The second half is pretty self-explanatory: a man who has fallen in love with a dancer/prostitute and they had a falling out.
But the first half, which I find much more interesting, seems to be about a loss of essence. When he sings "the jewel of Africa - what good is a jewel that ain't still precious?", it reminds me of losing what makes this woman beautiful. She's been tainted, perhaps by the profession or the world she lives in, and has lost her sparkle and her essence. "Sending the cheetahs to the tomb" would be trying to find her in her "final resting place" aka a strip club/some motel/etc.
The second half is pretty self-explanatory: a man who has fallen in love with a dancer/prostitute and they had a falling out.
But the first half, which I find much more interesting, seems to be about a loss of essence. When he sings "the jewel of Africa - what good is a jewel that ain't still precious?", it reminds me of losing what makes this woman beautiful. She's been tainted, perhaps by the profession or the world she lives in, and has lost her sparkle and her essence. "Sending the cheetahs to the tomb" would be trying to find her in her "final resting place" aka a strip club/some motel/etc.
Anyway. Love this song.