Under African Skies
Joseph's face was black as night
The pale yellow moon shone in his eyes
His path was marked
By the stars in the southern hemisphere
And he walked his days
Under African skies
This is the story of how we begin to remember
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm
And the roots of rhythm remain
In early memory
Mission music
Was ringing 'round my nursery door
I said take this child, Lord
From Tucson Arizona
Give her the wings to fly through harmony
And she won't bother you no more
This is the story of how we begin to remember
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm and the roots of rhythm remain
Joseph's face was as black as the night
The pale yellow moon shone in his eyes
His path was marked
By the stars in the southern
Hemisphere
And he walked the length of his days
Under African skies
Voces: Paul Simon y Linda Ronstadt
Guitarra: Paul Simon, Ray Phiri y Adrian Belew
Bajo: Bakhiti Khumalo
Batería: Isaac Mtshali
Percusión: Ralph McDonald
© 1986 Paul Simon (BMI)
Disco: Graceland
Comentarios: En este título se define de manera clara el espíritu final que impregan todo el álbum de Graceland: la música redime.
Comienza con una descripción de Joseph, tal vez inspirada en Joseph Shabalala, que simboliza a todos los africanos. En pocas líneas Simon dibuja con mano maestra a todo un continente y a sus habitantes. La música en unión de las letras hacen que el oyente no pueda sustraerse a sentir la vastedad de los cielos bajo los que José vive, mostrando el autor una maestría poética difícil de encontrar en el rock.
Los versos centrales no hacen sino incidir en la fuerza de la música como elemento de redención.
Discografía - Pagina Principal