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Marrakesh Express Lyrics
Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes
Traveling the train through clear Moroccan skies
Ducks and pigs and chickens call
Animal carpet wall to wall
American ladies five-foot tall in blue
Sweeping cobwebs from the edges of my mind
Had to get away to see what we could find
Hope the days that lie ahead
Bring us back to where they've led
Listen not to what's been said to you
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
They're taking me to Marrakesh
All aboard the train, all aboard the train
I've been saving all my money just to take you there
I smell the garden in your hair
Take the train from Casablanca going south
Blowing smoke rings from the corners of my mouth
Colored cottons hang in the air
Charming cobras in the square
Striped djellebas we can wear at home Well, let me hear you now
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
They're taking me to Marrakesh
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
They're taking me to Marrakesh
All on board the train, all on board the train
All on board
Traveling the train through clear Moroccan skies
Ducks and pigs and chickens call
Animal carpet wall to wall
American ladies five-foot tall in blue
Had to get away to see what we could find
Hope the days that lie ahead
Bring us back to where they've led
Listen not to what's been said to you
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
They're taking me to Marrakesh
All aboard the train, all aboard the train
I smell the garden in your hair
Blowing smoke rings from the corners of my mouth
Colored cottons hang in the air
Charming cobras in the square
Striped djellebas we can wear at home Well, let me hear you now
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
They're taking me to Marrakesh
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
They're taking me to Marrakesh
All on board the train, all on board the train
All on board
Song Info
Submitted by
crash&burn On Mar 13, 2005
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According to wikipedia . . .
"Marrakesh Express" was written by Graham Nash during his final years as a member of the English rock band, The Hollies, of which he was a member from its formation in 1962 until 1968. The band rejected the song as not commercial enough, but it found a home with Nash's new band Crosby, Stills and Nash.[3]
Nash recalled his inspiration for the song occurring during a Moroccan vacation he took in 1966. On the trip, Nash traveled by train from Casablanca to Marrakesh. He began the journey in First Class, surrounded by people he found to be uninteresting—as he described it, they were all "ladies with blue hair." Upon this observation, he decided the compartment was "completely fucking boring", so left his seat to explore the other train carriages. He was fascinated by what he saw.
The song mentions "ducks and pigs and chickens," and that, according to Nash, is actually what was there. He recalls the ride by commenting: "It's literally the song as it is—what happened to me."[4]
@walterbyrd Yeah, pretty straightforward, but some nice lyrics and a pretty melody. Nothing mysterious here.
@walterbyrd Yeah, pretty straightforward, but some nice lyrics and a pretty melody. Nothing mysterious here.
We recently listened to this great song on headphones while riding on the Marrakesh express, from Casa Blanca heading south! No animal carpet wall-to-wall any more---the Moroccan trains are pretty civilized these days. In Marrakesh, there are still cobras being charmed in the square and colorful cloth floating in the air and djellabas you can wear at home---yeah. There are also lots of other handmade things to buy, but better to shop in Fez. Forget about hashish, unless you want to land your butt in a Moroccan jail. No sense of humor there.
The only thing that didn't register for us was American ladies 5 foot tall in blue. We observed none of those---no American ladies period, in any height or color. There were lots of Moroccan ladies 5 foot tall in all sorts of colors, though.
Chefchaouen in Morocco called the blue city, because the building are painted blue.
Chefchaouen in Morocco called the blue city, because the building are painted blue.
I think he is trying to visualize the world through the female perspective as she is seeing more than him in this song. For example, "the sunset in your eyes" is her ability to see more beauty around her with greater ease. Cobwebs = Old patterns, old thoughts. Smelling the garden in her hair is about love and hopefulness.
I think it's about escapism, awareness and growth: "Listen not to what's been said to you" seems to mean they are searching for a new path, new routes of wisdom instead of the status quo. The train is taking them to a new destiny.
It's about opening your eyes and seeing what's around you no matter where you may be, even if just transported somewhere magical like Morocco in a song. And yes, I believe they're getting high while doing it, ha ha.
so good!!
awesome! cant figure out what it means though. and can someone tell me if that is a kazoo he plays or some other instrument with effects
@tenneseejed According to Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrakesh_Express#Personnel ), there is no kazoo. I couldn't hear any such thing; maybe you're confusing it with the electric guitar which starts the song.
@tenneseejed According to Wikipedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrakesh_Express#Personnel ), there is no kazoo. I couldn't hear any such thing; maybe you're confusing it with the electric guitar which starts the song.
I love the line 'I can smell the garden in your hair". Now I took that as being an organic person, but then I though.. does that mean he can smell pot in her hair? 'Cuz that would just ruin it for me. Not that I have anything against getting high. I love this song! I would love to be doing this! Going to Marrakesh getting high along the way. Fantastic haha.
@Whispering_sorrow - I sure wish that wouldn't affect your affection for that lovely line. Pot isn't exactly evil. :D
@Whispering_sorrow - I sure wish that wouldn't affect your affection for that lovely line. Pot isn't exactly evil. :D
But, you can breathe easy, without the scent of acrid smoke intruding upon your lovely imagery:
But, you can breathe easy, without the scent of acrid smoke intruding upon your lovely imagery:
I'm willing to bet that the "garden" smell represents the flower hair wreath worn by his companion, fashionable with the flower children of the day, and still popular today, especially at festivals and weddings. In the era of the song, both men and women wore a combination of Eastern garb, leathers from Morocco, robes and flowing shirts from Nepal and India, and, of course, flowers...
I'm willing to bet that the "garden" smell represents the flower hair wreath worn by his companion, fashionable with the flower children of the day, and still popular today, especially at festivals and weddings. In the era of the song, both men and women wore a combination of Eastern garb, leathers from Morocco, robes and flowing shirts from Nepal and India, and, of course, flowers in their hair. So you have no cause to reimagine the scenery that decorates your mind as you listen to this evocative song. Enjoy.
This song is awesome and catchy :D All aboard the train ~
It's about getting high on a train
well that's a start, they're getting high on a train. they're headed to Marrakesh, Morocco, as many hippies did or dreamed of doing in the 60's, to get large amounts of cheap and high quality Moroccan hash. Now that's the life
I actually believe it's simply about toking up and the thoughts and visualizations that follow.
I actually believe it's simply about toking up and the thoughts and visualizations that follow.
To "ride the train" meant to be simply smoking Marijuana. It's used by many lyricists as well as people of time to refer to getting high.
To "ride the train" meant to be simply smoking Marijuana. It's used by many lyricists as well as people of time to refer to getting high.
I don't think they literally took a train to Marrakesh or Casablanca...I'm pretty sure that these were strains or varieties of pot that they were into at that time when Moroccan Marijuana was particularly popular.
I don't think they literally took a train to Marrakesh or Casablanca...I'm pretty sure that these were strains or varieties of pot that they were into at that time when Moroccan Marijuana was particularly popular.
"Riding" the "train" means getting high.
Marijuana and it's mind expanding abilities...