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Dry Your Tears,
Afrika

(1997)

from AMISTAD

Music by John Williams
Inspired by the poem "Dry Your Tears, Afrika!" by Bernard Dadié (1967)
The lyrics are in Mende, a West African language spoken primarily in Liberia and Sierra Leone

1.

Dry Your Tears, Afrika (4:18)
performed by Pamella Dillard (mezzo soprano) and a Children's Chorus
from the Soundtrack Album

2.

Dry Your Tears, Afrika (Reprise) (3:37)
Children's Chorus
from the Soundtrack Album

3.

Dry Your Tears, Afrika (Reprise) (3:27)
Poem read by Rita Dove
from "Excerpts from 7 for Luck and other Recordings"

4.

Dry Your Tears, Afrika (Live Rehearsal) (14:23)
Children's Chorus
from "Hollywood Bowl Rehearsal & Rare Tracks"

Lyrics

Dry Your Tears, Afrika

Dry Your Tears, Afrika
Your children come back to you
Out of the storms and squalls
Of fruitless journeys

---------------------------

Bee ya ma yee ah,
bee len geisia bee gammah.
Bee ya ma yee ah,
bee len geisia tee yamanga.

Baa wo, kah ung biah woie yaa.
Baa wo, kah ung biah woie yah, yah.
Oo be ya ma yee ah,
bee len geisia tee yamanga.

Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh, Afrika.

Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh, Afrika.

Bee ya ma yee ah,
bee len geisia tee yamanga.
Mu ya mah mu yeh,
bee len geisia bee gammah.

Oo bee ya mah yee ah
Bee len geisia tee yamanga.
Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh, Afrika.

Mu ya mah mu yah,
Mu ya mah mu yah,
Mu ya mah mu yeh, Afrika.

Be ya mah yee ah,
bee len geisia tee yamanga.
Be ya mah yee ah,
bee len geisia bee gammah.
Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh, Afrika.

Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh, Afrika.

Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh,
Mu ya mah mu yeh, Afrika.

© MH