Interesting Places I've Photographed
Kasbah Courtyard
Tangiers, Morocco
Topic: Immortalized in Lyrics - Rock the Casbah (Kasbah)
GPS: N35° 47.324; W005° 48.725
Quick Description:
Rock the Casbah by The Clash is an anti-war song! It uses irony and humor to get its message across. While watching and hearing the street musicians in the Kasbah Courtyard this song immediately came to mind.
Long Description:
An imaginary tale of a ban on rock music, by the sharif (king), being defied by the population who continue to play their music - i.e. "Rockin' the Casbah." The King orders jet fighters to bomb any people in violation of the ban. The pilots ignore the orders, and instead play rock music on their cockpit radios.
Written by Topper Headon, Mick Jones and Joe Strummer
Performed by The Clash
"Now the king told the boogie men
You have to let that raga drop
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin' to the top
The sheik he drove his Cadillac
He went a' cruisin' down the ville
The muezzin was a' standing
On the radiator grille
[Chorus]
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
By order of the prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy Casbah sound
But the Bedouin they brought out
The electric camel drum
The local guitar picker
Got his guitar picking thumb
As soon as the sharif
Had cleared the square
They began to wail
[Chorus]
Now over at the temple
Oh! They really pack 'em in
The in crowd say it's cool
To dig this chanting thing
But as the wind changed direction
The temple band took five
The crowd caught a whiff
Of that crazy Casbah jive
[Chorus]
The king called up his jet fighters
He said you better earn your pay
Drop your bombs between the minarets
Down the Casbah way
As soon as the sharif was
Chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to
The cockpit radio blare
As soon as the sharif was
Outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed
[Chorus]
He thinks it's not kosher
Fundamentally he can't take it.
You know he really hates it."
******************************************************************
The Kasbah of Tangiers is the historic old walled region of Tangiers. It is located high on a promontory overlooking the harbor and the newer city. It's like no other place on earth. You pass through the gate into a small plaza. Things change radically as you make your way uphill through the twisting narrow passageways crowded with closely packed homes and merchant shops offering exotic goods. In addition, street vendors are offering mint tea, brass-ware, rugs, wood carving, silk garments, jewelry, and handcrafted goods everywhere you go. Never accept the first price. You are expected to haggle.
At the top is large open courtyard with an excellent view of the harbor and the Straits of Gibraltar. On a clear day you can all the way to the famous Rock of Gibraltar. In this courtyard street performers, working for tips, entertain tourists. You will find musicians, jugglers, traditional dancers and, of course, snake charmers who first enchant a cobra then offer to place a snake (harmless) around your neck.
Written by Topper Headon, Mick Jones and Joe Strummer
Performed by The Clash
"Now the king told the boogie men
You have to let that raga drop
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin' to the top
The sheik he drove his Cadillac
He went a' cruisin' down the ville
The muezzin was a' standing
On the radiator grille
[Chorus]
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
The sharif don't like it
Rockin' the Casbah
Rock the Casbah
By order of the prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy Casbah sound
But the Bedouin they brought out
The electric camel drum
The local guitar picker
Got his guitar picking thumb
As soon as the sharif
Had cleared the square
They began to wail
[Chorus]
Now over at the temple
Oh! They really pack 'em in
The in crowd say it's cool
To dig this chanting thing
But as the wind changed direction
The temple band took five
The crowd caught a whiff
Of that crazy Casbah jive
[Chorus]
The king called up his jet fighters
He said you better earn your pay
Drop your bombs between the minarets
Down the Casbah way
As soon as the sharif was
Chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to
The cockpit radio blare
As soon as the sharif was
Outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed
[Chorus]
He thinks it's not kosher
Fundamentally he can't take it.
You know he really hates it."
******************************************************************
The Kasbah of Tangiers is the historic old walled region of Tangiers. It is located high on a promontory overlooking the harbor and the newer city. It's like no other place on earth. You pass through the gate into a small plaza. Things change radically as you make your way uphill through the twisting narrow passageways crowded with closely packed homes and merchant shops offering exotic goods. In addition, street vendors are offering mint tea, brass-ware, rugs, wood carving, silk garments, jewelry, and handcrafted goods everywhere you go. Never accept the first price. You are expected to haggle.
At the top is large open courtyard with an excellent view of the harbor and the Straits of Gibraltar. On a clear day you can all the way to the famous Rock of Gibraltar. In this courtyard street performers, working for tips, entertain tourists. You will find musicians, jugglers, traditional dancers and, of course, snake charmers who first enchant a cobra then offer to place a snake (harmless) around your neck.
Musician: The Clash
Name of Song: Rock the Casbah
Relevant Verse:
By order of the prophet
We ban that boogie sound
Degenerate the faithful
With that crazy Casbah sound
But the Bedouin they brought out
The electric camel drum
The local guitar picker
Got his guitar picking thumb
As soon as the sharif
Had cleared the square
They began to wail
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