The group's original line up (1986-1989) was
* Gretchen Phillips - guitar, bass, mandolin and vocals
* Kathy Korniloff - guitar, bass, violin, percussion, vocals
* Laurie Freelove, guitar, bass, percussion & vocals.
Members each wrote songs and took turns on different instruments. Freelove left following completion of the band's first album in 1989. She was replaced by Meg Hentges on guitar and Barbara Cole on bass. Drummer Pam Barger was added to the band just prior to Freelove's departure.
Two Nice Girls won a GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Award in 1991. The group broke up in 1992.
The Holland Song
Two Nice Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Early morning
A soft light strokes your face
Your warm breath whispers
From a dreaming place
The shiny streets of Amsterdam
Embraced our native guise
Now I wrap your love around me
A cup of coffee and I'm on my way
It's a Nederlandse rainy day
My heart is open and it's on display
In this watercolor land
I love a new view
New colors coming to light
Windmills in the green
Against a grey sky
These Dutch are too much
They built this land from the sea
Crissing-cross canals
An old technology
A stroke of genius in a paper cup
I'd like to stroke your face and wake you up
A stranger's smile and a stroke of luck
In this watercolor land
We've found a new ground
Exploring dauntlessly
We're friends and we're lovers
No apology
I spend the morning in a warm cafe
North Sea breezes blow your love my way
I've got a feeling that we're going to stay
In this watercolor land
The Holland Song by Two Nice Girls is a heartfelt ode to the beauty and charm of Amsterdam. The song starts with delicate imagery of early morning and warm breath murmurs, creating a romantic atmosphere. The first verse establishes the singer's love for the Dutch streets and their embrace of the "native guise," which exudes a feeling of belonging. She describes how she can wrap her lover's love around her and continue to arise every day, fueled by the energy of this vibrant city. The lyrics romanticize the beauty of the place, from the "shiny streets of Amsterdam" to "Windmills in the green against a grey sky."
The second verse of the song shifts focus to the Dutch people and their can-do attitude, as they built their country from the sea and created a maze of criss-crossing canals. The lyrics praise their innovation, which is captured in the line "An old technology, a stroke of genius in a paper cup." The singer describes her desire to stroke her lover's face and wake him up, which adds a personal touch to the song. The chorus is an expression of how the city and its people have won the singer's heart, and she is open and exposed to this new world, experiencing it with her lover dauntlessly. The song paints a vivid picture of a watercolor land that is charming in its simplicity and has left an indelible impression on the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Early morning
The start of a new day
A soft light strokes your face
The gentle sunlight touches your face
Your warm breath whispers
You breathe gently while you sleep
From a dreaming place
You are in a dreamlike state
The shiny streets of Amsterdam
The bright and reflective roads of Amsterdam
Embraced our native guise
Accepted us with our original appearance
Now I wrap your love around me
I feel your love surrounding me
And I arise
I wake up and start my day
A cup of coffee and I'm on my way
I grab a cup of coffee and go about my day
It's a Nederlandse rainy day
It is a rainy day in the Netherlands
My heart is open and it's on display
I am open to new experiences and emotions
In this watercolor land
Referring to the picturesque landscape
I love a new view
I enjoy the new perspective
New colors coming to light
New and vibrant colors being revealed
Windmills in the green
Picturesque windmills in the green landscape
Against a grey sky
Visible against the cloudy/dull sky
These Dutch are too much
The Dutch are exceptional
They built this land from the sea
They reclaimed land from the sea
Crissing-cross canals
The network of canals intersecting each other
An old technology
Referring to the canal system that was built long ago
A stroke of genius in a paper cup
Referring to a great idea or invention
I'd like to stroke your face and wake you up
I want to softly touch your face and wake you up
A stranger's smile and a stroke of luck
A random person smiling at me and fortunate circumstances
We've found a new ground
We have found a new place to explore
Exploring dauntlessly
Fearlessly and boldly exploring
We're friends and we're lovers
We share a romantic and friendly relationship
No apology
No need to apologize or feel ashamed
I spend the morning in a warm cafe
I spend my time in a cozy coffee shop
North Sea breezes blow your love my way
The cool breeze from the North Sea reminds me of your love
I've got a feeling that we're going to stay
I have a feeling that we will remain in this place
In this watercolor land
Referring to the picturesque landscape
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.