Subject: Port of Amsterdam From: Chris Davidson Date: 05 Nov 97 - 10:09 AM I have some lyrics to a charming(sic) little ditty which begins "In the Port of Amsterdam, there's a saylor who cries" or something along those lines. Can anybody give me more lyrics and if possible the guitar cords? Slante! |
Subject: Lyr Add: AMSTERDAM (Jacques Brel) From: Wolfgang Hell Date: 05 Nov 97 - 10:24 AM AMSTERDAM 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 riverbank weeps To the old willow tree In the port of Amsterdam There's a sailor who dies Full of beer, full of cries In the drunken town fight In the port of Amsterdam There's a sailor who's born On a hot muggy 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 head and tails And he'll show you his teeth That have rotted too soon That can haul up the sails That can swallow the moon And he yells to the cook With his arms open wide Hey! bring me more fish Throw it down by my side And he once sought to belch But he's too full to try So he stands up and laughs And he zips up his fly In the port of Amsterdam You can see the sailors dance And they're bursting their pants Grinding women to porch They've forgotten the tune That their whiskey voice croaked 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 then Out of the night With their pride in their pants And the sluts that they tow Underneath the street lamps In the port of Amsterdam There's a sailor who drinks And he drinks And he drinks And he drinks once again He'll drink to the health Of the whores of Amsterdam Who've given their bodies To a thousand other men Yeah they bargain their virtue Their goodness all gone For a few dirty coins When they just can't go on Blows his nose to the sky On the sea up above And he pisses like I cry In the port of Amsterdam In the port of Amsterdam lookhere for the French original (author: J. Brel) Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Chris (Again) Date: 05 Nov 97 - 10:36 AM Wolfgang, You're a gent an a scholar sir. I didn't even know it wasn't orignally in english! Brilliant. Thanks again, Chris |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: GUEST,HuwG Date: 07 Mar 02 - 04:19 AM David Bowie did it on the 'B' side of one of his singles (I forget which) in the 1970's. Very popular at (UK) youth clubs, especially if the 'A' and 'B' side labels were switched !
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Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: GUEST,MCP Date: 07 Mar 02 - 03:08 PM Another site which I've found excellent for the lyrics to French songs (including Brel's Amsterdam) is ABC de la Chanson Francophone. The site claims to have more than 15,000 lyrics (I haven't checked) and is searchable by Title/Artist (there is also a text search, but the last time I used the site it was inoperative due to too much data I think). Mick |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: alanabit Date: 07 Mar 02 - 04:55 PM Listening to Jacques Brel makes me wish I'd taken the trouble to learn French. He was Belgian and died of cancer about twenty odd years ago. Other well known songs of his include "Ne me Quitte Pas" and "Le Moribund" and "Le Reve Impossible". There are quite horrible versions of all these songs in English. In particular, the last is painful, because most "interpreters" miss the point that it was performed in the character of Don Quichote. Of the English versions of his songs that I have heard, Bowie's was probably the best of the bunch. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: The Pooka Date: 07 Mar 02 - 08:56 PM alanbit, it's my understanding that "The Impossible Dream" was originally written in English, for the English-language play "Man of La Mancha", lyrics by Joe Darion, music by Mitch Leigh. The production was subsequently translated into French, and Jacques Brel sang Le Reve Impossible, a French translation of The Impossible Dream, in his role as Don Quichotte. I don't know whether Brel did the translation. He did not write the song. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 07 Mar 02 - 09:25 PM Last lines- He directs his nose to the sky, and blows his nose at the stars, and he pisses as I weep for the unfaithful women in the port of Amsterdam, in the port of Amsterdam. The English translation needs a rewrite, but my French is too poor to attempt it. Jacques Brel was a fantastic singer and composer-poet; he headlined at the Olympia and other venues for years. Guest MCP, thanks for the website. I shall enjoy it. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 07 Mar 02 - 09:35 PM Found a translation- and my face is red because my French is even worse than I thought. Amsterdam |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Big John Date: 07 Mar 02 - 09:42 PM I had an LP (fore-runner of the CD) of John Denver some years ago on which he sang "The Old Folks", which featured in Jaques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris. Absolutely beautiful song which I occasionally sing alongside Leonard Cohen's "Last Years Man". |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Bullfrog Jones Date: 07 Mar 02 - 10:03 PM My favourite of his songs is Jacky, especially the Scott Walker version, translated (I think) by Mort Shuman. Rod McKuen's translation of Le Moribonde, Seasons In The Sun, however stinks to high heaven. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: alanabit Date: 08 Mar 02 - 03:42 AM Thanks for the correction Pookah. I still find the English song cringingly embarrasing. