Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten

Last Sunday I sang in a choir at the request of a friend from my regular church choir, Dorothy. I was a little bit lost during the French and German tunes, but I was right there with the songs in English. At the end, we sang Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten. It's one of those old songs that will get older Amsterdammers - and the vast majority at the choir event had hair ranging from gray to blue to white - singing along.

I know enough Dutch to understand the words and the chorus sums up my feelings about Amsterdam and why I love it here so much. Take a minute and listen to at least the first bit that I linked above. My English translation below.

Aan de Amsterdamse grachten
Heb ik heel mijn hart voor altijd verpand
Amsterdam vult mijn gedachten
Als de mooiste stad in ons land

Al die Amsterdamse mensen
Al die lichtjes 's avonds laat op het plein
Niemand kan zich beter wensen
Dan een Amsterdammer te zijn

On the Amsterdam canals
I have always pledged my whole heart.
Amsterdam fills my thoughts
As the most beautiful city in our country.

All the people of Amsterdam,
All the lights in the evenings on the squares,
No one could wish more
Than to be an Amsterdammer.

Lovin' it here.