One Night In Bangok
Chess Lyrics

Bangkok, Oriental setting
Bangkok, a city in Thailand with an Eastern culture

And the city don't know that the city is getting
The city of Bangkok is unaware that some of the best chess players in the world are coming to compete

The creme de la creme of the chess world in a
The very best chess players are going to Bangkok for this competition

Show with everything but Yul Brynner
The show has everything except the actor Yul Brynner, who has starred in Thai-themed musicals

Time flies, doesn't seem a minute
Time has passed quickly and the chess players have arrived in Bangkok before they know it

Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boys in it
It feels like just yesterday that the chess players were at the Tirolean spa for a tournament

All change, don't you know that when you
Things have changed a lot since the last tournament, and the chess players should know that at this level of competition, the venue will always be extraordinary

Play at this level there's no ordinary venue
At a high level of competition like this, there will be no ordinary or typical venue, they will always be special or unique

It's Iceland or the Philippines, or Hastings, or, Or this place!
In past competitions, the venue has been in Iceland, the Philippines, Hastings or like this place in Bangkok

One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
Just one night in Bangkok can make you feel like you can conquer anything, the world is at your feet

The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
In Bangkok, bars are sacred places, but drinks and other pleasures must be paid for

You'll find a god in every golden cloister
You can find something divine in every beautiful and inviting place in Bangkok

And if you're lucky then the god's a she
If you're fortunate enough, you may find a woman that's divine

I can feel an angel sliding up to me
The singer can feel like he is being blessed

One town's very like another
Many towns and cities in the world can be very similar to each other

When your head's down over your pieces, brother
When you're focused on the chess game, you may not notice the unique qualities that make a place special

It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity
It's regrettable that one would miss out on experiencing a new place by remaining focused on the game of chess

To be looking at the board, not looking at the city
To miss out on the unique culture and experiences offered by different cities while only looking at a chessboard is a waste

Whaddya mean? Ya seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town
To someone who is only focused on chess and has seen many cities, they may all begin to look the same

Tea, girls, warm, sweet
The artist welcomes the warm and welcoming culture of Bangkok along with its beautiful women and tea

Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite
Some of the players are staying in the Somerset Maugham suite, a luxurious residence named after the famous author who wrote about his experiences in Southeast Asia

Get Thai'd! You're talking to a tourist
The artist is encouraging others to embrace the Thai culture and to realize that they are tourists in this foreign country

Whose every move's among the purest
The singer is a pure and respectful tourist, with good intentions and honest in his demeanor

I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine
The artist is not interested in visiting questionable establishments and is content with a fun and interesting experience that doesn't involve anything questionable

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Even the most dedicated and confident person can be humbled by Bangkok after only one night

Not much between despair and ecstasy
The emotions between regretful and overjoyed are just a small step apart

One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Even the roughest and most confident individuals can be taken down and humbled by Bangkok after just one night

Can't be too careful with your company
The artist is wise and cautious about who he spends his time with in Bangkok

I can feel the devil walking next to me
The artist feels both blessed and tempted while in Bangkok

Siam's gonna be the witness
Siam (an older name for Thailand) will be the location where a highly skilled cerebral challenge will take place

To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness
The competition will test the chess players' intelligence and problem-solving skills to the ultimate degree

This grips me more than would a
The competition is highly gripping and exciting compared to looking at a typical visual or cultural sight like an old river or Buddha statue

Muddy old river, or reclining Buddha
A lifeless and common sight like an old river or Buddha statue would not excite the artist, but the cerebral challenge of the competition does

And thank God I'm only watching the game, controlling it
The artist is relieved that he is only observing and controlling the chess game rather than being a player who experiences the stress and pressure of competing

I don't see you guys rating
The singer does not believe the other people there know what makes a good chess game

The kind of mate I'm contemplating
The artist believes he is working on a plan to win the competition

I'd let you watch, I would invite you
The singer is willing to allow others to see his plan to win the game, even inviting them to watch

But the queens we use would not excite you
The singer believes that even though he is willing to share his plan with others, they will not understand the complexity or excitement of the game

So you better go back to your bars, your temples, your massage parlors
The singer suggests that people who don't understand the intricacies of chess may prefer to return to typical pleasures like bars, temples, and massage parlors

And if you're lucky then the god's a she
If you're lucky while in Bangkok, you may find a beautiful woman to spend your time with

A little flesh, a little history
The good things about Bangkok include its beautiful women and rich cultural history

I can feel an angel sliding up to me
The singer feels like he is being blessed once again