Hilton was … Read Full Bio ↴Ronnie Hilton (1926-2001) was an English popular singer.
Hilton was born Adrian Hill on 26th January 1926 in Hull. After various jobs, in 1948 he married Joan Conyer, who encouraged him to try professional singing. He won a competition in Leeds, and made a record in 1953, followed by "I Believe', which reached number two in the U.K. charts; Hilton became one of the most popular British singers of the 1950s. He had further hits with 'Vene Vidi Vice", 'Stars Shine in Your Eyes', 'The Yellow Rose of Texas', and 'Young and Foolish'. In 1956 his 'No Other Love' reached number one (holding Elvis Presley from that position for some weeks), and in 1959 he again reached number one with 'Wonder of You'. With the advent of the 1960s his popularity waned, although he did achieve a million seller in 1965 with 'A Windmill in Old Amsterdam'. He continued to perform in variety shows, although a stroke in 1976 held him back for a while. He died in Hailsham, East Sussex, on 21st July 2001.
A Windmill in Old Amsterdam
Ronnie Hilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A windmill with a mouse in and he wasn't grousin'
He sang every morning, "How lucky I am,
Living in a windmill in old Amsterdam!"
Chorus:
I saw a mouse!
Where?
There on the stair!
Right there!
A little mouse with clogs on
Well I declare!
Going clip-clippety-clop on the stair
Oh yeah
This mouse he got lonesome, he took him a wife
A windmill with mice in, it's hardly surprisin'
She sang every morning, "How lucky I am,
Living in a windmill in old Amsterdam!"
Chorus
First they had triplets and then they had quins
A windmill with quins in, and triplets and twins in
They sang every morning, "How lucky we are
Living in a windmill in Amsterdam, ya!"
Chorus
The daughters got married and so did the sons
The windmill had christ'nin's when no one was list'nin'
They all sang in chorus, "How lucky we am
Living in a windmill in old Amsterdam!"
Chorus
A mouse lived in a windmill, so snug and so nice
There's nobody there now but a whole lot of mice.
The song describes the story of a mouse that lived in a windmill in Amsterdam, which illustrates the simplicity and joy of life. The mouse sings every morning about how happy he is to live in a windmill where he doesn't have to worry about anything. He is accompanied by his wife and later on their children, all living a fulfilled life singing about their happiness in their humble abode. They are content with what they have and are grateful for it. The idyllic life portrayed in the song is such that, even after the mouse family is long gone, the windmill will always hold a special place in their hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
A mouse lived in a windmill in old Amsterdam
There was once a mouse who lived in a windmill in the city of Amsterdam.
A windmill with a mouse in and he wasn't grousin'
The windmill belonged to the mouse and he was happy with it.
He sang every morning, "How lucky I am,
Living in a windmill in old Amsterdam!"
Every morning the mouse would sing a song about how content he was to live in the windmill in Amsterdam.
Chorus:
I saw a mouse!
Where?
There on the stair!
Where on the stair?
Right there!
A little mouse with clogs on
Well I declare!
Going clip-clippety-clop on the stair
Oh yeah
The chorus describes a scene where someone spots a mouse with wooden shoes on the stairs of the windmill in Amsterdam.
This mouse he got lonesome, he took him a wife
A windmill with mice in, it's hardly surprisin'
She sang every morning, "How lucky I am,
Living in a windmill in old Amsterdam!"
The mouse got lonely and found a wife who also lived in the windmill. They were happy together and would sing together each morning about being lucky to live in the Amsterdam windmill.
First they had triplets and then they had quins
A windmill with quins in, and triplets and twins in
They sang every morning, "How lucky we are
Living in a windmill in Amsterdam, ya!"
The couple had multiple children, including triplets and quins, all of whom were born and raised in the windmill. They too would sing every morning, grateful for their home in Amsterdam.
The daughters got married and so did the sons
The windmill had christ'nin's when no one was list'nin'
They all sang in chorus, "How lucky we am
Living in a windmill in old Amsterdam!"
The children of the mouse family grew up, got married, and had their own children. They continued to live in the windmill and even had secret christenings for their children. They would all sing together, thanking their lucky stars for their home in Amsterdam.
A mouse lived in a windmill, so snug and so nice
There's nobody there now but a whole lot of mice.
The song ends with the windmill now empty, except for a lot of mice who still consider it their home.
Contributed by Jordan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
dale watts
This is the last song my mum heard before she passed away last night, on my birthday of all days. It now has special meaning for me.
molimolinana
Sending you Love
Dan Harte
Genuinely so sorry for your loss, hope you're doing ok now
Konix Multisystem
Hell of a trauma dump
mrbojangles977
Aww Bless you and your beautiful mum , and its Ronnie Hiltons birthday today . Born 06/05/1927
Andy Hammond
So glad found this. My wife thought I was mad singing this song. I think she thought I'd made it up! I now sing it to my son with pride.
sashpunk
As a child we used to sing this on car journeys, (no radios in cars back then). I then taught it my children (even though we had a radio) I am now teaching it to my grandchildren and they love it. Some tunes whilst they may not be chart toppers stand the test of time, this is one of them. A real sing along for the kids. Long may it continue to be so.
paz thakrar
This brought so much memories of my child hood in the 70's we sang it in infant school - i hear it now and i cry how life has gone so quick thanks for the upload
Allan Davies
I love this song by Ronnie Hilton. It reminds me of my childhood and It still brings a smile to my face many years later. We have an ornamental mouse on our stairs!! A
Squizzel
my mum used to sing this to me as a kid!. She died 5 months ago and I keep thinking about this song, I dont know why =( Miss you mum.