Heritage
What is Africa to me:
Copper sun or scarlet sea,
Jungle star or jungle track,
Strong bronzed men, or regal black
Women from whose loins I sprang
When the birds of Eden sang?
One three centuries removed
From the scenes his fathers loved,
Spicy grove, cinnamon tree,
What is Africa to me?
So I lie, who all day long
Want no sound except the song
Sung by wild barbaric birds
Goading massive jungle herds,
Juggernauts of flesh that pass
Trampling tall defiant grass
Where young forest lovers lie,
Plighting troth beneath the sky.
So I lie, who always hear,
Though I cram against my ear
Both my thumbs, and keep them there,
Great drums throbbing through the air.
So I lie, whose fount of pride,
Dear distress, and joy allied,
Is my somber flesh and skin,
With the dark blood dammed within
Like great pulsing tides of wine
That, I fear, must burst the fine
Channels of the chafing net
Where they surge and foam and fret.
Africa?A book one thumbs
Listlessly, till slumber comes.
Unremembered are her bats
Circling through the night, her cats
Crouching in the river reeds,
Stalking gentle flesh that feeds
By the river brink; no more
Does the bugle-throated roar
Cry that monarch claws have leapt
From the scabbards where they slept.
Silver snakes that once a year
Doff the lovely coats you wear,
Seek no covert in your fear
Lest a mortal eye should see;
What's your nakedness to me?
Here no leprous flowers rear
Fierce corollas in the air;
Here no bodies sleek and wet,
Dripping mingled rain and sweat,
Tread the savage measures of
Jungle boys and girls in love.
What is last year's snow to me,
Last year's anything?The tree
Budding yearly must forget
How its past arose or set
Bough and blossom, flower, fruit,
Even what shy bird with mute
Wonder at her travail there,
Meekly labored in its hair.
One three centuries removed
From the scenes his fathers loved,
Spicy grove, cinnamon tree,
What is Africa to me?
So I lie, who find no peace
Night or day, no slight release
From the unremittent beat
Made by cruel padded feet
Walking through my body's street.
Up and down they go, and back,
Treading out a jungle track.
So I lie, who never quite
Safely sleep from rain at night--
I can never rest at all
When the rain begins to fall;
Like a soul gone mad with pain
I must match its weird refrain;
Ever must I twist and squirm,
Writhing like a baited worm,
While its primal measures drip
Through my body, crying, "Strip!
Doff this new exuberance.
Come and dance the Lover's Dance!"
In an old remembered way
Rain works on me night and day.
Quaint, outlandish heathen gods
Black men fashion out of rods,
Clay, and brittle bits of stone,
In a likeness like their own,
My conversion came high-priced;
I belong to Jesus Christ,
Preacher of humility;
Heathen gods are naught to me.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
So I make an idle boast;
Jesus of the twice-turned cheek,
Lamb of God, although I speak
With my mouth thus, in my heart
Do I play a double part.
Ever at Thy glowing altar
Must my heart grow sick and falter,
Wishing He I served were black,
Thinking then it would not lack
Precedent of pain to guide it,
Let who would or might deride it;
Surely then this flesh would know
Yours had borne a kindred woe.
Lord, I fashion dark gods, too,
Daring even to give You
Dark despairing features where,
Crowned with dark rebellious hair,
Patience wavers just so much as
Mortal grief compels, while touches
Quick and hot, of anger, rise
To smitten cheek and weary eyes.
Lord, forgive me if my need
Sometimes shapes a human creed.
All day long and all night through,
One thing only must I do:
Quench my pride and cool my blood,
Lest I perish in the flood.
Lest a hidden ember set
Timber that I thought was wet
Burning like the dryest flax,
Melting like the merest wax,
Lest the grave restore its dead.
