
     F#m            D             A       E
        I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
     F#m            D             A       E
        I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
     F#m            D             A       E
        I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
     F#m                 D              A                C#m7   E     F#m   E   A
        Gon-na take some time to do the things we nev-er ha-a-a-a-a-a-ad    Oo-(Hoo)

        1& 2&  1 &    2 &    1& 2&  1& 2&
      𝄁 A    |   G#m  C#m7 | C#m7 | C#m7  𝄁
       (Hoo)                             ... repeat to fade


     Please Note: The timing at the end of lines 2 & 4 of each verse
      |  A  |  G#m  C#m7 | is the same as the Intro and Instrumental
       sections after the Choruses.
Please Note: The B Major chord has 2 options
  • Use fingers 2, 3 and 4 to play the 3 strings or
  • Use your 3rd finger to play a mini-barre over the 3 strings.

Notes

Introduction - First 8 bars:

This snippet of the introduction will give you a closer look at the timing and where the chord changes occur - just in case you find the song sheet above a little confusing... hope this helps.

Africa by Toto

Africa Introduction Music Score
Back to 80's Music Back To Top

Contact Me

A seasoned performer joyfully playing the guitar