Istanbul
Ruslan Nigmatullin vs. They Might Be Giants 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 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
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, oh 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 by They Might Be Giants is a fun, upbeat tune that playfully explores the changes that have taken place in the Turkish city over the years. The first verse establishes that Istanbul was once known as Constantinople, and the chorus repeats the refrain that "it's Istanbul, not Constantinople," emphasizing the fact that the city has changed its name. The lyrics also evoke a sense of nostalgia for the past, with the repeated phrase "been a long time gone" and the desire expressed in the bridge to go back to Constantinople. However, it's clear that the city has moved on; as the second verse notes, every gal who used to live in Constantinople is now in Istanbul, so if you have a date in the old city, you'll actually be meeting her in the new one.
The song ends with a playful twist, asking the question "why did Constantinople get the works?", but noting that it's nobody's business but the Turks. This line highlights the fact that while the song is meant to be lighthearted and whimsical, it's also acknowledging the complex political and cultural history of the city, which has seen empires rise and fall and countless waves of immigration and migration.
Line by Line Meaning
Istanbul was Constantinople
The city that was once called Constantinople is now known as Istanbul
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
The name of the city has changed to Istanbul
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
It has been a long time since the city was called Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Nowadays, the city of Istanbul is captivating and beautiful on a night lit by the moon
Every gal in Constantinople
All the women who lived in the city of Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
Have moved to and now live in Istanbul instead of Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
If you have a date planned in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Chances are, you'll find your date in Istanbul now
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Just like Constantinople, New York was once named New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
The reason for the name change is unknown
People just liked it better that way
It seems people preferred the new name
So, take me back to Constantinople
Expressing a desire to go back to the way things were in Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
It's impossible to go back to that time when the city was called Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Why did the city suffer or go through a tough time?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
The reasons and details of the event are only known by the inhabitants of Turkey, and it's not for anyone else to know
Istanbul
The new name of the city that was once called Constantinople
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jimmy Kennedy, Nat Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind