|
Wim Sonneveld - To the canals of Amsterdam
Dutch songs with English translation, translated in English
Wim Sonneveld - To the canals of Amsterdam
Lyrics and music: Pieter Goemans
(1960)
Wim Sonneveld - Aan de Amsterdamse grachten
Tekst en muziek: Pieter Goemans
(1960)
© copyright translation
Dutch song Wim Sonneveld - Aan de Amsterdamse grachten
with lyrics, music, video and English translation songtext
Lalalala lalala lala lalala
Lalalala lalala lala lalala
Lalalala lalala lala lalala
Lalalala lalala lala lalala
I have pledged my heart forever
To the ring of canals of Amsterdam
I'm convinced that Amsterdam is
Our country's most lovely town
All the people of the city
All those hundreds lights at night on the square
I can wish for nothing better
Than to live here in Amsterdam
Aan de Amsterdamse grachten
Heb ik heel mijn hart voor altijd verpand
Amsterdam vult mijn gedachten
Als de mooiste stad in ons land
Al die Amsterdamse mensen
Al die lichtjes 's avonds laat op het plein
Niemand kan zich beter wensen
Dan een Amsterdammer te zijn
There is an old canal house, I knew as a child
I stayed with grandmother there as eight-year-old boy
But now a strange gentleman sits in the front room
The attick changed in an office, to my regret
But high above the traffic, trees are dreaming on
And on the water boats are still floating as in old days
Er staat een huis aan de gracht in oud Amsterdam
Waar ik als jochie van acht bij grootmoeder kwam
Nu zit een vreemde meneer in 't kamertje voor
En ook die heerlijke zolder werd tot kantoor
Alleen de bomen dromen, hoog boven 't verkeer
En over 't water gaat er een bootje net als weleer
I have pledged my heart forever
To the ring of canals of Amsterdam
I'm convinced that Amsterdam is
Our country's most lovely town
All the people of the city
All those hundreds lights at night on the square
I can wish for nothing better
Than to live here in Amsterdam
Aan de Amsterdamse grachten
Heb ik heel mijn hart voor altijd verpand
Amsterdam vult mijn gedachten
Als de mooiste stad in ons land
Al die Amsterdamse mensen
Al die lichtjes 's avonds laat op het plein
Niemand kan zich beter wensen
Dan een Amsterdammer te zijn
All the people of the city
All those hundreds lights at night on the square
I can wish for nothing better
Than to live here in Amsterdam
Al die Amsterdamse mensen
Al die lichtjes 's avonds laat op het plein
Niemand kan zich beter wensen
Dan een Amsterdammer te zijn
© copyright translation
|
|
|
Wim Sonneveld (1917-1974) was a Dutch cabaret artist and singer. He is considered to be one of the 'Great Three' of Dutch cabaret (with Toon Hermans and Wim Kan). In the Netherlands, 'cabaret' is a kind of theatre in which someone, usually in a one man show, tells a story or series of anecdotes (personal or critical about politics/society or just hilarious) with jokes and songs.
Sonneveld made over 25 cabaret shows (with his own cabaret group) in the years 1943-1959. In 1957 he played in the American movie Silk Stockings, alongside Fred Astaire. Back in the Netherlands, he asked Seth Gaaikema to translate the musical My fair lady and played the role of Henry Higgins for three years (1960-1962). He died very unexpected, of a heart attack, in 1974, only 56 years old.
Some of his most beloved songs are 'The village'/'Het dorp' (translation of the French 'La montagne' by Jean Ferrat); 'Marjolijne' and 'Margootje' (both by Annie M.G. Schmidt).
|
|
|
|
Pieter Goemans (1925-2000) was a Dutch composer and songwriter. In 1949 he wrote the melody of his most famous song, above song 'Along the canals of Amsterdam'/'Aan de Amsterdamse grachten'. Only in 1955 he wrote the lyrics. Many artists sung the song, but the most famous version is the one of Wim Sonneveld (1962).
After this success he started working for television shows, wrote over 300 songs for artists like Corry Brokken, Anneke Grönloh and Tom Manders (Dorus), and he translated 12 musicals.
Nowadays a bridge over the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam is named after Pieter Goemans. It has a plaque with his name and the title of the song on it. The song is still sung every year at that place, during the Prinsengrachtconcert (an annual open-air concert since 1981).
 More translated Dutch songs in the genre 'songs of praise' and more with the theme 'songs about Dutch cities'. See also the list of Dutch artists with all their songs on this website.
 Lyrics 'Aan de Amsterdamse grachten' on Dutch website: Nederlandse songteksten.
|
|
Search all Dutch pop songs, chansons
alphabetically / genres / themes
singers / songwriters
∗ ∗ ∗
Find over 3000 Dutch and English songtexts
on our Dutch website 'Nederlandse en Engelse songteksten'
∗ ∗ ∗
nederlandse liedjes met muziek vertaald naar het Engels met Engelse vertaling  niederländische lieder mit musik aus die Niederlande mit übersetzung in Englisch  chansons néerlandais de pays bas hollande avec traduction en anglais  canciones holandes de países bajos con translaciones traducción en inglés  canzone olandese olanda con musica traduzione inglese 
|
∗ ∗ ∗
© copyright translation
(2016)
|
