Istanbul
Ella Fitzgerald Bing Crosby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 a date in Constantinople
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way
So, take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Istanbul
Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
So, take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Istanbul
The song "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" was originally written by Jimmy Kennedy and Nat Simon in 1953. The song is a play on the fact that the city of Constantinople, which was the capital of the Byzantine Empire, was renamed to Istanbul after it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. The song references this historical event and makes fun of the fact that many people still refer to the city as Constantinople.
The first verse begins by comparing the two names of the city, Constantinople and Istanbul, and then explains that it has been a long time since the city had been known by its old name. The second verse makes a reference to the fact that all the women who lived in Constantinople now live in Istanbul, which is a humorous way of showing how the name change affected the lives of the people who lived there. The line "Turkish delight on a moonlit night" is also a play on words, referencing the popular Turkish candy "Turkish Delight".
The chorus of the song repeats the idea that Constantinople has now become Istanbul, and that the two names cannot be used interchangeably. The final verse compares the changing of the city's name to the changing of New York City's name from New Amsterdam. The song ends with a plea to be taken back to Constantinople, but the response is that it is impossible to go back now that the city has changed its name.
Line by Line Meaning
Istanbul was Constantinople
The city once known as Constantinople is now called Istanbul
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
The name of the city was officially changed to Istanbul
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
It has been a significant amount of time since the city was known as Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Istanbul is now known for its delightful Turkish culture, especially during the beautiful moonlit nights
Every gal in Constantinople
All the ladies who lived in the city
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
All the ladies who lived in Constantinople now live in Istanbul
So if you've a date in Constantinople
If you have a date planned in the past-used-to-be Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
The lady waiting for the date will now be in modern-day Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
New York City's name used to be New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
The reason why the name was changed is unknown to the singer
People just liked it better that way
The change in name was done purely because of the people's preference
So, take me back to Constantinople
The singer wants to go back in time when the city was known as Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
It's impossible to go back in time to the city's former name
Why did Constantinople get the works?
The reason why the city's name was changed is unknown
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Only the Turkish people can determine why the name was changed
Istanbul
The song's refrain, emphasizing the city's new name
Lyrics Ā© Cloud9
Written by: PAUL WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@IBRAHIMTABAKOGLU
.."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 girl in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you' ve 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
So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can' t go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody' s business but the Turks
Istanbul (Istanbul)
Istanbul (Istanbul)
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can' t say
People just liked it better that way
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it' s Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody' s business but the Turks
So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can' t go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That' s nobody' s business but the Turks"..
@monoceros1222
Bing Crosby's voice was truly amazing!!
@butternutsquashpie
Geez this is simply amazing. I've had it in my head for the LONGEST time and now Bing's version is out. It's gonna be a long time befor ei get this outta my head now :D
@squirrelmanyt6069
People: You do realize that Copyright Laws were not as tight back then as they are now? It was an environment where people played off each other's beats and swing lines. Jazz influenced so much of the music of that era that to say someone copied someone is tantamount to The Muppets copying Fraggle Rock...
@jonathanrochkind9360
Nobody else is going to comment on the wild klezmer break-down coming out of nowhere at around 1:00?
@stepheneinbinder2604
This recording is in the key of D minor but the sheet music in the still video is in G minor.
@DinsRune
Bing plays it straight at first, then he and Ella seem to start to play with it in verse 2 š
@butternutsquashpie
Still in my head :)
@DoubleIIVids
Patrolling the Mojave AlmostĀ Makes You Wish For a Nuclear Winter
@sextuspompeius1266
What this has nothing to do with the Mojave
@DeadYorick
@@sextuspompeius1266 He's referencing a popular mod for Fallout New Vegas that includes this song called "RACE". It's a radio station mod.