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Paddy Plastique Date: 08 Mar 02 - 04:20 AM Scott Walker's versions are good passion/arrangement wise - but there's some problems with the Shuman translations - cleaned up. Marc Almond did an album in the 80s called 'Jacques' with new translations - can't remember the name of his collaborator. They're OK too - worth it for 2 wonderful lesser-known songs - 'The Lockman' (L'Eclusier) and 'The Town Fell Asleep' (La ville s'endormait). Scotsman Nick Currie (Momus) did 3 very clever versions of 'Jacky' (he did it as 'Nicky'), 'Ne me quitte pas' and the wonderful 'See a Friend in Tears' (Voir un ami pleurer) on an early 80s EP Definitely worth a listen. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Lanfranc Date: 08 Mar 02 - 06:23 AM I have been a fan of Jacques Brel from way back. Some translations of his songs into English have been better than others (and some were dire - I agree with Bullfrog Jones about "Seasons in the Sun"). To my mind the best were those of Eric Blau and Mort Shuman as featured in the early 70s film "Jacques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris". I have the film (on Betamax!) and the CDs of the 1997 London revival to which I am listening as I post. Judy Collins recorded "Le Chanson des Vieux Amants" (on one of her early albums ("Wildflowers"?)), "Marieke" and "La Colombe" was on her album "In My Life". The Johnstons (remember the Johnstons?) included at least one Brel song ("I Loved") on one of their albums. The Scott Walker interpretations were mostly good, if bowdlerised. Marc Almond's CD is also pretty good. Incidentally, Brel's "Timid Frieda", as translated by Mort Shuman, was one of the first songs to use the f*** word in a published lyric. Great stuff all. There used to be a superb Brel website, with the lyrics in French and English based on holycross.edu, compiled by one B Batty, but it had disppeared last time I looked. Alan |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: GUEST,MAG at work Date: 08 Mar 02 - 11:19 AM Fred Holstein does a dynamite job on this incredibly bleak, depressing (but beautifully crafted) song. On is "Chicago and Other Ports" LP, and the CD re-release. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: The Pooka Date: 08 Mar 02 - 03:19 PM alanabit - yer most welcome; I had the info only because my Francophone wife is a huge Brel fan from way back & has lists of everything he ever wrote. :) While not feeling as vehemently as you do about "The Impossible Dream", I'd say the French translation as sung by Brel has to be better than the original---if only because it's *sung by Brel*. Il etait magnifique. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 08 Mar 02 - 09:41 PM Lyr. Add: AMSTERDAM In the port of Amsterdam There are sailors who sing About the dreams that haunt them Away from Amsterdam. In the port of Amsterdam There are sailors who sleep Stretched out like pennants Along the dismal banks. In the port of Amsterdam There are sailors who die Full of beer and tragedy In the first light of dawn. But in the port of Amsterdam There are sailors new-born In the growing heat of the languid seas. In the port of amsterdam There are sailors who eat On bright white tablecloths, of the shimmering fish, And hey show you their teeth Made to bite into fate, To unhook the moon, To haul up the mast ropes And there is the smell of cod Even to the heart of the french fries Which their thick hands ask To come back for more; Then they get up laughing, As loud as a storm; They close up their fly And go out belching. In the port of Amsterdam There are sailors who dance Rubbing their bellies Against the bellies of women, And they turn and they dance Like spitting suns In the rending sounds Of a rancid accordion. They twist up their necks To hear themselves laugh Until all of a sudden The accordion gives out Then with a grave gesture And with a proud glance, They bring out their *"Dutchman" (batave) Into the bright light... In the port of Amsterdam There are sailors who drink And drink and drink again And then drink again. They drink to the health Of the whores of Amsterdam, Of Hamburg and other places, In short they drink to the women Who give them their pretty bodies Who give them their virtue For a piece of gold And when they have drunk enough, They stand, their noses to the sky, They blow their noses to the stars And they piss as I cry Over the unfaithful women In the port of Amsterdam In the port of Amsterdam Mostly the translation of Marie de Grazia. *used by de Grazia. Brel This also owes to the partial translation by Wolfgang. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: raredance Date: 08 Mar 02 - 11:39 PM John Denver also recorded "Port of Amsterdam" on his second solo album "Take Me To Tomorrow" rich r |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: GUEST Date: 09 Mar 02 - 07:19 AM Agreed --- the Shuman vesion of Jacky was cleaned up but still raunchy enough to become the first record to be banned on BBC Radio 1. There's a programme on BBC Radio 2 tonight at 21.00 GMT about banned records, and the trailer features Scott Walker mentioning the "authentic queers and phony virgins" line as the cause, although I favour the line about having "a finger in every country"! |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Bullfrog Jones Date: 09 Mar 02 - 10:59 AM Does anyone have a chord progression for Jacky? |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 09 Mar 02 - 11:28 AM Chords for six Brel songs through the Olga Index: Brel Lyrics to 26 songs (in French) at Brel One in Real Audio. ,br> No Jacky in these. