1 bangkok (one night in bangko
Chess Lyrics

Bangkok, Oriental setting
The song sets the scene in Bangkok, which is an exotic location with an Oriental touch to it.

And the city don't know that the city is getting
Although the city is hosting a major chess tournament, the citizens are unaware of the significance and the grandeur of the event.

The creme de la creme of the chess world in a
Only the best of the best in the world of chess are participating in the tournament.

Show with everything but Yul Brynner
The event has everything grand and extravagant, except for the presence of Yul Brynner who was a famous actor and performer known for his role in The King and I.

Time flies, doesn't seem a minute
The time is going by quickly, and it feels like only a moment has passed since the tournament began.

Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boys in it
The players were last seen at the Tirolean spa, and it feels like only a short while has passed since then.

All change, don't you know that when you
Everything has changed since then, and one should expect such changes as they participate at this level of the game.

Play at this level there's no ordinary venue
There is no ordinary place for people to play chess at this level, and they can expect some grand and exotic locations.

It's Iceland, or the Philippines, or Hastings, or,
The game can be held at Iceland, the Philippines, Hastings or other such exotic locations.

Or this place!
Or at Bangkok, which is the current location of the tournament.

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
A night in Bangkok can give the players a sense of freedom to explore the city and make the most of their time here.

The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
The bars in Bangkok are exciting and offer many pleasures, but everything comes at a cost.

You'll find a god in every golden cloister
One can find a sense of divinity in the many temples and monuments of Bangkok.

And if you're lucky then the god's a she
One can be grateful to meet a goddess in Bangkok, who are worshipped in many forms and figures.

I can feel an angel sliding up to me
The singer senses a divine presence that is slowly coming closer to him.

One town's very like another
The singer thinks that most cities are alike and have nothing unique to offer.

When your head's down over your pieces, brother
When people are focussed on the game they are playing, they can easily ignore the surroundings of the city.

It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity
The singer is disappointed that people tend to ignore the beautiful city and its offerings while they are busy playing a game.

To be looking at the board, not looking at the city
The players are too focused on their board games while ignoring the city that has a lot to offer.

Whaddya mean? Ya seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town
The singer is challenging the idea that all cities are the same and suggesting that Bangkok is more special than others.

Tea, girls, warm, sweet
Bangkok offers a lot of pleasures like tea, beautiful girls and warm hospitality.

Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite
People can enjoy such pleasures in the luxurious and elegant Somerset Maugham suite.

Get Thai'd! You're talking to a tourist
The singer is urging the listener to try and experience all the incredible things that come with being in Thailand.

Whose every move's among the purest
The listener is someone who is new to the city and is making an authentic effort to get the experience of the city.

I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine
The singer is being cheeky or funny with his comment, suggesting that he is enjoying the cultural or historical aspects of the city more than anything else that it has to offer.

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
A night in Bangkok can be an overwhelming experience that can make people humble and be grateful for the things and experiences they have.

Not much between despair and ecstasy
The experience can also be intense and one can feel the polar emotions of euphoria and hopelessness.

One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Even the toughest of men can fall to the charm and energy of Bangkok.

Can't be too careful with your company
One should be careful with the people they surround themselves with in such a place as Bangkok.

I can feel the devil walking next to me
The singer feels that he is always close to temptation and sin when he is in Bangkok.

Siam's gonna be the witness
Siam, the old name for Thailand, will witness this grand tournament and the many experiences of the people in it.

To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness
The tournament will test the most advanced levels of skill and intelligence that the players possess.

This grips me more than would a
The experience of the tournament and being in Bangkok is more thrilling than staring at a muddy river or a statue of reclining Buddha.

Muddy old river or reclining Buddha
Sights and landmarks that might not be as exciting to an outsider, compared to being at the grand chess tournament in Bangkok.

And thank God I'm only watching the game, controlling it
The singer is grateful that he is not participating in the tournament but is only watching it, thereby having the freedom to explore Bangkok and its many offerings.

I don't see you guys rating
The artist thinks that the listeners do not understand the level of the tournament and the extraordinary experience that it offers.

The kind of mate I'm contemplating
The singer is thinking of the kind of game moves and strategies he is planning to make, irrespective of whether or not others are aware of it.

I'd let you watch, I would invite you
The singer might allow the listeners to watch his game, but warns them that they might not understand the moves he is making or find them interesting.

But the queens we use would not excite you
The singer is suggesting that the listeners might not find the game as interesting as he does if he plays with lesser skilled people or uses the smaller version of chess pieces.

So you better go back to your bars, your temples, your massage parlors
The singer is suggesting that the listeners should go back to enjoying the pleasures of Bangkok like going to bars, temples, or massage parlors as watching him play chess might not be exciting.

A little flesh, a little history
One can get the experience of both modern pleasures and historical aspects of Bangkok on this exciting night.

I can feel an angel sliding up to me
The singer senses that he is about to experience something truly divine and exceptional.