Story behind the song
Martin H. Samuel wrote the lyric about, 'intrigue in Morocco' and sent it across the pond to Anders B. Jensen who composed and recorded the melody – then, Martin recorded the song.
Lyrics
TANGIER
ESCAPING FROM THE DESERT HEAT
IT BLEW IN WITH SAHARA DUST
LOOKING FOR A COOLER CLIME
SOMEWHERE TO INVEST YOUR TRUST
YOUR BAGS AND BAGGAGE LEFT BEHIND
PASSPORT ALMOST OUT OF DATE
AT THE RAIL NOT LOOKIN' BACK
YOU TOOK THE BOAT ACROSS THE STRAIT
AND THE NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER
WERE YOU RUNNING SOMETHING OR WERE YOU ON THE RUN
ON THE RUN
YEAH THAT NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER
WAS IT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING YOU HAD DONE
YOU HAD DONE – YOU HAD DONE
BREAKING FROM THE MUEZZIN'S CALL
THAT FLEW DOWN FROM THE MINARET
YOU CAN'T RETRACE YOUR STEPS BUT
MEDINA SIGHTS AND SOUNDS YOU WON'T FORGET
AND THE NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER
WERE YOU RUNNING SOMETHING
OR WERE YOU ON THE RUN – ON THE RUN
YEAH THAT NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER
WAS IT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING YOU HAD DONE
YOU HAD DONE – YOU HAD DONE
I WONDER IF YOU KNEW THIS WAS THE LAST GOODBYE
WITH NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE BUT THE SUN IN YOUR EYES
AND THE SAND – SAND SAND SAND SAND
THE SAND IN YOUR SHOES
ILLICIT OR COMPLICIT
IN A PLOT BY NABOKOV
AT THE RAIL NO GOING BACK
YOU CAN START AGAIN WHERE YOU BROKE OFF
AND THE NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER
WERE YOU RUNNING SOMETHING
OR WERE YOU ON THE RUN – ON THE RUN
YEAH THAT NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER
WAS IT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING YOU HAD DONE
YOU HAD DONE – YOU HAD DONE
THE NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER THE NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER
THE NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER THE NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER
THE NIGHT YOU LEFT TANGIER