Istanbul
Dave Rudolf Lyrics
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Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've got a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Istan-Istan-Istan-Istan-bul
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've got a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Even old New York
Was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way
Istan-Istan-Istan-Istan-bul
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've got a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
The song Istanbul by Dave Rudolf is a playful tribute to the Turkish city formerly known as Constantinople. The lyrics provide a brief history lesson, explaining that Istanbul was once known as Constantinople and that it has been a long time since the name was changed. The catchy chorus, featuring the repeated phrase "Istanbul, not Constantinople," highlights the name change and emphasizes that the city should be referred to by its current name.
The song goes on to describe the city as a place of beauty and delight, particularly on a moonlit night when Turkish delights can be sampled. The lyrics also suggest that all of the women who used to live in Constantinople now live in Istanbul, which is a playful nod to the fact that the name change did not alter the fact that the city remained the same.
The final section of the song contains a playful reference to the fact that New York City was once known as New Amsterdam. The lyrics suggest that the reason for the name change is unknown but that people simply preferred it that way. This reference to New York City fits in with the overall theme of the song, which is to playfully explore the history of different cities and the ways in which they have evolved over time.
Line by Line Meaning
Istanbul was Constantinople
Once upon a time, the city that we now call Istanbul was known as Constantinople.
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
The city's name was changed from Constantinople to Istanbul at some point in history, and that is now its official name.
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
It has been a long time since the city was known as Constantinople.
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Nowadays, Istanbul is known for Turkish delight, a sweet and delicious treat, especially on a moonlit night.
Every gal in Constantinople
Every woman who lived in Constantinople back then...
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
...now lives in Istanbul, which is the modern-day name of the city.
So if you've got a date in Constantinople
So, if you happen to have a date that was made in the time when Constantinople was still the name of the city...
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
...then your date will actually be waiting for you in Istanbul, not Constantinople.
Even old New York
Just like Istanbul, even the city of New York...
Was once New Amsterdam
...had a different name in the past, which was New Amsterdam.
Why they changed it I can't say
The reason why they changed the name from New Amsterdam to New York is unclear - I don't know why this happened.
People just liked it better that way
However, one possible reason could be that people simply preferred the name New York over New Amsterdam, and so they changed it to reflect this preference.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY KENNEDY, NAT SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind