However, he never revealed the song’s true meaning, not even to Laura Goldhamer who directed the stop-motion music video in close collaboration with him. She told Esquire the video, which took over a month to finish, was created at Isakov’s farm—yet she “never once asked Greg, ‘What is this song about?’”
Amsterdam
Gregory Alan Isakov Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our Amsterdam she hides
Watery eyes
That howling wind, she's waving hi
Her other hand's in mine
Oh-oh, silhouette
She's growing tall and fine
She'll follow me down every street
No matter what my crime
All inside
Our Amsterdam she flies
Hoarding the kites
That howling wind, she'll take everything
But she's easy on the eyes
Oh, churches and trains
While they all look the same to me now
They shoot you some place
While we ache to come home somehow
The lyrics of Gregory Alan Isakov's song Amsterdam seem to be about the city of Amsterdam, but there is much more to be interpreted from the song. The first verse paints a picture of a person in Amsterdam who is sad and possibly crying with watery eyes. But this person is not alone; they are holding hands with the singer as they face the howling wind together. The second verse gives more insight into their relationship. The lyrics suggest that the person who was crying is now growing stronger and more resilient, like a silhouette that is "growing tall and fine." They have also gained the trust and loyalty of the singer, who knows she "has my back" and will stand by him through thick and thin.
The chorus contrasts the roughness of Amsterdam, its hoarding winds and possibly harsh environment, with its underlying beauty that is "easy on the eyes." The final lines of the song bring up the paradox of feeling at home while away: the familiarity of churches and trains is contrasted with the ache to return home, and the longing for home only grows stronger while away.
Line by Line Meaning
All inside
Everything is happening inside Amsterdam
Our Amsterdam she hides
Amsterdam has an elusive quality
Watery eyes
Possibly a metaphor for the canals
That howling wind, she's waving hi
Acknowledging the weather in Amsterdam
Her other hand's in mine
Implies a romantic relationship
Oh-oh, silhouette
A description of the woman who is walking with him
She's growing tall and fine
A compliment to the woman's beauty
She's got my back
She's there for him
She'll follow me down every street
She's a loyal companion
No matter what my crime
She still has his back even if he makes mistakes
All inside
Everything is happening inside Amsterdam
Our Amsterdam she flies
Implies freedom and independence
Hoarding the kites
The city, like a child, keeps the kites for itself
That howling wind, she'll take everything
Nature can be unrelenting
But she's easy on the eyes
Despite the hardships of the wind, the city is still beautiful
Oh, churches and trains
There are familiar structures and modes of transportation in Amsterdam
While they all look the same to me now
Amsterdam has become a place of daily routine
They shoot you some place
The structures and transportation will take you somewhere
While we ache to come home somehow
Despite being familiar with Amsterdam, there's still a desire to go back home
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Gregory Alan Isakov
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@soufianewafik1031
Lyrics ...
All inside our Amsterdam she hides
Watery-eyed
That howling wind, she's waving hi
Her other hand's in mine
Oh silhouette
She's growing tall and fine
She's got my back
She'll follow me down every street
No matter what my crime
All inside our Amsterdam she flies
Hoarding the kites
That howling wind, she'll take everything
But she's easy on the eyes
Churches and trains
They all look the same to me now
They shoot you some place
While we ache to come home somehow
@leahkrokowski
My favorite lines:
"Churches and trains
They all look the same to me now
They shoot you some place
While we ache to come home somehow"
^^ exactly what I was thinking while listening to this song almost non-stop on a train from Landscheid, Germany to Amsterdam in January of this year. This could not have been a more perfect song for my homesickness, heartache, and scared soul to listen to at the time.
Thank you so much, Gregory. I am forever a fan of yours.
@kennewicksheri
Glorious
"Amsterdam"
All inside our Amsterdam she hides
Watery-eyed
That howling wind, she's waving hi
Her other hand's in mine
Oh silhouette
She's growing tall and fine
She's got my back
She'll follow me down every street
No matter what my crime
All inside our Amsterdam she flies
Hoarding the kites
That howling wind, she'll take everything
But she's easy on the eyes
Churches and trains
They all look the same to me now
They shoot you some place
While we ache to come home somehow
@reddwing4368
I can feel my shadows breath from behind
Growing taller as we slide
Into the night
One more time
He follows behind
Together we own all the nights
Far from the cities lites
We glide
No matter black or light or which side of the clock we reside
our destiny s collide
he follows me all inside no matter the time
So together we subside in a paradise
Of two became one
The birth of a new start
He hides
Before the howling wind blows up again
And we're cast back into the lights tonite
@titoslounge1946
I was recruited to play baseball on the east coast. My dad and I took a tour of a few other schools in New England we decided to drive up into the Boston area from Long Island. I was gassed so I feel asleep for an hour while he drove. When I woke up, this song was playing while we drove through Providence in Rhode Island. I had never felt so at peace. There was nothing to say and we just sat and drove through the town on a beautiful sunny day during the summer. I'll always remember that feeling of serenity and genuine happiness. It was a really cool moment with my Dad and I'll remember it for the rest of my life. Thanks Greg.
@apoorvaupadhyay5183
That is so beautiful😊
@devincrocker8496
Love the story
@jessh.2281
And you really will, "3 little birds" had a moment for me where I said I would always remember. I heard it the other day and teared up. That moment was 10 years ago. Music is funny like that.
@auliaheningdarmasti1899
I'm literally smiling reading this :')
@jredgemon
Thank you for sharing this. It really touched me this morning.
@alexclemens565
Crazy to think there are songs like this that sit for 9 years, waiting for you to find them on a random Tuesday night. Keep up the good work Greg
@luna25317
Es ist wirklich verrückt. Was ich schon für Schätze 🎶🎶🎶 gefunden habe die schon über viele Jahre alt sind, ist einfach nur traurig. Da sieht man wie die Medien arbeiten.
@kameimercy3589
It's music like this that makes life worth living.
@malvikapant7622
Absolutely