This is a song that has always intrigued me, and I have never taken the time to dig into it. Peace sent me this (and I verified the lyrics from the recording):

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
"Istanbul" 1953
Words by Jimmy Kennedy
Music by Nat Simon


"It's Istanbul, not Constantinople now ...." Leave it to Tin Pan Alley to turn centuries of ethnic and religious struggles into a catchy ditty. This song, although copyrighted by Kennedy and Simon, is a direct descendant of the humourous piece, "Al-Bar the Bubul Emir" that could be found in the pages of "Captain Billy's Whizbang," an early 20th century precursor to "Mad Magazine."


ISTANBUL (NOT CONSTANTINOPLE)
(Words by Jimmy Kennedy, Music by Nat Simon)

Istanbul was Constantinople,
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople;
Been a long time gone, old Constantinople,
Still it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night.

Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople;
So if you've a date in Constantinople,
She'll be waiting in Istanbul.

[bridge]
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam;
Why they changed it, I can't say,
People just like it better that way.

Take me back to Constantinople;
No, you can't go back to Constantinople.
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople;
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks.


[Instrumental break]
Doo, doo, doo...
Istanbul (Istanbul)
Istanbul (Istanbul)

[bridge]
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam;
Why they changed it, I can't say,
People just like it better that way.

Take me back to Constantinople;
No, you can't go back to Constantinople.
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople;
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks.


Istanbul

Transcribed by ear from the Trevor Horn Orchestra recording on the Mona Lisa Smile movie soundtrack.

Istanbul (Not Constantinople) is the fourth (4th) song on the Flood album and is the eighth (8th) song, in live format, on the Severe Tire Damage album.


from

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)A friend of my brother taught me the song "Charlottetown is burning down, good bye, goodbye...Charlottetown Town is burning down, good bye Liza Jane. ...
ruk.ca/article/756 - 21k - Cached - Similar pages
Anyhow, I think we need to research this and get good lyrics and background information. I sure don't see the connection to "Abdul..."

Thanks, Peace.

-Joe-

Click on the Trevor Horn Orchestra link - I think you'll like the recording.