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.
Tags:
one night in bangkok lyricsmurray head lyricsone night in bangkok murray head lyricsmurray head songs
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