It's nearly Africa
XTC · English Settlement [1982]
Chant your spirit free;
Rush to greet truth like a dart
Shake your bag o'bones,
Shake your bag o'bones.
That's not traffic roar,
That's a leopard in your heart,
Shake your bag o'bones,
Shake your bag o'bones.
Go tell your stale friends,
Go tell false prophets,
And drug traffickers,
Not to try to push our bodies any faster
We're dancing with disaster,
And the first will be the last,
It's nearly africa,
Oh-oh,
It's nearly africa,
Oh-oh,
Any day now,
Any day, now now
Unplug future plans;
Finger-paint the sun on you,
Shake your bag o'bones,
Shake your bag o'bones,
Mend your missing links,
I think trust should be the glue,
Shake your bag o'bones,
Shake your bag o'bones,
Go tell your warboys,
Go tell all leeches,
And blind panickers,
Not to try to push your bodies any faster,
We're dancing with disaster,
And the first will be the last,
It's nearly africa,
Oh-oh,
It's nearly africa,
Oh-oh,
Any day, now
Any day, now now
Our civilisation car is running wild,
Who did you give the wheel to?
The fat man driving us over the edge of the nearest cliff-face,
Is he the same God that I've seen you kneel to?
It's nearly Africa
It's nearly Africa stands as a standout track from XTC's 1982 album, English Settlement. During this period, the band was refining their signature blend of new wave energy and intricate art-rock songwriting. The recording captures the group's ability to balance whimsical melodies with sharp, observational lyrics, a hallmark of their mid-career output. English Settlement itself represents a pivotal moment in their discography, showcasing a move toward more complex arrangements while maintaining the accessibility that defined their earlier work. This song exemplifies the band's knack for crafting memorable hooks within a framework of sophisticated production. As part of a rich catalogue of recordings, it remains a testament to XTC's enduring influence on the alternative rock genre and their commitment to musical experimentation throughout the early 1980s.