Under African Skies


written and performed by Paul Simon
from "Graceland."
Transcribed by Erik Strom.



Eb   Ab     Eb/Bb Bb     Eb      Ab    Eb/Bb 
   Joseph's face     was    black   as night

Bb     Eb   Ab     Eb/Bb Bb           Eb  Ab  
   The pale yellow moon  shone in his eyes

Eb/Bb Bb     Eb   Ab  Eb/Bb
         His path was marked

Bb     Eb           Ab           Eb/Bb 
By the stars in the southern hemisphere

Bb        Eb     Ab  Eb/Bb
   And he walked his days

      Bb      Eb   Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  
Under African skies


Eb             Ab       Eb/Bb    Bb       Eb    Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  
   This is the story of how we begin to remember

Eb             Ab       Eb/Bb      Bb          Eb  Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  
   This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein

Eb           Ab       Eb/Bb       Bb           Eb      Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  
   After thc dream of falling and calling your name out

Eb               Ab              Eb/Bb            Bb       Eb  Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  
   These are the roots of rhythm and the roots of rhythm remain


Eb  Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  Eb  Ab  Eb/Bb 

Bb    Eb Ab  Eb/Bb  Bb  Eb    Ab   Eb/Bb 
   In early  mem - 'ry     mission music

Bb     Eb  Ab   Eb/Bb    Bb      Eb  Ab  Eb/Bb 
   Was ringing 'round my nursery door

Bb     Eb   Ab   Eb/Bb  Bb 
I said take this child, Lord

     Eb     Ab  Eb/Bb
From Tucson Ari-zona

Bb           Eb       Ab          Eb/Bb
Give her the wings to fly through harmony

    Bb        Eb            Ab   Eb/Bb Bb  
And she won't bother you no more



Eb             Ab       Eb/Bb    Bb       Eb    Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  
   This is the story of how we begin to remember

Eb             Ab       Eb/Bb      Bb          Eb  Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  
   This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein

Eb           Ab       Eb/Bb       Bb           Eb      Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  
   After thc dream of falling and calling your name out

Eb               Ab              Eb/Bb            Bb       Eb  Ab  
   These are the roots of rhythm and the roots of rhythm remain


Eb/Bb Bb   Eb    Ab    Eb/Bb Bb  Eb Ab  
         Kaoomba oomba oomba oh

Eb/Bb Bb   Eb    Ab    Eb/Bb Bb  Eb Ab  
         Kaoomba oomba oomba oh

Eb/Bb Bb   Eb    Ab    Eb/Bb Bb  Eb Ab  
         Kaoomba oomba oomba o-o-o- o-o-oh

Eb/Bb Bb   Eb    Ab    Eb/Bb Bb  Eb Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  
         Kaoomba oomba oomba oh


Eb   Ab     Eb/Bb    Bb       Eb      Ab     Eb/Bb 
   Joseph's face     was  as  black   as the night

Bb     Eb   Ab     Eb/Bb Bb           Eb  Ab  
   The pale yellow moon  shone in his eyes

Eb/Bb Bb     Eb   Ab  Eb/Bb
         His path was marked

Bb     Eb           Ab           Eb/Bb 
By the stars in the southern hemisphere

Bb        Eb         Ab            Eb/Bb
   And he walked the length of his days

      Bb      Eb   Ab  Eb/Bb Bb  
Under African skies


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