Not yet has my heart or head
In the least way realized
They and I are civilized.
poem by Countee Cullen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
The Pride To Be An African
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa of which everybody imitates
My Africa of which culture exceed the Greek
My Africa of which everyone is jealous of
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa of enormous natural endowment
My Africa of Non-Violence
My Africa of Amorous populates
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa of patriot men and women
My Africa of shelter and vintage hospitality
My Africa of great ancestral mythology
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa that bore fruits of black diamonds
My Africa which is a gift to the whole world
My Africa of great leadership
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa of learned youths
My Africa of a bright generation
My Africa true tradition
My Africa My Africa My Africa
My Africa of black pageant women
My Africa of strong men
My Africa from who we all hail from
For every African deserves a Nobel Prize in
Existence.
poem by Fasan paul
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Lion II
I am the lion of Africa!
But, living in the jungle of peace;
I do spring out with my tail for many to follow,
However, i do speak tendering words with my lover.
The lion!
Life is guided by the muse of love;
And like where peace, unity and joy do live.
Sow on my land and enjoy the fruits of your labour! !
For, i am living in the jungle of love;
And, i want to care for you.
I am living in the jungle of peace with lot of visions,
In the very place of mystery!
But, with a secret journey to reach out to your heart;
For, i am the lion of Africa and,
I am ready to share my jungle with you.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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No Place To Run
Joey rides the subway
Fast from east to west
On the street hes number one
Some say that hes the best
Got something going on
In a honkey tonk down town
He is expected
Word has got around
The other-side of midnight
Or in the combat zone
Meeting no resistance
Joe stands alone
Night riders prowling
Out into the night
Theres someone else out there
And theyre looking for a fight
Between the rain soaked buildings
A distant whistle blows
Fate lies in waiting
Its hand it never shows
* heart beating like a drum
Out in this wasteland
And theres no place baby for us to run
(in) jungle land (baby)
Jungle land, jungle land
Jungle land. jungle land
Under the railway arches
Someone calls his name
Streams out the words
Come on boy this aint no game
One flash of bright cold stsel
In a strangers hand
Kids dance away like shadows
Theres no one to command
Joeys got his name
Pairited on the wells
On the side of buses
Subways and tenement halls
(repeat *)
Jungle land, jungle land
Jungle land, jungle land
Jungle land, jungle land
Jungle land, jungle land
song performed by by Ufo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Spring Running
Man goes to Man! Cry the challenge through the Jungle!
He that was our Brother goes away.
Hear, now, and judge, O ye People of the Jungle--
Answer, who can turn him--who shall stay?
Man goes to Man! He is weeping in the Jungle:
He that was our Brother sorrows sore!
Man goes to Man! (Oh, we loved him in the Jungle!)
To the Man-Trail where we may not follow more.
poem by Rudyard Kipling
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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It's A Jungle Out There
It's a jungle out there
Disorder and confusion everywhere
No one seems to care
Well I do
Hey, who's in charge here?
It's a jungle out there
Poison in the very air we breathe
Do you know what's in the water that you drink?
Well I do, and it's amazing
People think I'm crazy, 'cause I worry all the time
If you paid attention, you'd be worried too
You better pay attention
Or this world we love so much might just kill you
I could be wrong now, but I don't think so!
'Cause there's a jungle out there.
It's a jungle out there.
