One Night In Bangkok Lyrics Meaning & Facts By (Singles). You Can Watch This Video On YouTube While The Lyrics Are Written By Murray Head Bangkok. The Music Track Was Released Date :March 1, 2024
The lyrics are from the song “One Night in Bangkok,” which is a track from the concept album and musical “Chess,” written by Tim Rice, Björn Ulvaeus, and Benny Andersson. The lyrics recite the gests of a chess player in Bangkok, furnishing a pictorial and kindly sarcastic depiction of the megacity and the world of competitive chess.
Explanation of Intro
The lyrics recite the gests of a chess player in Bangkok, furnishing a pictorial and kindly sarcastic depiction of the megacity and the world of competitive chess.
[Verse 1]
Bangkok, Oriental setting
The city don’t know what the city is getting
The crème de la crème of the chess world
In a show with everything but Yul Brynner
Time flies, doesn’t seem a minute
Since the Tyrolean Spa had the chess boards in it
All change, don’t you know that when you
Play at this level, there’s no ordinary venue?
It’s Iceland, or the Philippines, or Hastings, or
Or this place
Explanation of Verse 1
The lyrics open with a description of Bangkok as an exotic and mysterious setting. The city is depicted as unaware of the significance of hosting a high-stakes chess competition. The reference to “the crème de la crème of the chess world” suggests that top-tier players are involved. The mention of “everything but Yul Brynner” is a nod to the actor known for his role in “The King and I,” a musical set in Bangkok.
[Chorus]
One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster
The bars are temples, but the pearls ain’t free
You’ll find a god in every golden cloister
And if you’re lucky, then the god’s a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me
Explanation of Chorus
The chorus paints a picture of the vibrant nightlife in Bangkok. The city is portrayed as a place where anything can happen, with bars being compared to temples and the suggestion that one can find a god in every corner. The mention of pearls not being free alludes to the cost of indulgence. The line “I can feel an angel sliding up to me” hints at the allure and temptation of the city.
[Verse 2]
One town’s very like another
When your head’s down over your pieces, brother
It’s a drag, it’s a bore, it’s really such a pity
To be looking at the board, not looking at the city
What do ya mean?
You’ve seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town
Tea girls, warm and sweet (Warm, sweet)
Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite
Get Thai’d! You’re talking to a tourist
Whose every move’s among the purest
I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine
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[Chorus]
One night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can’t be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walkin’ next to me
Explanation of Verse 2
This verse explores the monotony of traveling chess players, where one town seems much like another. The protagonist laments the distraction of the chessboard from the city’s sights. The reference to “Get Thai’d” plays on the word “tied” and suggests getting entangled in the Thai experience.
[Verse 3]
Siam’s gonna be the witness
To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness
This grips me more than would a muddy old river
Or reclining Buddha
And thank God I’m only watching the game, controlling it
I don’t see you guys rating the kind of mate I’m contemplating
I’d let you watch, I would invite you
But the queens we use would not excite you
So you’d better go back to your bars
Your temples, your massage parlours
Explanation of Verse 3
The third verse discusses Siam (the former name for Thailand) witnessing the ultimate test of intellectual prowess – a chess match. The narrator expresses relief at merely watching the game and not being a part of it. There’s a playful reference to the queens in chess, implying that the romantic interests of the chess players might not be as captivating as the game itself.
[Chorus]
One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster
The bars are temples, but the pearls ain’t free
You’ll find a god in every golden cloister
A little flesh, a little history
I can feel an angel sliding up to me
One night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can’t be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walkin’ next to me
Explanation of Chorus
The final chorus repeats the transformative nature of one night in Bangkok, emphasizing the fine line between despair and ecstasy.
OVERALL
“One Night in Bangkok” is a lively musical journey, blending satirical observations of the chess world with a vivid portrayal of Bangkok’s nightlife, all set to an infectious melody.
