The band formed in 1984 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. The original lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Trevor Tanner, drummer Jan Kalicki, and bassist Nick Chown. (Tanner and Kalicki had previously played together in the short-lived punk band Moskow.) Early gigs supported the likes of The Cult, The March Violets, and Lords of the New Church. In 1985, the band released their debut single, "Sob Story", followed by the mini-LP, Giants. Word-of-mouth was such that the Bolshoi were able to sell out many of their early headlining performances.
The band migrated to London in 1985, and their lineup expanded to include Paul Clark on keyboards. In 1986, they released their first full-length LP, Friends, and expanded their touring schedule to U.S., South America, and Poland. Friends was followed in 1987 by the album Lindy's Party, on which the sound was more pop-oriented.
Stylistically, the Bolshoi were difficult to categorize. They have been described as a proto-goth band, similar in their live act to fellow Beggars Banquet signees, Bauhaus. Tanner was recognized for his dark, pensive lyrics that belied a social responsibility and awareness.
After the release of Lindy's Party, the band recorded a fourth album, but problems with their record label management impeded its release, and they disbanded as the 1980s drew to a close. The unreleased fourth album, apparently titled "Country Life", is reportedly still in the vaults at Beggars Banquet.
Amsterdam
The Bolshoi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there's a sailor who sings
of the dreams that he brings
from the wide open sea
in the ports of amsterdam
there's a sailor who sleeps
while the river bank weeps
in the ports of amsterdam
there's a sailor who dies
full of beer, full of cries
in the drunken town fight
in the ports of amsterdam
there's a sailor who's born
on a hot and muggy morn
by the dawn's early light
in the ports of amsterdam
where the sailors all meet
there's a sailor who eats
only fish heads and tails
and he'll show you his teeth
that have rotted too soon
that can haul up the sails
that can swallow the moon
and he yells to the cook
with his arms open wide
"hey, bring me more fish
set it down by my side"
and he wants so to belch
but he's too full to try
so he stands up and laughs
and he zips up his fly
in the ports of amsterdam
you can see sailors dance
paunches bursting their pants
grinding women to porch
they've forgotten the tune
that their whiskey voice croaked
splitting the night
with the roar of their jokes
and they turn and they dance
and they laugh and they lust
till the rancid sound of the accordion bursts
then out of the night
with their pride in their pants
and the sluts that they tow
underneath the street lamps
in the ports of amsterdam
there's a sailor who drinks
and he drinks and he drinks
and he drinks once again
he'll drink to the health
of the whores of amsterdam
who have given their bodies
to a thousand other men
yeah, they've bargained their virtue
their goodness all gone
for a few dirty coins
well he just can't go on
rolls his eyes to the sky
and rolls them up above
and he pisses like i cry
on the unfaithful love
in the port of amsterdam
in the port of amsterdam
The Bolshoi's "Amsterdam" is a poignant depiction of the gritty reality of portside life. The song opens with the image of a sailor who sings of the dreams he brings from the sea, and the mournful weeping of the riverbank beside the old willow tree. There is then a shift to the sailor who dies full of beer and cries in a drunken town fight. The song paints a vivid picture of sailors who eat only fish heads and tails, showing their rotted teeth that can haul up the sails and swallow the moon. They dance, laugh and lust with women they've picked up until the accordion bursts, and then they return to the ships with their pride in their pants and the sluts they tow.
The final verse of the song is a heartbreaking look at the sailor who drinks and drinks to the health of the whores of Amsterdam, who have given their bodies to a thousand other men. They have bargained away their virtue and goodness for a few dirty coins. The sailor can't go on anymore, rolls his eyes to the sky and pisses like the singer cries on his unfaithful love. "Amsterdam" is a song about passion and loss, about the harsh realities of portside life, and about the brief moments of happiness that sailors find before returning to the sea.
Line by Line Meaning
in the ports of amsterdam
The location of the events described in the song.
there's a sailor who sings
A sailor who performs on the docks of Amsterdam, sharing the stories of his travels from the ocean.
of the dreams that he brings
The sailor brings dreams of adventure and experiences that are unique to life at sea.
from the wide open sea
The sailor comes from the vast ocean that he travels upon.
there's a sailor who sleeps
A sailor who has fallen asleep on the river bank, causing those that pass by to weep.
while the river bank weeps
The river bank weeps due to the hardships that the sailor faces while trying to make a living.
by the old willow tree
The sailor sleeps under the shade of an old willow tree by the riverbank.
there's a sailor who dies
A sailor who dies after a night of heavy drinking and a fight in the town.
full of beer, full of cries
The sailor is full of beer and emotion before his death.
in the drunken town fight
The sailor got into a fight while out drinking with other sailors in the town.
there's a sailor who's born
A sailor who is born in Amsterdam during the early hours of a hot and muggy morning.
on a hot and muggy morn
The sailor is born in the midst of Summer heat and humidity.
by the dawn's early light
The sailor is born just as the sun is beginning to rise over Amsterdam.
where the sailors all meet
The sailor frequents a place where other sailors and merchants come together to trade and socialize.
there's a sailor who eats
A sailor who only eats fish heads and tails, which are often easily accessible and affordable.
only fish heads and tails
The sailor is content with just the remnants of the fish that are leftover after the more desirable parts have been sold.
and he'll show you his teeth
The sailor's teeth have rotted due to his preference for fish heads and a lack of dental care.
that have rotted too soon
The sailor's teeth have decayed prematurely, causing him pain and discomfort.
that can haul up the sails
Despite his dental troubles, the sailor still has the physical strength to work as a sailor.
that can swallow the moon
The sailor possesses exceptional physical strength, as if he could even swallow a celestial body like the moon.
and he yells to the cook
The sailor requests more food from the cook.
with his arms open wide
The sailor makes a boisterous gesture to emphasize his desire for more food.
