# Night Boat to Cairo

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Night_Boat_to_Cairo
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Night_Boat_to_Cairo.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Boat_to_Cairo
> Source revision: 1353531581
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

1979 single by Madness

"Night Boat to Cairo" Artwork for 1993 UK rerelease Single by Madness from the album One Step Beyond... and Work Rest and Play Released 1980 / 1993 Recorded 1979 Genre Ska pop 2 tone Length 3:31 Label Virgin Composer Mike Barson Lyricist Graham McPherson Producers Clive Langer Alan Winstanley Madness singles chronology "My Girl" (1979) "Night Boat to Cairo" (1980) "Baggy Trousers" (1980) "The Harder They Come" (1992) "Night Boat to Cairo (re-release)" (1993) "Lovestruck" (1999)

"**Night Boat to Cairo**" is a song by British [ska](/source/Ska)/[pop](/source/Pop_music) band [Madness](/source/Madness_(band)) from their debut 1979 album *[One Step Beyond...](/source/One_Step_Beyond...)*. It was written by [Mike Barson](/source/Mike_Barson) and [Suggs](/source/Suggs_(singer)) and was also included on the 1980 [EP](/source/Extended_play) *[Work Rest and Play](/source/Work_Rest_and_Play)*, which peaked at number six on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart) and reached the top 30 in Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. The song was later re-issued in the UK in 1993 following the success of the re-issued version of "[It Must Be Love](/source/It_Must_Be_Love_(Madness_song))" but failed to reach the top 40, peaking at number 56. It was remixed slightly for inclusion on the band's eponymous 1983 album compiled for the United States. The song is featured in the 2011 [Wii](/source/Wii) video game *[Just Dance 3](/source/Just_Dance_3)*.

The song is often used by Madness to close live concerts, and "Night Boat" has passed into [cockney](/source/Cockney) [rhyming slang](/source/Rhyming_slang) as a term for a [giro](/source/Giro_(banking)), or unemployment benefit cheque.[1]

## Background and composition

The song was composed as an instrumental by Barson, but was expanded when Suggs added lyrics.[2] The song has an unusual structure, with a single long verse followed by an even longer instrumental section, heavily sax-based. At one point, after a key change from C to F, the instrumental slows right down and momentarily stops, then the opening notes of the song are repeated before the tempo picks up again. Suggs has described it as "miles of introduction, a couple of verses then miles of instrumental, no chorus and the title isn't even mentioned apart from me shouting it at the beginning. It's an atmosphere with great music and words- of course it IS a song, but not a traditional one."[3]

## Music video

Lee Thompson plays saxophone

After the decision to issue the *[Work Rest and Play](/source/Work_Rest_and_Play)* EP, a promotional [music video](/source/Music_video) was needed. However, there was not enough time to make an effective video before the record was released,[4] so a low-budget karaoke-type video was hastily filmed in a studio instead.

The video featured the band dressed in stereotypical [British colonial](/source/British_colonial_period) attire, including [short trousers](/source/Short_trousers) and Wolesley pattern [pith helmets](/source/Pith_helmets), in front of a [chroma keyed](/source/Chroma_key) backdrop of an [Egyptian pyramid](/source/Egyptian_pyramid); the lyrics appearing on screen in "[bouncing ball](/source/Bouncing_ball_(music))" style as Suggs sang them.[4] During the long instrumental sections of the song, the band ran and jumped around the set, marching and performing their signature "Nutty Train".

Despite – or perhaps because of – the poor effects and editing, and all-round unprofessional feel, it became very popular with fans, perhaps also due to the carefree nature and fooling around of the band onscreen that can be attributed to the large amount of alcohol they consumed while filming.[4]

However, this music video was not used with the 1993 reissue and remixes.

## Appearances

In addition to its EP release and appearance on the album *One Step Beyond...* "Night Boat to Cairo" also appears on the Madness collections *[Divine Madness](/source/Divine_Madness_(Madness_album))* (a.k.a. *The Heavy Heavy Hits*), *[Complete Madness](/source/Complete_Madness)*, *[It's... Madness Too](/source/It's..._Madness_Too)*, *[The Business](/source/The_Business_-_the_Definitive_Singles_Collection)*, *[Our House](/source/Our_House%3A_the_Best_of_Madness)*, *[Madness](/source/Madness_(Madness_album))* and *Ultimate Collection*. Most compilations contain the album version of the track.

## Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Night Boat to Cairo".

- **7" single**

1. "Night Boat to Cairo" ([Barson](/source/Mike_Barson)/[McPherson](/source/Suggs_(singer))) - 3:31

1. "Night Boat to Cairo (Paul Gotel Rude Edit)" (Barson/McPherson) - 3:45

- **12" single**

1. "Night Boat to Cairo (Paul Gotel Rude Mix)" (Barson/McPherson) - 7:59

1. "Night Boat to Cairo (Paul Gotel Rude Edit)" (Barson/McPherson) - 3:45

1. "Night Boat to Cairo (Well Hung Parliament Dub Edit)" (Barson/McPherson) - 5:35

1. "Night Boat to Cairo (Paul Gotel Rude Instrumental)" (Barson/McPherson) - 7:54

- **CD single**

1. "Night Boat to Cairo (Barson/McPherson)" - 3:31

1. "Night Boat to Cairo (Paul Gotel Rude Mix)" (Barson/McPherson) - 7:59

1. "Night Boat to Cairo (Paul Gotel Rude Edit)" (Barson/McPherson) - 3:45

1. "Night Boat to Cairo (Well Hung Parliament Dub Edit)" (Barson/McPherson) - 5:35

1. "Night Boat to Cairo (Paul Gotel Rude Instrumental)" (Barson/McPherson) - 7:54

## Influence

The song inspired the Israeli hit "Rakevet Laila (Le-Kahir)" ([Hebrew](/source/Hebrew) for "Night Train (to Cairo)" / [רכבת לילה](https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A8%D7%9B%D7%91%D7%AA_%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%94_(%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%A8)) ) by the Israeli rock group [Mashina](/source/Mashina).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

The song was covered by the British [Death metal](/source/Death_metal) ensemble Monoptera.

