2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Amsterdam Lyrics
You and me got the whole day off
Take a trip to Vincent Van Gogh
But the line went halfway round the block
And we're looking for a place to rest
Every seat in every bar was set
So we turned back to The Grand Hotel
And the rain came hard
A million people on a protest march
Every choice, every path was mistaken
You and me got the whole thing sussed
Gray man is shadowing us
Wild conspiracies turn to dust
Hear the sound of cathedral bells
Cash ringing at the gates of Hell
And fairground hooligans push and swell
They're the darkest days of a free man
Lying in the streets of Amsterdam
Nearly fell underneath the tram
But I picked myself up
Every temptation and device
All the diamonds and the spice
I would give anything for the sight
Of an honest man (Hey)
Eyes swim in emptiness
I was looking at a hotel guest
He blew me a big sarcastic kiss
And the Lord walked in
With a monocle and lips so thin
Saw the barman wink as he poured his brandy
They're the darkest days of a free man
Lying in the streets of Amsterdam
Nearly fell underneath the tram
But I picked myself up
Every temptation up in lights
all the diamonds and the spice
Could take profit from the vice
Of another man
Amsterdam
Cold, cold
Cold, cold
You belong
Take a trip to Vincent Van Gogh
But the line went halfway round the block
And we're looking for a place to rest
Every seat in every bar was set
So we turned back to The Grand Hotel
A million people on a protest march
Every choice, every path was mistaken
Gray man is shadowing us
Wild conspiracies turn to dust
Hear the sound of cathedral bells
Cash ringing at the gates of Hell
And fairground hooligans push and swell
Lying in the streets of Amsterdam
Nearly fell underneath the tram
But I picked myself up
Every temptation and device
All the diamonds and the spice
I would give anything for the sight
Of an honest man (Hey)
I was looking at a hotel guest
He blew me a big sarcastic kiss
With a monocle and lips so thin
Saw the barman wink as he poured his brandy
Lying in the streets of Amsterdam
Nearly fell underneath the tram
But I picked myself up
Every temptation up in lights
all the diamonds and the spice
Could take profit from the vice
Of another man
Cold, cold
Cold, cold
You belong
Song Info
Submitted by
loose Tongue On Jul 02, 2010
More Crowded House
Don't Dream It's Over
Fall At Your Feet
Better Be Home Soon
Distant Sun
Four Seasons In One Day
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
The lovely thing about Neil's lyrics is that they often tell a story and at the same time have a deep, underlying meaning. Specifically here, Neil is singing about a night he spent in Amsterdam while on tour with Split Enz. He said in an interview that it was kind of a fun place to go because you could get all the weed you wanted and not have to worry about laws that seem rather useless here.
In terms of the meaning of the song, Neil toys with the idea of freedom and whether it's really all that great. Sure you can do whatever you want, but it's that much easier for people to take advantage of you, and when you really see what you can do–"every temptation up in lights" – it seems that much easier and more accepted to do it.
Thanks for the explanation of the song. It's one of my favorites on the new cd. I think that the actual lyric is "And the law walked in" instead of Lord, which seems to go more with your interpretation.
No problem. That's very possible, and yeah it's one of my favorites too.
No problem. That's very possible, and yeah it's one of my favorites too.
Jacksongreer has it right - at least according to the liner notes :) LOL, I thought it sounded like "And love walked in" which seemed like something cynical...
Jacksongreer has it right - at least according to the liner notes :) LOL, I thought it sounded like "And love walked in" which seemed like something cynical...
Uh, I mean Loose Tongue, who posted the lyrics... My bad.
Uh, I mean Loose Tongue, who posted the lyrics... My bad.