Dutchman
Steve Goodman
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The Dutchman is not the kind of man Who keeps his thumb jammed in the dam That holds his dreams in That's a secret that only Margaret knows When Amsterdam is golden in the summer Margaret brings him breakfast, she believes him He thinks the tulips bloom beneath the snow He's mad as he can be, Margaret only sees that sometimes Sometimes she sees her unborn children in his eyes Let us go to the banks of the ocean Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee Long ago, I used to be a young man Dear Margaret remembers that for me The Dutchman still wears wooden shoes And his cap and coat are patched with the love Margaret sewed there Sometimes he thinks he's still in Rotterdam He watches the tug-boats down canals An' calls out to them when he thinks he knows the Captain Margaret comes to take him home again Through unforgiving streets that trip him, though she holds his arm Sometimes he thinks he's alone and he calls her name Let us go to the banks of the ocean Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee Long ago, I used to be a young man And dear Margaret remembers that for me The winters whirl the windmills 'round She winds his muffler tighter, they sit in the kitchen Some tea with whiskey keeps away the dew He sees her for a moment, he calls her name She makes the bed up singing some old love song She learned it when the song was very new He hums a line or two, they hum together in the dark The Dutchman falls asleep, Margaret blows the candles out Let us go to the banks of the ocean Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee Long ago, I used to be a young man And dear Margaret remembers that for me Let us go to the banks of the ocean Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee Long ago, I used to be a young man And dear Margaret remembers that for me
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Written by: MICHAEL PETER SMITH
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
13 facts about this song
Song Origin"The Dutchman" is not originally by Steve Goodman. It is, in fact, a folk song written by Michael Peter Smith in the 1960s. Goodman is famously known for his rendition of the song.
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Song PopularityAlthough Steve Goodman did not write "The Dutchman," his interpretation of the song is one of the most well-known versions.
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Album InclusionThe song is featured in Goodman's album "Somebody Else's Troubles," which was released in 1972.
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Genre"The Dutchman" falls under the genre of folk and folk-country, a style for which Goodman was well known and loved.
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Cover VersionsApart from Steve Goodman, many other popular musicians and bands have covered "The Dutchman," such as Suzy Bogguss, Liam Clancy, and Jerry Jeff Walker.
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Song Profile"The Dutchman" is known for its poignant lyrics and emotive style of performance, which tell a heartbreaking story about an old Dutchman, his wife, and their life in Amsterdam.
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Steve Goodman's LegacyAlthough Goodman did not achieve massive commercial success during his life, his talent, represented by songs like "The Dutchman," has given him posthumous recognition as one of America's greatest songwriters.
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Live PerformancesSteve Goodman performed "The Dutchman" live at numerous venues during his career, and it remained a favorite among fans who enjoyed folk music.
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RecordingGoodman's rendition of "The Dutchman" was recorded and released by Buddah Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, during his time working with the label.
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Song MessageThe song is a tender portrayal of aging and decline, presenting heartbreaking scenes where the Dutchman falls into senility, and his wife lovingly looking after him even though he can hardly remember her.
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AwardsWhile "The Dutchman" did not win any awards, Goodman himself is a posthumous Grammy Award winner, ensuring that his music, including this song, will be remembered for years to come.
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RecognitionIn 2007, thirty years after Steve Goodman's death, the album "Somebody Else's Troubles," featuring "The Dutchman," was inducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, securing the song's place in American music history.
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LengthThe song, in its original album version, runs for approximately 3 minutes and 38 seconds.
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Citation
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"Dutchman Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/58999/Steve+Goodman/Dutchman>.
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