## Charts

Chart (1980) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 25 Ireland (IRMA)[6] 12 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] 21 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 29 UK Singles (OCC)[9] 6

Chart (1993) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[10] 56

## Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Silver 200,000‡ ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Tibballs, Geoff (2008). *The Ultimate Cockney Geezer's Guide to Rhyming Slang*. Ebury. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0091927486](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0091927486).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Rachel, Daniel (2014). *The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters*. St. Martin's Griffin. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1250051295](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1250051295).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Edwards, Terry (13 August 2009). *Madness- One Step Beyond*. 2009. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0826429063](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0826429063).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-madness80_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-madness80_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-madness80_4-2) ["The Ascent of Madness"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100409071952/http://www.madness.co.uk/1980.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.madness.co.uk/1980.html) on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-20. March 28th

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Flanders_Madness_5-0)** "[Madness – Night Boat to Cairo](https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Madness&titel=Night+Boat+to+Cairo&cat=s)" (in Dutch). [Ultratop 50](/source/Ultratop). Retrieved 14 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Ireland2_6-0)** "[The Irish Charts – Search Results – Night Train to Cairo](http://irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=1&search_type=title&placement=Night%20Train%20to%20Cairo)". [Irish Singles Chart](/source/Irish_Singles_Chart). Retrieved 14 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Dutch40_7-0)** "[Nederlandse Top 40 – week 30, 1980](https://www.top40.nl/top40/1980/week-30)" (in Dutch). [Dutch Top 40](/source/Dutch_Top_40). Retrieved 14 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Dutch100_Madness_8-0)** "[Madness – Night Boat to Cairo](https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Madness&titel=Night+Boat+to+Cairo&cat=s)" (in Dutch). [Single Top 100](/source/Dutch_Single_Top_100). Retrieved 14 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_UK_9-0)** "[Official Singles Chart on 12/4/1980 – Top 100](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19800412/7501/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved 14 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-uk1993_10-0)** "[Official Singles Chart on 27/2/1993 – Top 100](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19930227/7501/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved 14 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-United_KingdomMadnessNight_Boat_To_CairosingleCertRef_11-0)** ["British single certifications – Madness – Night Boat To Cairo"](https://www.bpi.co.uk/page/certified-awards). [British Phonographic Industry](/source/British_Phonographic_Industry). Retrieved 14 June 2024. *Select*singles*in the Formats field.* *Type*Night Boat To Cairo Madness*in the "Search:" field.*

## External links

- *[Night Boat to Cairo](https://www.discogs.com/master/841525)* at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) (list of releases)

v t e Madness Chris Foreman Mike Barson Lee Thompson Suggs Dan Woodgate Mark Bedford Chas Smash Studio albums One Step Beyond... Absolutely 7 The Rise & Fall Keep Moving Mad Not Mad The Madness Wonderful The Dangermen Sessions Vol. 1 The Liberty of Norton Folgate Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da Can't Touch Us Now Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie Compilation albums Complete Madness Madness Utter Madness It's... Madness It's... Madness Too Divine Madness The Business Total Madness (1997) Our House Total Madness (2009) Ultimate Madness A Guided Tour of Madness Forever Young: The Ska Collection Live albums Madstock! Universal Madness Box sets The Business A Guided Tour of Madness Extended plays Work Rest and Play Singles "The Prince" "One Step Beyond" "My Girl" "Night Boat to Cairo" (Work Rest and Play EP) "Baggy Trousers" "Embarrassment" "The Return of the Los Palmas 7" "Grey Day" "Shut Up" "It Must Be Love" "Cardiac Arrest" "House of Fun" "Driving in My Car" "Our House" "Tomorrow's (Just Another Day)" / "Madness (Is All in the Mind)" "Wings of a Dove" "The Sun and the Rain" "Michael Caine" "One Better Day" "Yesterday's Men" "Uncle Sam" "Sweetest Girl" "(Waiting For) The Ghost Train" "The Harder They Come" "Night Boat to Cairo" "Lovestruck" "Johnny the Horse" "Drip Fed Fred" "Shame and Scandal in the Family" "Sorry" "NW5" "Dust Devil" "Sugar and Spice" "Forever Young" Related articles Discography Lucky 7 Records John Hasler Dikran Tulaine Our House the Musical 2 tone Zarjazz Records "Starvation/Tam Tam Pour L'Ethiopie" The Madness Crunch! Take It or Leave It The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra Boring (The Young Ones) Sick (The Young Ones) Unreleased album

Authority control databases MusicBrainz work

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Night Boat to Cairo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Boat_to_Cairo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Boat_to_Cairo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.