About The Song
“All Night Long (All Night)” is a song by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie from his second solo album, Can’t Slow Down (1983). The song combined Richie’s Commodores style with Caribbean influences. The single reached number one on three Billboard charts (pop, R&B and adult contemporary). In the UK, it peaked at number two on the singles chart.
The song lyrics were written primarily in English, but Richie has admitted in at least one press interview that “African” lyrics in the song, such as “Tam bo li de say de moi ya” and “Jambo jumbo”, were in fact gibberish. Richie has described these portions of the song as a “wonderful joke”, written when he discovered that he lacked the time to hire a translator to contribute the foreign-language lyrics he wished to include in the song. This key is written in D-flat Major.
Cash Box summed up its review of the single saying “Richie’s command of these diverse musical elements and shifts in melodic direction is as impressive as it is pleasureable.”
An accompanying music video for “All Night Long (All Night)” was produced by former Monkee and TV video pioneer Michael Nesmith and directed by Bob Rafelson.
Richie performed the song at the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The song was used in the pilot episode for Miami Vice, “Brother’s Keeper”. While Richie was supposed to appear in the episode to sing it, he was on tour at the time and could not make it to the filming location; an unnamed band plays the song in the episode.[citation needed]
The 1997 film The Fifth Element, introduces character Ruby Rhod singing a few notes of the song for his livestream broadcast.
Richie performed the song live at the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize celebration.
In 2024, the song was featured in advertisements for Mattress Firm.
Video
Lyrics
Da Da, ooooh
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, 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)
All night long (all night), All night (all night)
All night long (all night), All night (all night)
All night long! (all night), Ooh, yeah (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, 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 along
We’re going to Party, Liming, Fiesta, forever
Come on and sing my song!
All night long (all night), oooh, (all night)
All night long (all night), yeaz, (all night)
All night long (all night), yeah, (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!
Come on! Come on!
Everybody dance like Jimmy
Come on!
Tam bo li de say de moi ya
Hey Jambo Jumbo
Way to parti o we goin’
Oh, jambali
Tam bo li de say de moi ya
Yeah, Jambo, jumbo
Oh, O, O, O, yes
We’re going to have a party! (Yeah… ugh)
All night long (all night), All night, (all night)
All night long (all night), All night, (all night)
All night long (all night), All night, (all night)
All night long (all night)…
Everyone you meet (all night)
They’re jamming in the street (all night)
All night long! (All night)
Everyone you meet (all night)
They’re jamming in the street (all night)
All night long! (All night)
Everybody come on!
Feel good! Feel good!
Come on!
Come on!
Sing about here, everybody!
All night long (all night), All night, (all night)
All night long (all night), All night, (all night)
Come on now
All night long (all night), All night, (all night)