Amsterdam
Jacques Brel
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In the port of Amsterdam, there's a sailor who sings Of the dreams that he brings from the wide open sea In the port of Amsterdam, there's a sailor who sleeps While the river-bank weeps to the old willow tree In the port of Amsterdam, there's a sailor who dies Full of beer, full of cries, in a drunken down fight But in the port of Amsterdam, there's a sailor who's born On a muggy hot morn, by the dawn's early light In the port of Amsterdam, where the sailors all meet There's a sailor who eats only fish-heads and -tails And he'll show you his teeth that have rotted too soon That can drink down the moon, that can haul up the sails And he turns to the cook, with his arms open wide "Bring me more fish, put it down by my side" And he wants so to belch, but he's too full to try So he gets up and he laughs, and he zips up his fly In the port of Amsterdam, you can see sailors dance Paunches bursting their pants, grinding women to paunch They've forgotten the tune that their whiskey-voice croaks Splitting the night with the roar of their jokes And they turn and they dance and they laugh and they lust Til the rancid sound of the accordion bursts And it's into the night with their pride in their pants And the slut that they tow underneath the streetlamps In the port of Amsterdam there's a sailor who drinks And he drinks, and he drinks, and he drinks once again He drinks to the health of the whores of Amsterdam Who have promised their love to a thousand other men They have bargained their bodies, their virtues all gone For a few dirty coins, and when he can't go on He puts his nose in the air, and he wipes it up above And he pisses like I cry for an unfaithful love In the port of Amsterdam, in the port of Amsterdam In the port of Amsterdam
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Written by: JACQUES ROMAN BREL, MORT SHUMAN
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Artist BackgroundBelgian-born Jacques Brel is globally renowned for his distinctive storytelling ability in his songs. With "Amsterdam," he solidified his reputation as one of the best Chanson singers (a genre often likened to lyrical narrative French song).
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LanguageDespite the fact that Jacques Brel was Belgian, he primarily wrote and performed songs in French. "Amsterdam" is no exception - the song is entirely in French, known for its intense and emotionally charged lyrics.
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Release HistoryThe song 'Amsterdam' was included in the album 'Enregistrement Public à l'Olympia 1964' which was released in 1964. It was recorded at a live concert performed at the Olympia music hall in Paris.
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Song ThemeThe song is a passionate portrayal of Amsterdam's sailors' life. It has a raw and gritty tone. Brel vividly describes the sailors' hard labour, their indulgence in the pleasures and vices of the harbour-side city, and the melancholy hidden beneath.
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Cover VersionsThere have been numerous cover versions of "Amsterdam." Perhaps most famously, David Bowie covered the song for his album, "Pin Ups." Other artists that have covered the song include Scott Walker, John Denver, and Madeleine Peyroux.
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Recognition"Amsterdam" has often been hailed as one of Jacques Brel's most powerful songs. It has contributed significantly to his legacy and is frequently performed by many artists across the globe as a tribute to his intense emotional style.
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LyricsThe complex and poetic lyrics of "Amsterdam" are one of its defining characteristics. In typical Brel fashion, the song employs vivid and tragic imagery to portray the life of a sailor.
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Musical CompositionThe song starts slowly, almost like a folk song, and steadily builds towards a powerful climax, with Brel pouring in more and more emotion as the track progresses. At the peak of the song, Brel would often appear out of breath in live performances, a testament to the passion and energy he brought to each rendition of "Amsterdam".
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Music VideoThe music video of 'Amsterdam' shows the intensity of Jacques Brel's performance. His facial expressions and physical gestures while singing adds to the overall dramatic effect of the song.
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LegacyThe song 'Amsterdam' helped to establish Jacques Brel's international fame. Even after more than half a century since its release, the song's storytelling, performance style, and intense lyrics remain influential in the music industry.
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Citation
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"Amsterdam Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/31987007/Jacques+Brel/Amsterdam>.
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