englishSynth-Pop

One Night in Bangkok Lyrics

by Murray Head

22 views • Published on Oct 3, 2026

One Night in Bangkok Lyrics

Bangkok, oriental setting And the city don't know that the city is getting The creme de la creme of the chess world In a show with everything but Yul Brynner Time flies, doesn't seem a minute Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boys 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 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 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 d'ya mean You seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town (Tea, girls, warm and sweet, 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 Bangkok makes a 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 walking next to me 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 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 better go back to your bars, your temples Your massage parlors 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 a 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 walking next to me

Meaning of One Night in Bangkok

“One Night in Bangkok” captures a moment of unexpected exhilaration and disorientation experienced during a chess tournament held in Thailand. The lyrics portray a world where the familiar rules of competition dissolve amidst opulent surroundings – “bars are temples, pearls ain’t free,” suggesting both allure and potential exploitation. Murray Head’s message is one of impulsive indulgence and a temporary shedding of cynicism, as the narrator finds himself captivated by the exotic atmosphere and even a fleeting sense of spiritual connection. Despite acknowledging the inherent risks ("devil walking next to me") and the potential for distraction (“head’s down over your pieces”), he embraces the experience, finding humility and joy amidst the chaos. Ultimately, the song celebrates a transformative moment – “One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble” – highlighting the intoxicating blend of beauty, danger, and pure, unadulterated pleasure.

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