… Read Full Bio ↴George Baker Selection was a rock band from Hoorn, the Netherlands.
George Baker (born Johannes Bouwens, The Netherlands) is the singer, songwriter, and founder of the Dutch pop music band, the George Baker Selection in 1969. They have sold over 20 million records worldwide.
The band acquired international fame with the two major hit singles; the psychedelic rock-style Little Green Bag (1969), and Paloma Blanca (1975).
In 1982, Paloma Blanca was used in the TV movie The Executioner's Song. In 1992, Little Green Bag again topped the international charts after it was used in Quentin Tarantino's motion picture Reservoir Dogs. Little Green Bag was also used in Chilean telenovela "Machos" as the main theme, and in a commercial for a norwegian pizza called "Grandiosa".
In 1967, Johannes Bouwens was living in Wormerveer and joined the band Soul Invention, a soul band which played covers of songs by Otis Redding and Sam and Dave. They changed their name to "George Baker Selection", Bouwens naming himself for a character from a detective novel. The band consisted of Jan Hop, Jac. (Sjaak) Greuter, George Thé, and Jan Visser. Their first album, Little Green Bag (1970), produced an immediate worldwide hit: their debut single, "Little Green Bag" reached No. 16 on the Cash Box magazine chart and No. 21 on the Billboard Top 100 in the United States. The success came as a surprise for Baker, who remembers hearing it on the radio at work, in a lemonade factory. The single sold over one million copies globally, and received a gold disc. A string of singles and albums followed; the second single, "Dear Ann", was such a success that Baker quit his job in the lemonade factory and became a full-time musician. Besides scoring hits with his own band, he also wrote songs for others, including BZN, The Shoes, Andy Star, and Next One. In 1974 singer Lida Bond joined the band, and combining her voice with Baker's proved highly successful.
Their fifth album, Paloma Blanca, was released in 1975, and the single "Paloma Blanca" reached No. 1 on charts in several countries. "Paloma Blanca" sold more than seven million copies worldwide, making it one of the most successful Dutch singles ever.
In 1978, the George Baker Selection split up because "the pressure had become too much." The band has sold over 20 million records worldwide. George Baker formed a new George Baker Selection in 1982, which stayed together until 1989. The band has released twelve albums and several compilation albums.
The band experienced a brief return to the international charts in 1992 when the song "Little Green Bag" was used in the title sequence of the film Reservoir Dogs and in "Machos", a cheesy Chilean soap opera in 2003. The song is also featured in a Moto X smartphone commercial circa 2013.
Members
Johannes Bouwens (as George Baker) (composer, vocals, guitar, mandolin, flute, piano and organ) 1967–1977, 1982–1989.
Elly Bloothoofd (vocals, guitar) 1982–1989.
Lida Jonkman-Bont (vocals) 1974–1977.
Nelleke Brzoskowsky (vocals) 1982–1989.
Willy Delano (vocals) 1977, 1982–1989.
Pieter Goeman (organ and piano) 1982–1989.
Sjaak Greuter (vocals, organ, flute and piano) 1967–1982. (died in March, 2018)
Jan Hop (drums) 1969–77, 1983–1989.
Henk Kramer (saxophone) 1967–1970.
Nathalie Más (vocals) between 1977 and 1982.
Job Netten (guitar) 1967–1970.
Martin Schoen (bass) between 1974 and 1982.
George Thé (vocals, guitar and bass) 1969–77, 1983–1989.
Cor Veerman (as Alan Decker) (bass) 1971–1974.
Theo Vermast (bassoon) 1967–1968.
Jan Visser (bass) 1968–1971.
Ton Vredenburg (drums) 1967–1970.
