HEART OF AFRICA

[Intro – water ambience, kora, kalimba, distant flute]
Oh-ya-hey...
Oh-ya-hey...
Na-ya... na-ya...
Oh-ya-hey...

[Pan flute answers the voices]

[Verse 1 – warm intimate male vocal]
Morning rises on the water,
Golden light begins to glow,
Through the trees a distant calling,
Like a song we used to know.

Every shadow holds a story,
Every river finds its way,
And the earth beneath our footsteps
Slowly wakes another day.

[Instrumental – kora + handpan + soft cello]

[Pre-Chorus – female distant vocal]
Aya-ya...
Can you hear it?
Aya-ya...
Calling you...

[Chorus – male lead + gentle wide choir]
Oh-ya-hey, oh-ya-hey,
Let the river carry me,
Oh-ya-hey, oh-ya-hey,
To the place where I feel free.

Far away, yet close somehow,
Like a song inside of me,
Oh-ya-hey, oh-ya-hey...
Heart of Africa.

[Post-Chorus – kalimba hook]
Da-da... da-da-da...
Oh-ya-hey...
Da-da... da-da-da...
Oh-ya-hey...

[Instrumental I – kora melody, marimba, pan flute]

[Verse 2 – male vocal, slightly deeper]
Underneath the quiet water,
Silver shadows drift along,
Every movement has a rhythm,
Every silence has a song.

From the river to the mountains,
From the grasslands to the sea,
There are worlds we may discover
If we simply let them be.

[Pre-Chorus – male/female call and response]
(Male) Can you feel it?
(Female) Aya-ya...
(Male) Can you hear it?
(Female) Aya-ya...

(Together)
Something old,
Something true,
Calling me,
Calling you...

[Chorus – richer harmony]
Oh-ya-hey, oh-ya-hey,
Let the river carry me,
Oh-ya-hey, oh-ya-hey,
To the place where I feel free.

Far away, yet close somehow,
Like a song inside of me,
Oh-ya-hey, oh-ya-hey...
Heart of Africa.

[Instrumental II – duduk + handpan]
[Very soft percussion enters]
[Duduk passes melody to soprano saxophone]
[Cello answers with long warm notes]
[Kalimba keeps the recognizable hook]

[Bridge – female ethereal vocal]
No need to run,
No need to hide,
Follow the water,
Follow the light.

No need for words,
Just listen awhile,
The earth is breathing,
Mile after mile...

[Choir – almost whispered]
Oh-ya-hey...
Oh-ya-hey...
Na-ya... na-ya...
Oh-ya-hey...

[Instrumental III – cinematic journey]
[Kora arpeggio]
[Pan flute solo]
[Low cello]
[Udu clay drum heartbeat]
[Soft marimba]
[Gradual strings rising]

[Final Chorus – emotional, broad, but not loud]
Oh-ya-hey, oh-ya-hey,
Let the river carry me,
Oh-ya-hey, oh-ya-hey,
There is still so much to see.

Every river, every sky,
Every living mystery,
Oh-ya-hey, oh-ya-hey...
Heart of Africa.

[Choir]
Oh-ya-hey...
Oh-ya-hey...

[Male]
Stay with me...

[Female]
Aya-ya...

[Together]
Heart of Africa...

[Outro – kora + kalimba + water]
Oh-ya-hey...
Na-ya... na-ya...
Oh-ya-hey...

[Single pan flute phrase]

Africa...