Songwriter: Neil Finn
Producer: Crowded House
Steam ship, sail down the river
Fight the mosquitoes that fly in a swarm
White smoke covers the jungle
See Dr. Livingston land with a thunk
Young women weep for their dying babies
Down where the sad willows gather
I am a white man in Africa
If I were to stay here
There'd be no one to save me
I hear the drums
I know it's urgent
I hear survival in his hands
Switch to record
I get the picture
But I will never understand
Mad world, visible army
Blow up the bridges and come like a storm
Young girl, eyes full of promise
Carry the baby and keeping it warm
Down where the sad willows gather
Young men go down on their knees
I am a white man in Africa
With more than just my God to appease
I hear the drums
I know it's urgent
I hear survival in his hands
Switch to record
I get the picture
But I will never understand
How there is love in his face
'Midst of all this waste
In the Mozambique sun
Under the gun
I hear the drums
I hear survival in his hands
I hear the drums
There is a curse upon this land
I hear the drums
I know it's urgent
I hear survival in his hands
Hit record
Get the picture
I will never understand
Carry the sound and the fury
Left all alone in a war zone
Carry the sound and the fury
Aah, aah
Hours later
Before my bed
Makes me tired and ready for sleep
So, tell me about all the places you go
All the lives that you swallow, the people you keep
Deep in a monastery
That's where I wanna be
Wrestle my soul
Fight the mosquitoes that fly in a swarm
White smoke covers the jungle
See Dr. Livingston land with a thunk
Young women weep for their dying babies
Down where the sad willows gather
I am a white man in Africa
If I were to stay here
There'd be no one to save me
I hear the drums
I know it's urgent
I hear survival in his hands
Switch to record
I get the picture
But I will never understand
Mad world, visible army
Blow up the bridges and come like a storm
Young girl, eyes full of promise
Carry the baby and keeping it warm
Down where the sad willows gather
Young men go down on their knees
I am a white man in Africa
With more than just my God to appease
I hear the drums
I know it's urgent
I hear survival in his hands
Switch to record
I get the picture
But I will never understand
How there is love in his face
'Midst of all this waste
In the Mozambique sun
Under the gun
I hear the drums
I hear survival in his hands
I hear the drums
There is a curse upon this land
I hear the drums
I know it's urgent
I hear survival in his hands
Hit record
Get the picture
I will never understand
Carry the sound and the fury
Left all alone in a war zone
Carry the sound and the fury
Aah, aah
Hours later
Before my bed
Makes me tired and ready for sleep
So, tell me about all the places you go
All the lives that you swallow, the people you keep
Deep in a monastery
That's where I wanna be
Wrestle my soul
more tracks from the album
Afterglow (Deluxe Edition)
- Instinct
- Everything Is Good for You
- My Telly’s Gone Bung
- Left Hand
- Anthem
- I Am in Love (Home Demo)
- Instinct (Home Demo)
- Spirit of the Stairs (Home Demo)
- Everything is Good for You (Home Demo)
- Not the Girl You Think You Are (Home Demo)
- Spirit of the Stairs (Studio Demo)
- Sacred Cow
- Not the Girl You Think You Are
- Time Immemorial
- I Love You Dawn
- You Can Touch
- I Am in Love
- Help Is Coming
- Recurring Dream
- Private Universe
- Anyone Can Tell
- Lester (Home Demo)
- Dr. Livingston
- Loose Tongue (Rough Mix)
From the albums
- Afterglow (1999)
- Afterglow (Deluxe Edition) (2016)
Crowded House popular songs
- Don’t Dream It’s Over
- Weather with You
- Fall at Your Feet
- Better Be Home Soon
- Mean to Me
- Four Seasons in One Day
- Distant Sun
- It’s Only Natural
- Twice If You’re Lucky
- When You Come
- Love This Life
- Never Be the Same
- Nails in My Feet
- Say That Again
- Heaven That I’m Making
- I Am in Love
- Don’t Stop Now
- Black and White Boy
- People Are Like Suns
- Help Is Coming
- All I Ask
- Pineapple Head (live)
- There Goes God
- So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star