song performed by by Randy Newman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Welcome To The Jungle
Welcome to the jungle, jim
Welcome to the jungle, jim
Welcome to it, jim
Welcome to the jungle, anne
Welcome to the jungle, dan
Welcome to it, john
Think youre gonna like
I think youre gonna like it
Once youve given the jungle a chance
Think youre gonna like it
Once youve given it a chance
In the jungle
In the jungle
In the jungle
Now you will be with me
Put your hand in my hand
Lift up the rock and see all the things
That share the jungle with us
Welcome to the
Welcome to the
Trees
Trees
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face
Didnt really like
I didnt really like
The last time when you pushed me in the face
Didnt really like
The last time when you pushed my face
In the jungle
In the jungle
In the jungle
Now you will be with me
Put your hand in my hand
Lift up the rock and see all the things
That live in the jungle with us
Put your hand near the bug
We are so much like them
See how the bug reacts to your hand
In the same way as I do
Notes
The dial-a-song version has substantial differences:
Welcome to the jungle, jim
Welcome to the jungle, jim
Welcome to it, jim
Welcome to the jungle, anne
Welcome to the jungle, dan
Welcome to it, john
Think youre gonna like
I think youre gonna like it
Once youve given the jungle a chance
Think youre gonna like it
Once youve given it a chance
In the jungle
In the jungle
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle, diane
I think youre gonna like your brown safari hat
Welcome to the trees
Welcome to the trees
Welcome to the jungle, diane
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face
Didnt really like
I didnt really like
The last time when you pushed me in the face
Didnt really like
The last time when you pushed my face
In the jungle
In the jungle
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle, pierre
I think youre gonna like your brown safari hat
Welcome to the trees
Welcome to the trees
And welcome to the jungle, pierre
Jungle, jungle
Jungle, jungle
Jungle, jungle, jungle, jungle
Jungle, jungle, jungle, jungle
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face
Didnt really like
I didnt really like
The jungle once youve given it a chance
Didnt really like it
Once youve given it a chance
In the jungle
In the jungle
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle, diane
Im glad you didnt like your brown safari hat
Welcome to the trees
Welcome to the trees
And welcome to the jungle, diane
song performed by by They Might Be Giants
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In The Jungle
in the jungle you can sleep
with the commandments at your feet
where the devil lays his hand
you don't even need to think
I'm tearin holes without a sink
but I know just where I stand
lines from the story you put before me
I don't know what to choose
under the oak tree tin all around me
I don't know what to prove
yeah she felt you felt like hell
in the jungle you're in the jungle
you're in the jungle that's you
in the jungle you're in the jungle
you're in the jungle ooooooohhh
and I'll be waitin for a hit yeah
ain't gonna seem fair tonight
and I'll keep havin other fits yeah
because it makes me feel alright
alright alright ooohhh ooohhh yeah right ooohhh ooohhh yeah
so if you should need a hand
write down the address of the land
but I'm runnin out of time
I'll tell you when it's time to leave
you're never gonna get clean
song performed by by The Vines from Highly Evolved
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Loud And Clear
One in the jungle
Say lord have mercy!
Loud and clear
Lyrics like that, lyrics amaze
They could never ever pain
Wanna get it in hot sunny spain?
That's how I like it in the rain
Lyrics like that, lyrics amaze
They could never ever pain
Wanna get it in hot sunny spain?
That how I like it in the rain
Yeah!!
Loud and clear
Loud and clear
Jungle no wet, jungle no play
Jungle has face that don't fear the way
And make your move body
Your body like me say
Like me say with no deelay
Get on the dancefloor
Move your body with no deelay
Right about now jungle this is the way
But thing are going on Jungle today
Jungle no wet, Jungle no play...
To east, to the west, to north, to the south
Jungle is Forever and they can't run way out
To east, to the west, to north, to the south
Jungle is Forever and they can't run way out
That how i like it in the rain
Loud and Clear
Loud and Clear
Candyman for the microphone
And I run up the mordor
With the badford dj ride the rythm
Here up's we go for
When we joied the loop in the rain
You and me sing out
Jungle is the remedy
Jungle is the don't you ever
Seen it fight that do
song performed by by Scooter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Its A Jungle Out There
(pilger, polen, moloney)
Producer for bonnie: jim steinman
I hear you call it civilization
Its a jungle out there
Its a jungle out there
Unending nights of temptation
Its a jungle out there
But you just dont care
Each night you dress up to kill them
Down at the watering hole
You stalk your prey with high fashion
With self control, you play the roll
The lonely and the lonely heart hunters
The neon love life, oh it cuts like a knife
I hear you call it civilization
Its a jungle out there
Its a jungle out there
The sounds and shadows surround you
Youre swinging vine to vine
Below the nightmare it gathers
Its like a jungle, at feeding time
Clawing through the crowd each night
Oh you set your trap so carefully, a trophy for your wall
Someone has you in their sights
You are both the hunters and the prey, no winners at all
I hear you call it civilization
Its ajungle out there
Its a jungle out there
Unending nights of temptation
Its ajungle out there
But you just dont care
Unending nights of temptation
Its a jungle out there
Its a jungle out there
Civilization! oh!
