It Takes a Whole Village

Papa's out in the field
Mama's down at the well
Grandma's away at the market
with matoke to sell
A neighbor is watching the children
They're playing out on the park
An old man comes along and tells them a story
Always makes them laugh
He says, "when you're down by the river,
watch out for those crocodiles"
You see
In Africa, the old saying goes
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
Inachukua kijiji kizima kumlea mtoto
Inachukua kijiji kizima kumlea mtoto

The world is a village now
And it isn't very large
Struggle just for survival
Everyone's family is working so hard
and who is raising the children
in front of the big TV
and helping them to understand
everything that they see
who's going to sit down with them
and listen for a while
You see
In Africa, the old saying goes
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
Give them a drink
Tell them a tale
Teach them to read
and hammer a nail
Uncles and aunties
Grandparents and teachers
Sisters, big brothers,
pastors, shopkeepers
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
It takes a whole village to raise village to raise a child
It takes a whole village