The song ‘Mother of Africa’ was initially written (by Dave Matthews et al.) and recorded for the documentary film Naledi: A Baby Elephant’s Tale” (1) It was later reintroduced during a visit the musician made to an elephant sanctuary in North Kenya to support their cause.(3)
Discover the soul of their song about elephants. Listen to the music and get taken away…
MOTHER OF AFRICA
“Hey there Dr. Chase can I borrow your wings to fly
Above the elephants and ride the wind over
The Mother of Africa mmmmmhmmm
The Mother of Africa”
“Oh, hey there Dr. Chase can I borrow your eyes to watch
Over the elephants and
Watch the sun rise above
The Mother of Africa mmmmmhmmm
The Mother of Africa”
(Vusi Mahlasela: Unintelligible… we sing to you all the people of the world)
“See, we sing to all you the people of the world
Come and see
Come and see
All you people around the world
This is why your heart beats to the
Rhythm of Africa yeaaaaah
The Rhythm of Africa”
(Vusi Mahlasela: Unintelligible…)
“Hey there Dr. Chase can I borrow your wings to fly
Above the elephants and ride the wind above
The Mother of Africa mmmmmhmmm
The Mother is Africa”
(Vusi Mahlasela: Unintelligible… The Mother Is Africa…)
Source (4)
Source (4)
MOTHER OF AFRICA
LIVE VERSION Intro: Dave Matthews:(Applause)“This is a… this is a… this is a song that, uh, that Lucy and I recorded for a film about one man, uh, many, I guess, but one man that is trying to, uh, save the African Elephant… I am selfish. I just think it would be great if my grandchildren could see the wild African elephant… So, uh, we feel it… well it is beautiful to have you here with us…(Dave acknowledges Vusi) thank you for coming all of the way and being with us … Vusi.”
“Hey there Dr. Chase can I borrow your wings to fly
Above the elephants and ride the wind over
The Mother of Africa yeaaaaah
The Mother of Africa”
“Hey there Dr. Chase can I borrow your eyes to watch
the elephants and
Watch the sun rise over
The Mother of Africa mmmmmhmmm
The Mother of Africa”
(Vusi Mahlasela: Unintelligible… we sing to you the people of the world)
“We sing to you the people of the world
Come and see
Come and see
All you people around the world
This is why your heart beats to the
Rhythm of Africa yeaaaaah
The Rhythm of Africa”
(Vusi Mahlasela: Unintelligible…)
“Hey there Dr. Chase can I borrow your wings to fly
Above the elephants and see the sun rise over the
The Mother of Africa mmmmmhmmm
The Mother is Africa
The Mother of Africa
The Mother is Africa”
(Vusi Mahlasela: Unintelligible… The Mother Is Africa…)
(Applause) Dave Matthews: “Vusi Mahlasela”
Source (5)
Source (5)
Support/Donate to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (6)
See also: “Video Moment, A Look Back: Reteti Elephant Sanctuary Garners Support From Musician To Highlight Their Cause”
Images: Images from ‘Dave Matthews Visits Reteti Elephant Sanctuary’ 2018 CC YT video. See ESH article, source (3)
Sources:
(1) Naledi: A Baby Elephant’s Tale.” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5709762/
(2) Creative Commons Video ‘Dave Matthews Visits Reteti Elephant Sanctuary’ by Dave Matthews Band https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BllKY_g-PnM
(4) Lyrics transcribed from creative commons video “Mother of Africa by Dave Matthews”by Dale Boettcher CH https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=QTBOBWUq0Xw
(5) LIVE VERSION Lyrics transcribed from creative commons video “Mother of Africa- Dave and Tim with Vusi Mahlasela (Riviera Maya 2/25/17)” By Debbie Jones CH https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=vJzpfvq9Qak
(6) https://www.reteti.org/donate
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Elephant Spoken Here twitter @ESHelephants
image: From creative commons video by Dave Matthews Band, ‘Dave Matthews Visits Reteti Elephant Sanctuary’ (2)