"The Wondrous Boat Ride" is a song featured in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, based on the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. It is performed by Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, who sings it while taking the children and their guardians on a psychedelic boat ride through a dark tunnel. The song is composed by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, and the lyrics are taken from Dahl's original book.
Background[]
The song is notable for its eerie and disturbing tone, contrasting with the cheerful and whimsical nature of the previous songs in the film. It also foreshadows the fate of the four naughty children who will be eliminated from the tour one by one. The song consists of four verses, each describing a different scenario of horror and madness, such as "the grisly reaper mowing", "the fires of H--- a-glowing", and "the danger must be growing". It ends with a crescendo of Willy Wonka shouting "There's no earthly way of knowing / Which direction we are going!"
The song is accompanied by a series of rapid and surreal images projected on the walls of the tunnel, such as worms, insects, eyes, chickens, snakes, and skulls. The images are meant to represent Willy Wonka's twisted imagination and test the children's courage and sanity. The song and the images create a sense of fear and confusion among the passengers, who beg Willy Wonka to stop the boat, the only exception is Charlie Bucket, the protagonist of the story, who remains calm and curious throughout the ride.
Lyrics[]
There's no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going
There's no knowing where we're rowing
Or which way the river's flowing
Is it raining, is it snowing?
Is a hurricane a-blowing?
Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of H--- a-glowing?
Is the grisly Reaper mowing?
Yes! The danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing