Released from the studio album, The Seventh One (1988).
Toto, a band more traditionally known far more for their musicianship than their lyrics, delivers an interesting tale on this stand-out track from 1988’s The Seventh One: A magazine writer meets and becomes captivated by a South-African girl named Mushanga, while on assignment in South Africa.
That’s not the only thing, however, that helps set “Mushanga” apart from some of their other material. It isn’t merely a great Toto song; it’s a veritable drum clinic from the late Jeff Porcaro. I’d argue from a drumming perspective, the “Mushanga groove” is second only to Jeff’s “Rosanna” shuffle. (Jeff even included a glimpse of how he came up with this groove in an instructional drumming video in the late ’80s.)
Elsewhere, “Mushanga” features in-the-pocket bass playing by Mike Porcaro that segues into the exceptional flamenco-esque guitar by Steve Lukather and some guest steel drumming by Andy Narell. Jim Horn, who took a terrific turn on “You Are the Flower” from Toto’s debut, returns to contribute tasty flute and recorder embellishments that further season this track.
In addition to Jeff Porcaro’s drum clinic, “Mushanga” provided Joseph Williams with an opportunity to show off his vocal range and talents. Starting soft and understated, Joe’s vocals shift into high gear at about 1:03 and build from there into a powerful proclamation: “You smiled though you were suffering; I didn’t understand!” Williams belts it out with seeming ease and undisputed power.
While “Mushanga” is unlike anything Toto recorded before or has recorded since, it is quite definitively Toto and it still works within the context of the rest of The Seventh One, despite being so different from anything else on the album. With so much going on in the song, it’s a musical feast from start to finish.
Credits:
Bass - Mike Porcaro
Drums, Percussion - Jeff Porcaro
Guitar - Steve Lukather
Keyboards - David Paich
Lead Vocals - Joseph Williams
Synthesizer - Steve Porcaro
Backing Vocals - Patti Austin
Percussion - Joe Porcaro
Recorder, Flute - Jim Horn
Steel Drums - Andy Narell
Songwriters - David Paich, Jeff Porcaro
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Lyrics:
I can't forget you my little Mushanga
I keep a place in my heart for you
The days of waiting they keep getting longer
And not a thing I can do
I was a poet, a magazine writer
Sent to report on political views
It was by chance through a lens that I met you
A Capetown girl with no shoes
You were runnin' down the road
I was going your way
I stopped and turned around to lent you my hand
You smiled though you were suffering
I didn't understand, then
You broke into my heart
I saw your eyes and then I knew
You broke into my heart
Like the wind and rain that followed you
You broke into my heart
Had the Lord above forgotten you
You broke in from the start
And all my tears belong to you
Mushanga, oh, Mushanga, oh
I sat and watched as she danced by the fires
Through ancient songs did the tale unfold
They sang of diamonds that came from their mountains
The loss of lives mining white man's gold
I had to leave and go back to Manhattan
Where all my stories are bought and sold
I know the city would surely be saddened
If what I knew could be told
You were runnin' down the road
I was going your way
I stopped and turned around to lent you my hand
You smiled though you were suffering
I didn't understand, then
You broke into my heart
I saw your eyes and then I knew
You broke into my heart
Like the wind and rain that followed you
You broke into my heart
Had the Lord above forgotten you
You broke in from the start
And all my tears belong to you
Mushanga, oh, Mushanga, oh
[Instrumental break]
It's been so long since I last heard your laughter
So many letters and still no news
I hope you find all the things that you're after
You know my heart is with you
You were runnin' down the road
I was going your way
I stopped and turned around to lent you my hand
You smiled though you were suffering
I didn't understand, then
You broke into my heart
I saw your eyes and then I knew
You broke into my heart
Like the wind and rain that followed you
You broke into my heart
Had the Lord above forgotten you
You broke into my heart
I saw your eyes and then I knew
You broke in from the start
And all my tears belong to you
Mushanga, oh, Mushanga, oh [Repeat 3x]
