Toto - | Africa

While often interpreted as a simple love song, the narrative is about a who is enamored with the African continent. He is waiting for a woman to arrive on a "12:30 flight," but he is spiritually conflicted. The lyrics "It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you" refer not just to a person, but to his bond with the continent itself . Interesting Facts The Story of... 'Africa' by Toto - Smooth Radio

The story behind Toto's 1982 hit is one of romanticized imagination and accidental genius, written by a songwriter who, at the time, had never actually set foot on the continent. The Inspiration Toto - Africa

The song was primarily written by keyboardist , who found the song's signature "brassy" opening riff while experimenting with a new CS-80 synthesizer . The chorus melody and lyrics reportedly came to him in just ten minutes, a process he described as almost "divine channeling". While often interpreted as a simple love song,