Its ajungle out there
You call it civilization
Its a jungle out there
Its a jungle out there
song performed by by Bonnie Tyler
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Jungle Man
Deep inside the soul hole
Of Mother Earth
Father Time came
With a supersonic supersonic burst
His soul monkey sperm tribes
Racing to be first
Her ruby fruit jungle
Givin' bush baby bush baby birth
The baby was a boy
But I think what stunned her
Is that this bare breasted baby
Was a baby boy boy boy boy wonder
Crackin' from his thumb bone
Came thelonious thunder
Fill the sky with hellfire
From way down down down under
I am a jungle man
I am a jungle man
I am a jungle man
I get all the bush I can
Erupting from the ground
In hollywood he glowed
His jungle turned to concrete
His funk bone bone bone bone to stone
Like a full blown volcano
I must let it be known
That through this boy's vein
Atomic lava blood flows and flows
His soul shocking sounds
They make the mountains moan
This boy's become a man
It's time to take take take
Take the throne
I am a jungle man
I am a jungle man
I am a jungle man
I get all the bush I can
song performed by by Red Hot Chili Peppers from Freaky Styley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Africa
Black skins immaculate souls
we are Africans, the pride
of the creator, from kilimanjaro
he veiw the world, that makes
Africa the continent of God.
we are Gold mix with diamond
the wind from the west ship us
out now we are sky, never
desolated we are African.
The ego of mama africa possess
our blood so our tails are far
from dust. Beauty is black so
we are the face of the earth the
home of the seven rivers, the
voices of fascinating creatures
pin the jungle made us believe
that black is the is the race and
Africa the root, in unison we beat
our chest to that.We are Africans.
poem by Enyinwa Okechukwu Enyinwa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Africa My Africa
In Africa the lion is no more
The jungle not his home
For he now opens a door
The corridors of power he is seen to roam
In Africa the monkey has left his tree
In Africa the snake no longer hides in the grass
In Africa bird and beast are all but gone
in africa all the peoples mizz there queen cause they queen have go american and the queen is me
poem by Kemi Moshood
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Deep In The Jungle
Haumbambayahumbambaheyahumbambayahe
You better start thinking, this is not a girl
Believe in yourself then you can make this a nice world
This is the place, that we're livin'in
Enjoy your life, be fair and you will win
Don't fake the truth and say there is nothing
Cause you know so well, there is something
I play no games, I don't tell no lies
I'm in a deep deep jungle, I can see it in your eyes
Haumbambayahumbambaheyahumbambayahe
I'm in the jungle
Haumbambayahumbambaheyahumbambayahe
I'm in the deep deep jungle
Haumbambayahumbambaheyahumbambayahe
I'm in the jungle
Haumbambayahumbambaheyahumbambayahe
I'm in the deep deep jungle
It was great, you know what I mean
I opened my eyes and it was a dream
It's dream, what I'm talking about
From left to the right and that's all without
Without pain, no gain another hit no brain
And by the way the shame it wouldn't be the same
I play no games, I don't tell no lies
I'm in a deep deep jungle, I can see it in your eyes
song performed by by DJ Bobo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Concrete Jungle
No sun will shine in my day today
The hich yellow moon won't come out to play
I said darkness has covered my light
And the stage my day into night
Where is the love to be found
Won't someone tell me
Cause life must be somewhere to be found
Instead of concrete jungle
Where the living is harder
Concrete jungle
Man you got to do your best
No chains around my feet
But I'm not free
I know I am bound here in captivity
yeh-I've never known the happiness
I've never known what sweet caress is
Still-I'll be always laughing like a clown
Won't somebody help me 'cause
I've got to pick myself from off the ground
In this ya concrete jungle
I said what do you got for me now
Concrete jungle ah won't you let me be now
song performed by by Bob Marley from Catch A Fire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Welcome To The Jungle
Welcome to the jungle of love,
Ex-Men and Ex-Women!
Welcome to the jungle of love,
Ex-Boyfriends and Ex-Girlfriends!
