Istanbul
Werner Müller and His Orchestra Lyrics
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Now it's Istanbul not Constantinople
Been a long time gone
Old Constantinople's still has Turkish delight
On a moonlight night
Every gal in Constantinople
Is a Miss-stanbul, not Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it, I can't say
(People just liked it better that way)
[Chorus]
Take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks'
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)
[Chorus]
Istanbul!!
The song "Istanbul" by Werner Müller and His Orchestra is a playful and catchy tune that talks about the city formerly known as Constantinople. The song has two main parts - the first and the last verse - where the singer declares that Constantinople is now Istanbul and that he cannot go back to the old name. The second part of the song talks about the women in the city, who are now known as Miss-stanbul, not Constantinople. The chorus urges listeners to take the singer back to Constantinople, even though he recognizes that it is now impossible.
The song's lyrics are reflective of how the city has changed over time, from its origins as a Greek colony to the ancient city of Byzantium, then as Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire, and then as Istanbul under the Ottoman Empire. While the origin of the name Istanbul is not explicitly mentioned in the song, it is believed to have come from the Greek phrase "εἰς τὴν Πόλιν" (is tēn pólin), meaning "to the city" and was coined during the Ottoman era.
Line by Line Meaning
Istanbul was Constantinople
The city of Istanbul was formerly known as Constantinople.
Now it's Istanbul not Constantinople
The city's name has been changed from Constantinople to Istanbul.
Been a long time gone
A significant amount of time has passed since the name change.
Old Constantinople's still has Turkish delight
Traditional Turkish delights can still be found in Istanbul which was previously known as Constantinople.
On a moonlight night
This fact is more prominent and visible during moonlit nights.
Every gal in Constantinople
All the women in Constantinople are referred to as Miss-stanbul.
Is a Miss-stanbul, not Constantinople
The women in Constantinople are now known as Miss-stanbul and no longer as Constantinople.
So if you've date in Constantinople
In case you have a date in Constantinople.
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Your date will now be waiting for you in Istanbul.
Why they changed it, I can't say
The reason behind the renaming of the city is unclear.
(People just liked it better that way)
It is speculated that the renaming of the city was due to people liking the new name better.
Take me back to Constantinople
This line expresses nostalgia for the old name of the city.
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
There is no way to go back to the old name of the city.
Why did Constantinople get the works?
This line refers to the downfall of the Byzantine Empire and how the Ottomans conquered the city.
That's nobody's business but the Turks'
The reason for the Ottomans capturing the city is not anyone's business but theirs.
Istanbul!!
This line is a celebratory shoutout to the new name of the city.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY KENNEDY, NAT SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind