Introduction
What About Livingstone? – A Song About Forgotten Explorers
ABBA’s “What About Livingstone,” released in 1974 on their album Waterloo, is a catchy pop tune with a surprisingly thought-provoking message. The song throws light on the public’s tendency to become quickly absorbed by new advancements while forgetting the sacrifices made by those who paved the way.
Livingstone, referred to in the song, is none other than David Livingstone, the famous Scottish missionary and explorer. Livingstone spent decades exploring Central and Southern Africa, mapping vast regions of the continent, and advocating for the abolition of the slave trade. His perseverance in the face of immense hardship is well documented.
The song’s protagonist encounters people consumed by the latest news – “they’re gonna go flying way up to the moon now.” This reflects the era’s excitement about the space race. However, the protagonist questions the priorities of a society so easily distracted by the “new” while forgetting the groundwork laid by past explorers like Livingstone.
“What About Livingstone?” is a call to remember the explorers, inventors, and pioneers whose sacrifices and achievements, though sometimes overshadowed by newer advancements, laid the foundation for future progress. The song is a reminder that celebrating the present shouldn’t come at the expense of forgetting the giants whose shoulders we stand on.