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Date: 09 Mar 02 - 11:35 AM French texts for 137 Brel songs: BREL songs |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: GUEST,Alireza Date: 14 Apr 02 - 08:54 AM hey, I am really glad that I have found a website about Jacques Brel's music. Although I do not understand French at all, I believe that he is great Especially his "Amsterdam", "Ne me quitte pas" and "Qaund ...". You can checkout about his life at www.jacquesbrel.org , his official site. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: GUEST,Mark in Runcorn Date: 27 Feb 07 - 01:45 PM Marc Almond collaborated with PAUL BUCK on his "Jacques" album, recorded between 1986 and 1989. Paul Buck acted as translator on most of the songs, which were produced by Almond and Charles Gray. Most of the musicians were Almonds then backing group, known as the Willing Sinners plus Gray on keyboard. Although "Amsterdam" is not included, it is a live favourite of the singer, who often performs it "a cappella", and an excellent rendition can be found on his "Sin Songs" live DVD (Demon Vision DEMONDVD002). |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: Jim Lad Date: 27 Feb 07 - 04:09 PM One more John Denver fan here. His version rocks. Not really a charming little ditty though. |
Subject: RE: Port of Amsterdam From: GUEST Date: 27 Feb 07 - 04:46 PM The best version I ever heard was by Dave Van Ronk. |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Port of Amsterdam From: GUEST,rolandonline Date: 24 May 14 - 01:07 PM Completely different lyrics in Rod McKuen's version of The Port of Amsterdam: In the port of Amsterdam, where the wild seagulls fly There's a sailor who stands, looking out past the sky And the arch of his back, and the thrust of his hip Are as strong and as proud as the prow of a ship In the port of Amsterdam, there's a sailor who's face Is as withered and cracked, as a cobblestone street And another who's face, is as fair as the Christ Who visits the sailors, that rot in the deep In the port of Amsterdam, there are sailors in pairs Who's only adventures are climbin' up stairs They're climbing up stairs, and descending again In houses and hotels from china to Maine In the port of Amsterdam, there's a sailor I'm told Who at 26 years looks withered and old In the bellies of whores he's spilled out his youth On the long run to nowhere, in search of the truth In the port of Amsterdam, there's a one legged man Who used to go sailing but no longer can His tales of the sea, grow wilder each year As his guts sail along on a belly of beer And he yells to the sailor who's sitting alone "for a bottle of beer, I'll follow you home And we find us some women who smell like the sea A blonde one for you and a black one for me" In the port of Amsterdam, I stood in the dawn As accordions died and the daylight came on I see the blank faces of sailors go by Empty and wild as the wide open sky And I cry to the god, wherever he be Who invites the young men, to follow the sea And leave them alone like a hollowed out shell Condemned to burn up on the seashores of hell In the port of Amsterdam In the port of Amsterdam In the port of Amsterdam In the port of Amsterdam Goddamn Amsterdam |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Port of Amsterdam From: BrooklynJay Date: 24 May 14 - 08:28 PM In the second post in this thread, there are a number of errors in the lyrics (from the original Off-Broadway production of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well...). It should be: AMSTERDAM 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 riverbank weeps To the old willow tree In the port of Amsterdam There's a sailor who dies Full of beer, full of cries In the drunken down fight And 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 He'll show you his teeth That have rotted too soon That can swallow the moon That can haul up the sails And he yells to the cook With his arms open wide Bring me more fish Put it down by my side Then he wants so to belch But he's too full to try So he gets up and laughs And he zips up his fly In the port of Amsterdam You can see sailors dance Paunches bursting their pants Grinding woman 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 Then, out into the night With their pride in their pants And the slut that they tow Underneath the street lamps 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've promised their love To a thousand other men They've bargained their bodies And their virtue long gone For a few dirty coins And when he can't go on He plants his nose in the sky Wipes it up above And he pisses like I cry For an unfaithful love In the port of Amsterdam In the port of Amsterdam I've known that show inside and out for 45 years, and even worked on a production back in 1982. I'm pretty sure this is accurate. Jay |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Port of Amsterdam From: pdq Date: 24 May 14 - 08:33 PM Thnk you very much. That is the version that Dave Van Ronk sang. |
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Port of Amsterdam From: BrooklynJay Date: 24 May 14 - 11:50 PM Even I'm not infallible - the line should be: In a drunken down fight. J. |
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