Here's the English version of Jacques Brel's Amsterdam
as sung by David Bowie on 'Bowie at the Beeb - the best
of the BBc sessions 68-72'

David plays each chord once for the first verse and then
starts strumming with a driving rhythm enhanced by various
hammer-ons etc. and then he gradually gets louder and pained.

Never heard the original but DB's version is great as is the 
whole Bowie at the Beeb album if you like early Bowie.

AMSTERDAM
---------

	Am (x02210@1)     
In the port of Amsterdam
	EmThere's (022000@1)a sailor who sings
	FOf (133211@1)the dreams that he brings
	EFrom (022100@1)a wide open sea
	AmAnd (x02210@1)in the port of Amsterdam
	EmThere's (022000@1)a sailor who sleeps
	FE7
While the river bank weeps
	AmTo (x02210@1)the old willow tree
	CAnd (x32010@1)in the port of Amsterdam
	G7E7
There's a sailor who dies
	AmFull (x02210@1)of beers full of cries
	E7In (020130@1)a drunken down fight
	FAnd (133211@1)in the port of Amsterdam
	EmThere's (022000@1)a sailor who is born
	Dm7	E7On (020130@1)the hot muggy morn
	AmBy (x02210@1)the dawns early light

	AmIn (x02210@1)the port of Amsterdam
	EmWhere (022000@1)the sailors all meet
	FThere's (133211@1)a sailor who eats
	EOnly (022100@1)fish heads and tails
	AmHe'll (x02210@1)show you his teeth
	EmThat (022000@1)have rotted too soon
	FE7
That can haul up the sails
	AmThat (x02210@1)can swallow the moon
	CAnd (x32010@1)he'll yell to the cook
	G7E7
With his arms open wide
	AmOh (x02210@1)bring me more fish
	E7Though (020130@1)it's down by my side
	FAnd (133211@1)he wants so to belch
	EmBut (022000@1)he's too full to try
	Dm7	E7So (020130@1)he stands up and laughs
	AmAnd (x02210@1)he zips up his flies

	AmIn (x02210@1)the port of Amsterdam
	EmYou (022000@1)can see sailors dance
	FPaunches (133211@1)bursting their pants
	EGrinding (022100@1)women's with paunch     (not sure about this line)
	AmThey've (x02210@1)forgotten the tune
	EmThat (022000@1)their whiskey voice croaks
	FE7
Splitting the night
	AmWith (x02210@1)the roar of their jokes
	CAnd (x32010@1)they turn and they dance
	G7E7
And they laugh and they lust
	AmTill (x02210@1)the rancid sound
	E7Of (020130@1)the accordion bursts
	FAnd (133211@1)then out of the night
	EmWith (022000@1)their pride in their pants
	Dm7	E7And (020130@1)the slut that they tow
	AmUnderneath (x02210@1)the street lamps

	AmIn (x02210@1)the port of Amsterdam
	EmThere's (022000@1)a sailor who drinks
	FAnd (133211@1)he drinks and he drinks
	EAnd (022100@1)he drinks once again
	AmOh (x02210@1)he drinks to the health
	EmOf (022000@1)the whores of Amsterdam
	FE7
Who have given their bodies
	AmTo (x02210@1)a thousand other men
	CIt's (x32010@1)their worth and their goodness
	G7E7
Their virtues all gone
	AmFor (x02210@1)the few dirty coins
	E7When (020130@1)he just can't go on
	FThrows (133211@1)his nose to the sky
	EmAnd (022000@1)he aims it up above
	Dm7	E7And (020130@1)he pisses like I cry
	AmFor (x02210@1)an unfaithful love

	AmIn (x02210@1)the port of Amsterdam
	Em (022000@1)DmE7 AmIn (x02210@1)the port of Amsterdam


Submitted by Mr Thyroid