One Night In Bangkok
Various Artists Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bangkok!
Oriental setting
And the city don't know what the city is getting
The créme de la créme of the chess world in a
Show with everything but Yul Brynner

Time flies doesn't seem a minute
Since the Tyrolean spa has the chess boys in it
All change dom't you know that when you
Play at this level there's no ordianry venue

It's Iceland or the Philippines or Hastings or this place

One night in Bankok and the worlds'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

One town is very like another
When you head's down over your pieces brother

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

One night in Bankok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bankok an the tough guys tumble
Can't bee to careful with your comapny
I can feel the devil walking next to me

Siam's gotta 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 wee use would not excite you

So you'd better go back to your bars
Your temples
Your massage parlours

One night in Bankok and the worlds'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 Bankok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bankok an the tough guys tumble




Can't bee to careful with your comapny
I can feel a devil walking next to me

Overall Meaning

The song "One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head is a unique blend of rock and pop that was released in 1984. The lyrics of the song are a critique of the city of Bangkok, Thailand, and portray it as a place where people can lose themselves in the sinful pleasures of the nightlife. The song is based on the musical "Chess," a Broadway musical that was written by two members of the Swedish group "ABBA," Bjorn Ulvaeus, and Benny Andersson, and Tim Rice.


The song opens with the line "Bangkok! Oriental setting, And the city don't know what the city is getting." These words suggest that the city of Bangkok is difficult to understand for those who have not experienced it before. The lyrics later describe the different venues in Bangkok that offer various forms of entertainment, such as bars, temples, and massage parlors. The song also touches on the subject of chess and how it requires a high level of intellectual capacity to play well.


The lyrics of "One Night in Bangkok" capture the essence of Bangkok's nightlife and the different facets of Thai culture, from the warm and sweet tea girls to the golden cloister temples, and the various chess tournaments held across the world. The song is an excellent example of how music can act as a form of cultural commentary.


Line by Line Meaning

Bangkok!
The singer is excitedly exclaiming the name of the city.


Oriental setting
The set and backdrop of relatable Southeast Asian accents and imagery.


And the city don't know what the city is getting
The city is unaware of what's coming and the unpredictable characters arriving in it.


The créme de la créme of the chess world in a Show with everything but Yul Brynner
The world's top-notch gamblers and chess masters are gathered here to compete in a large-scale upcoming show featuring everyone except Yul Brynner.


Time flies doesn't seem a minute
Time passes quickly, seemingly just in seconds.


Since the Tyrolean spa has the chess boys in it
A spa in Tyrol might have had some of the same competitors previously.


All change don't you know that when you Play at this level there's no ordinary venue
At this elevated level of playing chess, it's standard for venue and location to upgrade and improve.


It's Iceland or the Philippines or Hastings or this place
Other chess-playing locations like Iceland, the Philippines, and Hastings are equal to or lesser than this one.


One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
In one night of being in Bangkok, you have infinite possibilities available to indulge in.


The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
The bars and nightlife are heavenly-like temples, but everything that is available there must be bought with money.


You'll find a god in every golden cloister
In every lavish and ceremonious establishment, one can discover someone fascinating or awe-inspiring.


And if you're lucky then the god's a she
If one is fortunate, they might come across a beautiful and desirable woman in this city.


I can feel an angel sliding up to me
The singer experiences a sense of goodness or positive energy coming towards them.


One town is very like another
Most towns and cities are similar and alike in many ways.


When your head's down over your pieces brother
While the singer is intently focused on chess, life can feel equivalent regardless of one's location.


Tea girls warm and sweet (warm sweet)
The women and girls who serve tea are pleasant and mild-mannered.


Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite
Certain girls could be placed in the highest-ranking section of the resort or establishment.


Get Thai'd you're talking to a tourist Whose every move's among the purest
If one talks to a tourist, they'll learn that they follow values that are unblemished and just.


I get my kicks above the waistline sunshine
The singer enjoys activities that aren't risqué or immoral.


One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
This city can alter someone's ego and personality quickly.


Not much between despair and ecstasy
The outcomes of an experience in this city could be either depressing or euphoric.


One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Even the roughest and toughest people can be taken down or shocked by this city.


Can't be too careful with your company
The singer is wary of who they surround themselves with and how those connections could subsequently influence them.


I can feel the devil walking next to me
The artist senses negative or malevolent energy around them.


Siam's gotta be the witness
Siam is present as an eye-opened witness to this grand chess tournament.


To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness
This tournament is the epitome of mental competitions for intellectual agility and acuity.


This grips me more than would a Muddy old river or reclining Buddha
This event enthralls the singer more than anything else, even a calm river or reclining Buddha statue.


And thank god I'm only watching the game Controlling it
The artist is grateful to not be a player but merely an observer in the game.


I don't see you guys rating The kind of mate I'm contemplating
The artist doesn't believe that anyone else could appreciate or evaluate the type of woman they desire.


I'd let you watch I would invite you But the queens we use would not excite you
The singer would welcome others to watch but knows that the women they use to entertain are not what others would be interested in.


So you'd better go back to your bars Your temples Your massage parlours
The singer suggests that others leave to return to the standard recreational places like bars, temples or massage parlors they could be accustomed to.


One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster
In one night of being in Bangkok, you have infinite possibilities available to indulge in.


The bars are temples but the pearls ain't free
The bars and nightlife are heavenly-like temples, but everything that is available there must be bought with money.


You'll find a god in every golden cloister
In every lavish and ceremonious establishment, one can discover someone fascinating or awe-inspiring.


A little flesh a little history
Each person or event one encounters will have their unique tales and secrets.


I can feel an angel sliding up to me
The artist experiences a sense of goodness or positive energy coming towards them.


One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
This city can alter someone's ego and personality quickly.


Not much between despair and ecstasy
The outcomes of an experience in this city could be either depressing or euphoric.


One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Even the roughest and toughest people can be taken down or shocked by this city.


Can't be too careful with your company
The artist is wary of who they surround themselves with and how those connections could subsequently influence them.


I can feel a devil walking next to me
The artist senses negative or malevolent energy around them.




Writer(s): Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K. Ulvaeus, Tim Rice

Contributed by Wyatt J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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