Night Boat To Cairo

Album: One Step Beyond... (1979)
Charted: 6
Play Video
  • It's just gone noon, half-past monsoon
    On the banks of the river Nile
    Here comes the boat only half-afloat
    Oarsman grins a toothless smile
    Only just one more to this desolate shore
    Last boat along the river Nile
    Doesn't seem to care, no more wind in his hair
    As he reaches his last half mile
    The oar snaps in his hand before he reaches dry land
    But the sound doesn't deafen his smile
    Just pokes at wet sand with an oar in his hand
    Floats off down the river Nile
    Floats off down the river Nile

    (All aboard, night boat to Cairo!)

    (Night boat to Cairo!) Writer/s: CATHAL JOSEPH SMYTH, CHRISTOPHER JOHN FOREMAN, DANIEL MARK WOODGATE, GRAHAM MCPHERSON, LEE JAY THOMPSON, MARK WILLIAM BEDFORD, MICHAEL BARSON
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Edward Pearce from Ashford, Kent, EnglandMy favorite Madness track. It a combination of ska rhythms, North African music, and a John Barry film score.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Keith Reid of Procol Harum

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.