About The Song
Lionel Richie’s chart-topping hit, “All Night Long (All Night),” reached the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100 on November 12, 1983, marking a significant milestone in his career. Co-written by Richie and co-produced with James Carmichael, the track had been steadily climbing the US pop chart since mid-September. Concurrently, it enjoyed a seven-week reign at No. 1 on the R&B survey before securing a four-week dominance on the pop charts, displacing Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s “Islands In The Stream.” On the R&B chart, Motown’s successful year continued with DeBarge’s “Time Will Reveal” following Richie’s ascent.
“All Night Long” was a standout track from Lionel’s second solo album, Can’t Slow Down, a sales powerhouse certified ten-times platinum in America within just over two years, by the end of 1985. The album stands as Richie’s bestselling, with estimated worldwide sales reaching approximately 20 million.
Recorded at Ocean Way Studios on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles during the spring of 1983, the song featured notable musicians such as Greg Phillinganes on synthesizers, Paulinho da Costa on percussion, and a backing vocal team that included a then-unknown Richard Marx.
The distinctive Jamaican-style chant in the chorus, featuring phrases like “Tom bo li de say di moi ya, yeah, jambo, jumbo,” prompted curiosity about its meaning. When questioned in an interview for British pop weekly Record Mirror during the single’s success, Lionel Richie explained, “If you go back and try to find out what it means, it’s like most of Bob Marley’s chants. They don’t really mean anything, but you know what they mean – you know what I’m saying? It’s an old Jamaican chant.”
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Lyrics
Well, my friends, the time has come
To raise the roof and have some fun
Throw away the work to be done
Let the music play on
(Play on, play on)Everybody sing, everybody dance
Lose yourself in wild romance
We’re going to party
Karamu, fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along!We’re going to party
Karamu, fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along!All night long! (all night, all night)
All night long! (all night, all night)
All night long! (all night, all night)
All night long! (all night, all night)People dancing all in the street
See the rhythm all in their feet
Life is good, wild and sweet
Let the music play on
(Play on, play on)Feel it in your heart
And feel it in your soul
Let the music take control
We’re going to party
Liming, fiesta, forever
Come on and sing my song!All night long! (all night, all night)
All night long! (all night, all night)
All night long! (all night, all night)
All night long! (all night, all night)Yeah, once you get started
You can’t sit down
Come join the fun
It’s a merry-go-round
Everyone’s dancing
Their troubles away
Come join our party
See how we play!Tam bo li de, say de moi ya. Yeah jambo jambo
Way to party oh we’re going, oh jambali
Tam bo li de, say de moi ya. Yeah jambo jamboOh, yes
We’re gonna have a party!All night long! (all night, all night)
All night long! (all night, all night)
All night long! (all night, all night)
All night long! (all night, all night)Everyone you meet
They’re jamming in the street
All night long!
Yeah, I said
Everyone you meet
They’re jamming in the street
All night long!Be good! Feel good!