Amsterdam
Axelle Red Lyrics


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Je kan er boeken kopen
Die je hier heel zelden vindt
Je kan er langs de grachten lopen
Je haar los in de wind
Je kan er uren slijten
De parken zijn er groen
Je kan er naar Van Gogh gaan kijken
Dat zou je eigenlijk wel eens moeten doen
Je bent er vogelvrij
Omdat er alles kan
Zo dichtbij en toch zo ver is Amsterdam

Want daar in Amsterdam
Ben jij zo ver van mij
Toch voel ik Amsterdam
Zo pijnlijk dicht nabij

In het concertgebouw
Is het zeer dikwijls feest
Je weet toch nog
Dat zelfs Randy Newman daar ooit is geweest
Wie van ons vermoedde toen
Dat jij daar nu heel alleen
Een schuilplaats hebt gezocht
We gingen er altijd samen heen
Wie van ons is vogelvrij
Wie van ons die nog alles kan
Zo dichtbij en toch zo ver is Amsterdam

Want daar in Amsterdam
Ben jij zo ver van mij




Toch voel ik Amsterdam
Zo pijnlijk dicht nabij

Overall Meaning

The song "Amsterdam" by Axelle Red is a heartfelt ode to the city of Amsterdam and a reflection on a lost love. The lyrics paint a picture of a city filled with opportunities for adventure and exploration, from strolling along the canals to visiting Van Gogh's artwork. The line "Je bent er vogelvrij" (you are free as a bird there) captures the essence of Amsterdam's spirit of liberation and tolerance.


However, despite the beauty and freedom of Amsterdam, the singer is unable to fully enjoy it because the person she loves is far away. The bridge of the song is particularly poignant: "Want daar in Amsterdam, ben jij zo ver van mij. Toch voel ik Amsterdam, zo pijnlijk dicht nabij." (Because there in Amsterdam, you are so far from me. Yet I still feel Amsterdam, painfully close by.)


The final stanza reveals that the singer and her lost love used to attend concerts together at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, where Randy Newman once performed. The line "Wie van ons is vogelvrij" (which of us is free as a bird) could be interpreted as questioning the nature of freedom and liberation in relationships - are we truly free if we are not with the ones we love? The song ends with the bittersweet refrain of "Zo dichtbij en toch zo ver is Amsterdam" (So close, and yet so far is Amsterdam).


Line by Line Meaning

Je kan er boeken kopen
In Amsterdam, you can purchase rare books that are hard to find elsewhere.


Die je hier heel zelden vindt
These books are not commonly found in other places.


Je kan er langs de grachten lopen
One can stroll along the canals while in Amsterdam.


Je haar los in de wind
You can let your hair down and enjoy the breeze.


Je kan er uren slijten
One can easily spend hours in Amsterdam.


De parken zijn er groen
The parks in Amsterdam are lush and green.


Je kan er naar Van Gogh gaan kijken
Tourists should visit Van Gogh Museum when they're in Amsterdam.


Dat zou je eigenlijk wel eens moeten doen
It is strongly recommended that you visit the museum at least once.


Je bent er vogelvrij
In Amsterdam, one feels liberated and free like a bird.


Omdat er alles kan
It's because of the sense of freedom that anything and everything is possible in Amsterdam.


Zo dichtbij en toch zo ver is Amsterdam
Amsterdam is so close and yet so far away from wherever you are.


Want daar in Amsterdam
In the city of Amsterdam,


Ben jij zo ver van mij
You are physically far away from me when you are in Amsterdam.


Toch voel ik Amsterdam
But I still feel the city of Amsterdam,


Zo pijnlijk dicht nabij
even though it hurts so much to feel so close yet so far away.


In het concertgebouw
In the concert hall,


Is het zeer dikwijls feest
There are often celebrations and parties held.


Je weet toch nog
You still remember,


Dat zelfs Randy Newman daar ooit is geweest
When Randy Newman once performed there.


Wie van ons vermoedde toen
Neither of us suspected back then


Dat jij daar nu heel alleen
That you would be there, all alone now.


Een schuilplaats hebt gezocht
Looking for a hiding place.


We gingen er altijd samen heen
We used to go there together, all the time.


Wie van ons is vogelvrij
Which one of us is feeling the freedom and liberty, like a bird?


Wie van ons die nog alles kan
Which one of us can still do anything and everything with their freedom?


Zo dichtbij en toch zo ver is Amsterdam
Amsterdam is so close and yet so far away from wherever you are.




Contributed by Alex S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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