[SAM:] Boss? Boss?!
[RICK:] Yeah?
[SAM:] Boss, ain’t you going to bed?
[RICK:] Not right now
[SAM:] Ain’t you planning on going to bed in the near future?
[RICK:] No
[SAM:] You ever going to bed?
[RICK:] No!
[SAM:] Well, I ain’t sleepy, either
[RICK:] Good, then have a drink
[SAM:] Not me, boss
[RICK:] Then don’t have a drink
[SAM:] Boss, let’s get out of here
[RICK:] No, sir. I’m waiting for a lady
[SAM:] Please, let’s go. Ain’t nothing but trouble for you here
[RICK:] She’s coming back, I know she’s coming back
[SAM:] We’ll take the car and drive all night. We’ll get drunk, we’ll go fishing, stay away until she’s gone
[RICK:] Shut up and go home, will you?!
[SAM:] No, sir, I’m staying right here
[Piano Playing]
[RICK:] They grab Ugarte, then she walks in. Well, that’s the way it goes. One in, one out. Sam?
[SAM:] Yes, boss?
[RICK:] If it’s December 1941 in Casablanca, what time is it in New York?
[SAM:] What? My watch stopped
[RICK:] I bet they’re asleep in New York, I bet they’re asleep all over America. Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world…she walks into mine. What’s that you’re playing?
[SAM:] A little something of my own
[RICK:] Stop it. You know what I want to hear
[SAM:] No, I don’t
[RICK:] You played it for her, you can play it for me
[SAM:] I don’t think I can remember…
[RICK:] If she can stand it, I can. Play it!
[SAM:] Yes, boss
Dialogues of Longing and Loyalty
“Casablanca” by Caesar and Daniel transports listeners into an evocative, cinematic world where dialogue becomes the heart of the song. The lyrics unfold as a tense, late-night exchange between Rick and Sam, evoking the poignant atmosphere of the classic film. Through back-and-forth lines, the song captures themes of waiting, devotion, and unresolved longing. Rick’s persistent hope for a lost love and Sam’s steadfast loyalty inject the composition with emotional depth. The conversational nature blurs the line between music and screenplay, inviting listeners to feel the weight of anticipation and heartache.
The Power of Memory and Place
Set against the backdrop of Casablanca in December 1941, the song cleverly uses time and location to deepen its nostalgic undertone. The references to gin joints, sleepless nights, and familiar melodies speak to the enduring pain of memories and the spaces they inhabit. The interplay of music within the lyrics—Sam at the piano, Rick’s request—acts as a metaphor for shared history and unspoken emotions. The result is a moving tribute to the timelessness of longing and the small comforts found in loyal companionship.
Song Credits
- Artist: Caesar, Daniel