"hey, bring me more fish
The sailor implores the cook to bring him more fish to eat.
set it down by my side"
He asks that the fish be placed directly beside him for easy access.
and he wants so to belch
The sailor is so full after eating that he wants to belch to relieve the pressure on his stomach.
but he's too full to try
Despite his strong desire, the sailor is physically unable to belch due to how full he is.
so he stands up and laughs
The sailor stands up and laughs, amused by his physical state.
and he zips up his fly
The sailor makes a lighthearted joke, then belts out a zipper on his pants.
you can see sailors dance
The docks of Amsterdam are so full of life that it's easy to see the sailors dancing and celebrating.
paunches bursting their pants
The sailors have indulged in food and drink to the point where their stomachs are protruding from their pants.
grinding women to porch
Some sailors dance with women, but in a way that is not always respectful or modest.
they've forgotten the tune
The sailors are so inebriated that they can't remember the melody to the song that they're dancing to.
that their whiskey voice croaked
The sailors' voices are hoarse from drinking whiskey and singing loudly.
splitting the night
The sailors' singing and shouting is so loud it can be heard over the sounds of the city at night.
with the roar of their jokes
The sailors tell each other jokes and share stories with such energy and enthusiasm that it's like a roar.
and they turn and they dance
The sailors continue to dance, reveling in the moment.
and they laugh and they lust
The sailors are driven by pleasure, laughing and feeling lust for the women around them.
till the rancid sound of the accordion bursts
Their dancing and joy is interrupted by the sudden sound of an accordion, which has a strong, unpleasant odor due to its prolonged use.
then out of the night
Suddenly, the joy and merriment come to an end and things become quiet and subdued.
with their pride in their pants
Despite the lull in festivities, the sailors continue to carry themselves with confidence and swagger.
and the sluts that they tow
Some of the sailors are accompanied by women who are not their wives or girlfriends.
underneath the street lamps
The sailors and their companions are illuminated by the light of the street lamps.
there's a sailor who drinks
A sailor who is known for his excessive drinking habits.
and he drinks and he drinks
The sailor's drinking habits are insatiable, and he keeps consuming alcohol.
and he drinks once again
The sailor continues to consume alcohol, despite already being noticeably drunk.
he'll drink to the health
The sailor toasts his drink to the good health of others.
of the whores of amsterdam
The sailor is specifically toasting the health of the women who work as prostitutes in Amsterdam.
who have given their bodies
The women who work as prostitutes have given their physical selves to others in exchange for money.
to a thousand other men
The women have had many sexual partners, as they are paid for their services by a wide variety of individuals.
yeah, they've bargained their virtue
The women who work as prostitutes have compromised their sense of morality.
their goodness all gone
Their choice of profession has robbed them of their inherent goodness and morality.
for a few dirty coins
The women are paid meager wages for their services, which are not always hygienic or safe.
well he just can't go on
The sailor suddenly realizes how sad and pathetic it is to drink to the health of women who have been forced into compromising situations.
rolls his eyes to the sky
The sailor looks upward, exasperated by the tragic circumstances he finds himself in.
and rolls them up above
The sailor is rolling his eyes in disbelief and frustration.
and he pisses like I cry
The sailor is so despondent that he's compared his own tears to the urine he's currently expelling from his bladder.
on the unfaithful love
The sailor's despair is due to his realization about how the love shown to him by the prostitutes in Amsterdam is not true or genuine.
in the port of Amsterdam
The song returns full circle to the setting of Amsterdam's ports and the seafaring community that inhabits them.
Contributed by Matthew K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
speleokeir
First time I've heard this one, thanks for putting it up. Love it!
speleokeir
(PORT OF) AMSTERDAM ("Sob Story" B-Side, 1985)
(Bigger Giants, 1990)
In the ports of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who sings
Of the dreams that he brings
From the wide open sea
In the ports of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who sleeps
While the river bank weeps
By the old willow tree
In the ports of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who dies
Full of beer, full of cries
In the drunken town fight
In the ports of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who's born
On a hot and muggy morn
By the dawn's early light
In the ports of Amsterdam
Where the sailors all meet
There's a sailor who eats
Only fish heads and tails
And he'll show you his teeth
That have rotted too soon
That can haul up the sails
That can swallow the moon
And he yells to the cook
With his arms open wide
"Hey, bring me more fish
Set it down by my side"
And he wants so to belch
But he's too full to try
So he stands up and laughs
And he zips up his fly
In the ports of Amsterdam
You can see sailors dance
Paunches bursting their pants
Grinding women to porch
They've forgotten the tune
That their whiskey voice croaked
Splitting the night
With the roar of their jokes
And they turn and they dance
And they laugh and they lust
Till the rancid sound of the accordion bursts
Then out of the night
With their pride in their pants
And the sluts that they tow
Underneath the street lamps
In the ports of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who drinks
And he drinks and he drinks
And he drinks once again
He'll drink to the health
Of the whores of Amsterdam
Who have given their bodies
To a thousand other men
Yeah, they've bargained their virtue
Their goodness all gone
For a few dirty coins
Well he just can't go on
Rolls his eyes to the sky
And rolls them up above
And he pisses like I cry
On the unfaithful love
In the port of Amsterdam
In the port of Amsterdam
Words: Jacques Brel / Music: The Bolshoi
Javier Sáez
Muy variante