Midnight
George Baker Selection Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm waiting for the train that never comes
For me there is no future and no past
I only think about the dates we had
Waiting ‘til midnight
Waiting for a time to see my baby
Waiting for a time to kiss my lady now
Waiting for a time to kiss my honey
Waiting for a time to spend my money now
Reviens cherie quand tu m'aimes
I want to near me in my loneliness
The rain is falling and the leaves are falling down
And so I wait to see you here around
Waiting ‘til midnight
Waiting for a time to see my baby
Waiting for a time to kiss my lady now
Waiting ‘til midnight
Waiting for a time to kiss my honey
Waiting for a time to spend my money now
Waiting ‘til midnight
Waiting for a time to see my baby
Waiting for a time to kiss my lady now
Waiting ‘til midnight
Waiting for a time to kiss my honey
Waiting for a time to spend my money
Waiting ‘til midnight
Waiting for a time to see my baby
Waiting for a time to see my baby
Waiting for a time to kiss my lady now
Waiting ‘til midnight
Waiting for a time to kiss my honey
Waiting for a time to spend my money now
I'm sitting on the Station Gare de Nord
The song "Midnight" by George Baker Selection tells the story of a man who is waiting for a train that never comes, and while he waits, he reflects on the dates he had with his girlfriend. The lyrics are heavily focused on waiting for a specific moment in time to be with his loved one. The singer seems to be stuck in his own thoughts of the past and future, with no sense of present. The phrase "For me there is no future and no past" is an excellent example of how the singer is fixated on his past relationship, and he sees the present and future of his life being empty without his girlfriend.
The chorus of the song is repeated throughout, emphasizing the theme of waiting specifically for the moment of "midnight." The song has a romantic and melancholic tone, with the lyrics being beautifully written to reflect on lost love and longing. The line "Waiting for a time to spend my money now" could be interpreted as a way of expressing how much he misses the intimate moments with his girlfriend, such as spending money on her.
Overall, the song is reflective of the theme of missed opportunities and the longing for the past. The lyrics express the confusion and pain that the singer feels about not being able to be reunited with their lover.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sitting on the Station Gare de Nord
I am waiting on the Gare de Nord Station.
I'm waiting for the train that never comes
I am hoping for something that will never happen.
For me there is no future and no past
I am living in a present without any hope or memories.
I only think about the dates we had
My mind is preoccupied with past memories of our relationship.
Waiting ‘til midnight
Hoping for a specific time to arrive.
Waiting for a time to see my baby
Looking forward to seeing someone I care about deeply.
Waiting for a time to kiss my lady now
Eagerly anticipating the moment when I can kiss my love interest.
Waiting for a time to kiss my honey
Longing for an opportunity to show affection to someone special.
Waiting for a time to spend my money now
Wanting to use my resources to spoil the one I love.
Reviens cherie quand tu m'aimes
Come back to me, my dear, when you love me.
I want to near me in my loneliness
I desire the comforting presence of someone I care for during my lonely times.
The rain is falling and the leaves are falling down
The environment around me is gloomy and depressing.
And so I wait to see you here around
I am eagerly looking forward to meeting you here.
Contributed by Eli S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jose Garcia
POR AÑOS BUSCANDO ESTA JOYA POR AÑOS ME SORPRENDIO QUE ERA MUSICA DE GEORGE BAKER TODA UNA LEYENDA ..DE NIÑO QUE NO ESCUCHABA ESTA CANCION MUCHOS RECUERDOS SALUDOS AMIGAS Y AMIGOS QUE COMPARTEN ESTAS MAGICAS CANCIONES☮️✌️☮️
Francesco Calabro
Conosco questa canzone da quando è uscita, più di cinquant'anni fa... Ho ancora il 45 giri. Geniale, spettacolare !!!
Jo-Anne Flavel
This song charted in Adelaide. South Australia, got as high 25 on our top 40. Did it chart anywhere else? Got the 45 too. What an amazing song that tends to be neglected on commercial radio.
attilio bandiera
nr 9 in Italy
ThePantruca
So much great music has come out of Holland....since forever....
Jean-Luc ATHENA
Not directly but, I prefer to name this country Netherlands. That's all !
SwaggerNauts365
Jean-Luc AT.
Um ok? Did he say it was?
Jean-Luc ATHENA
Holland is not a country.
Eddie MUSTAFA
Been looking for this song for YEARS! THANK YOU!!!
GUILLON-KOPF Patrice
Sheila ( B Devotion ) had a big hit with the French version ( Reviens je t'aime )