For you are welcome to learn and improve on your past;
And like the Maya Calendar in the land of your muse.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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We rolled in the jungle
we rolled in the jungle
like a gagster
if you had seen me with a myke
you would call me master
if you had seen me with a gun
you would call me gunster
if you had seen me in the club
you would call me clubster
if you had seen me in the gang
you would call me gangster
we rolled we rolled we rolled
we rolled in the jungle
like a gangster
i stepped into the gang
they called me gangster
i reached for a bottle of star
they called me master
i am the brightest star
though the smallest of the stars
but the brightest of the stars
but before i grabbed the star
i had a serious scar
and without the gangsters
am still the real star
and so we rolled in the jungle
like a gangster
poem by Micheal Udenyi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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George Of The Jungle
George, george, george of the jungle
Strong as he can be
Ahhh
Watch out for that tree
George, george, george of the jungle
Lives a life thats free
Ahhh
Watch out for that tree
When he gets in scrapes
When he makes his escapes
With the help of his friend
An ape named ape
Then away hell schlep
On his elephant shep
While fella and ursula
Stay in step with
George, george, george of the jungle
Friend to you and me
Ahhh
Watch out for that tree
Watch out for that (ahhh) (oooh) tree
George, george, george of the jungle
Friend to you and me
song performed by by Weird Al Yankovic
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Whirlpool
Welcome to the jungle, Jim
Welcome to the jungle, Jim
Welcome to it, Jim
Welcome to the jungle, Anne
Welcome to the jungle, Dan
Welcome to it, John
Think you're gonna like
I think you're gonna like it
Once you've given the jungle a chance
Think you're gonna like it
Once you've given it a chance
In the Jungle
Now you will be with me
Put your hand in my hand
Lift up the rock and see all the things
That share the jungle with us
Welcome to the
Welcome to the TREES!...TREES!
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face again
Push me in the face
Didn't really like
I didn't really like
The last time when you pushed me in the face
Didn't really like the last time when you pushed my face
In the Jungle
Now you will be with me
Put your hand in my hand
Lift up the rock and see all the things
That live in the jungle with us
Put your hand near the bug
We are so much like them
See how the bug reacts to your hand
In the same way as I do
song performed by by They Might Be Giants
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Royal tiger of India
Stressful chattering of birds,
monkeys jumping from one branch to another.,
fluttering wings of birds,
running around of animals,
a sudden unrest in the jungle,
the news spread like forest fire,
there comes the majestic
yellow and black striped beast,
walked slowly on the dried leaves,
the best catwalk if one could luckily see,
the bold and the beautiful,
its the tiger on the scene,
the Royal tiger of India indeed,
unruffeld by noise around.,
unquestionable the king of jungle,
the wildest cat on earth,
unsocial solitary beast,
make every soul to fear for life,
be it a bird, animal, man or a beast.
poem by renu Vig sharma sharma
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Jungle Line
Rousseau walks on trumpet paths
Safaris to the heart of all that jazz
Through I bars and girders-through wires and pipes
The mathematic circuits of the modern nights
Through huts, through harlem, through jails and gospel pews
Through the class on park and the trash on vine
Through europe and the deep deep heart of dixie blue
Through savage progress cuts the jungle line
In a low-cut blouse she brings the beer
Rousseau paints a jungle flower behind her ear
Those cannibals-of shuck and jive
Theyll eat a working girl like her alive
With his hard-edged eye and his steady hand
He paints the cellar full of ferns and orchid vines
And he hangs a moon above a five-piece band
He hangs it up above the jungle line
The jungle line, the jungle line
Screaming in a ritual of sound and time
Floating, drifting on the air-conditioned wind
And drooling for a taste of something smuggled in
Pretty women funneled through valves and smoke
Coy and bitchy, wild and fine
And charging elephants and chanting slaving boats
Charging, chanting down the jungle line
Theres a poppy wreath on a soldiers tomb
Theres a poppy snake in a dressing room
Poppy poison-poppy tourniquet
It slithers away on brass like mouthpiece spit
And metal skin and ivory birds
Go steaming up to rousseaus vines
They go steaming up to brooklyn bridge
Steaming, steaming, steaming up the jungle line
song performed by by Joni Mitchell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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