Night Boat | |
song by Duran Duran | |
---|---|
Released | 15 June 1981 |
Recorded | December 1980 |
Genre | Pop |
Length | 5:25 minutes |
Label | Capitol, EMI |
Writer | Simon Le Bon |
Producer | Colin Thurston |
Duran Duran |
"Night Boat" or "(Waiting for The) Nightboat" is a song by Duran Duran, released on the band's debut album Duran Duran by Capitol-EMI on the 15 June 1981.
About the song[]
The song was originally written by Simon Le Bon, when he was waiting for a ride from the night bus home. Simon Le Bon's lyric book which dates from the late 1970s to the early 1980s features "Night Boat".
It is spooky and atmospheric, unlike most of the other songs on the Duran Duran album. It is instrumental until about two minutes into it.
Music video[]
The video for "Nightboat" was directed by longtime music video director Russell Mulcahy. The video is a mini horror film shot on the Caribbean island side of Antigua.
Before the music starts, a brief bit of dialog includes Le Bon's recitation of part of a speech by Mercutio in William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet.
The band gather in a small beach village as the sun is setting, only to be separated and set upon one by one by zombies, until the ragged night boat arrives to carry Le Bon away. It is possible that the video is a homage to the Italian horror film Zombi 2, with settings and zombies that look very much like the ones in the film.
The video was filmed in May 1982, several months before Michael Jackson began work on the video for his song Thriller, which also featured zombies.
Other appearances[]
DVDs:
Cover versions[]
- American alternative metal band Deftones covered "Night Boat" on their cover album B-Sides & Rarities, released in 2005.
Personnel[]
Duran Duran are:
- Simon Le Bon - vocals
- John Taylor - bass guitar
- Andy Taylor - guitar
- Nick Rhodes - keyboards
- Roger Taylor - drums
Lyrics[]
(..from video version) Look's like someone's coming over? Haya! Having fun? She'll be here soon If.. she comes. Nobody knows what she looks like Who is she anyway? She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes In shape no bigger than an agate-stone On the fore-finger of an alderman, Drawn with a team of little atomies Athwart men’s noses as they lie asleep. Hey, what's wrong? Ah, nothing. Argggh!
Standing On the edge of the quay No lights flashing on the water for me Fog in my mind darkens in my eyes Silently streaming for a distant sound Ripple river yellows Rising for a breath of freedom and drowns Stillness over comes me in the night Listen to the rising water moan I'm waiting Waiting for the night boat (whoa) I'm waiting Waiting for the night boat
(...from video version) Picture the sun (?) The May fly, like the sound of distant (moses?) It lives and dies in a moment.
Shudders all through me shudder away Echo me, Echo me (echo me) Am I alone or is the river alive 'Cause it echoes me, echoes me, Echoes me I'm waiting Waiting for the night boat (whoa) I'm waiting Waiting for the night boat - Waiting (waiting) Waiting for the night boat (whoa) I'm waiting (waiting) Waiting for the night boat Waiting I'm waiting for the night boat (whoa) I'm Waiting Waiting for the night boat... I'm Waiting for the night boat...