Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

Jimmy Kennedy, Nat Simon

Lyrics Translation

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've a date in 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

So, take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks

Istanbul, Istanbul

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

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, oh Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks

So, take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks

Istanbul

Istanbul was Constantinople
Istambul era Constantinopla
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Agora é Istambul, não Constantinopla
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Faz muito tempo que se foi, Constantinopla
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Agora é um deleite turco em uma noite de lua cheia
Every gal in Constantinople
Toda garota em Constantinopla
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
Vive em Istambul, não em Constantinopla
So if you've a date in Constantinople
Então, se você tem um encontro em Constantinopla
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Ela estará te esperando em Istambul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Até a velha Nova York já foi Nova Amsterdã
Why they changed it I can't say
Por que eles mudaram, eu não posso dizer
People just liked it better that way
As pessoas simplesmente gostaram mais assim
So, take me back to Constantinople
Então, me leve de volta para Constantinopla
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Não, você não pode voltar para Constantinopla
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Faz muito tempo que se foi, Constantinopla
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Por que Constantinopla levou a pior?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Isso não é da conta de ninguém, exceto dos turcos
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istambul, Istambul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istambul, Istambul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Até a velha Nova York já foi Nova Amsterdã
Why they changed it I can't say
Por que eles mudaram, eu não posso dizer
People just liked it better that way
As pessoas simplesmente gostaram mais assim
Istanbul was Constantinople
Istambul era Constantinopla
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Agora é Istambul, não Constantinopla
Been a long time gone, oh Constantinople
Faz muito tempo que se foi, oh Constantinopla
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Por que Constantinopla levou a pior?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Isso não é da conta de ninguém, exceto dos turcos
So, take me back to Constantinople
Então, me leve de volta para Constantinopla
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Não, você não pode voltar para Constantinopla
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Faz muito tempo que se foi, Constantinopla
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Por que Constantinopla levou a pior?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Isso não é da conta de ninguém, exceto dos turcos
Istanbul
Istambul
Istanbul was Constantinople
Estambul era Constantinopla
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Ahora es Estambul, no Constantinopla
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Ha pasado mucho tiempo, Constantinopla
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Ahora es delicia turca en una noche de luna
Every gal in Constantinople
Toda chica en Constantinopla
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
Vive en Estambul, no Constantinopla
So if you've a date in Constantinople
Así que si tienes una cita en Constantinopla
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Ella estará esperando en Estambul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Incluso el viejo Nueva York fue una vez Nuevo Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
Por qué lo cambiaron no puedo decir
People just liked it better that way
A la gente simplemente les gustó más de esa manera
So, take me back to Constantinople
Así que, llévame de nuevo a Constantinopla
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
No, no puedes regresar a Constantinopla
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Ha pasado mucho tiempo, Constantinopla
Why did Constantinople get the works?
¿Por qué Constantinopla consiguió las obras?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Eso no es problema de nadie mas que los Turcos
Istanbul, Istanbul
Estambul, Estambul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Estambul, Estambul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Incluso el viejo Nueva York fue una vez Nuevo Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
Por qué lo cambiaron no puedo decir
People just liked it better that way
A la gente simplemente les gustó más de esa manera
Istanbul was Constantinople
Estambul era Constantinopla
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Ahora es Estambul, no Constantinopla
Been a long time gone, oh Constantinople
Ha pasado mucho tiempo, oh Constantinopla
Why did Constantinople get the works?
¿Por qué Constantinopla consiguió las obras?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Eso no es problema de nadie mas que los Turcos
So, take me back to Constantinople
Así que, llévame de nuevo a Constantinopla
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
No, no puedes regresar a Constantinopla
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Ha pasado mucho tiempo, Constantinopla
Why did Constantinople get the works?
¿Por qué Constantinopla consiguió las obras?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Eso no es problema de nadie mas que los Turcos
Istanbul
Estambul
Istanbul was Constantinople
Istanbul était Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Maintenant c'est Istanbul, pas Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Ça fait longtemps que Constantinople est partie
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Maintenant c'est un délice turc par une nuit de pleine lune
Every gal in Constantinople
Chaque fille à Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
Vit à Istanbul, pas à Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
Donc si tu as un rendez-vous à Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Elle t'attendra à Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Même le vieux New York était autrefois la Nouvelle Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
Pourquoi ils l'ont changé je ne peux pas dire
People just liked it better that way
Les gens l'aimaient simplement mieux comme ça
So, take me back to Constantinople
Alors, ramène-moi à Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Non, tu ne peux pas retourner à Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Ça fait longtemps que Constantinople est partie
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Pourquoi Constantinople a-t-elle eu les travaux?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
C'est l'affaire de personne sauf des Turcs
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Même le vieux New York était autrefois la Nouvelle Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
Pourquoi ils l'ont changé je ne peux pas dire
People just liked it better that way
Les gens l'aimaient simplement mieux comme ça
Istanbul was Constantinople
Istanbul était Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Maintenant c'est Istanbul, pas Constantinople
Been a long time gone, oh Constantinople
Ça fait longtemps que Constantinople est partie
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Pourquoi Constantinople a-t-elle eu les travaux?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
C'est l'affaire de personne sauf des Turcs
So, take me back to Constantinople
Alors, ramène-moi à Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Non, tu ne peux pas retourner à Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Ça fait longtemps que Constantinople est partie
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Pourquoi Constantinople a-t-elle eu les travaux?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
C'est l'affaire de personne sauf des Turcs
Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul was Constantinople
Istanbul war Konstantinopel
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Jetzt ist es Istanbul, nicht Konstantinopel
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Lange Zeit weg, Konstantinopel
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Jetzt ist es türkische Freude in einer mondlichten Nacht
Every gal in Constantinople
Jedes Mädchen in Konstantinopel
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
Lebt in Istanbul, nicht in Konstantinopel
So if you've a date in Constantinople
Also, wenn du ein Date in Konstantinopel hast
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Sie wird in Istanbul auf dich warten
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Sogar das alte New York war einmal Neu-Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
Warum sie es geändert haben, kann ich nicht sagen
People just liked it better that way
Den Leuten gefiel es einfach besser so
So, take me back to Constantinople
Also, bring mich zurück nach Konstantinopel
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Nein, du kannst nicht zurück nach Konstantinopel
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Lange Zeit weg, Konstantinopel
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Warum hat Konstantinopel die Werke bekommen?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Das geht niemanden etwas an, außer den Türken
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Sogar das alte New York war einmal Neu-Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
Warum sie es geändert haben, kann ich nicht sagen
People just liked it better that way
Den Leuten gefiel es einfach besser so
Istanbul was Constantinople
Istanbul war Konstantinopel
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Jetzt ist es Istanbul, nicht Konstantinopel
Been a long time gone, oh Constantinople
Lange Zeit weg, oh Konstantinopel
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Warum hat Konstantinopel die Werke bekommen?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Das geht niemanden etwas an, außer den Türken
So, take me back to Constantinople
Also, bring mich zurück nach Konstantinopel
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Nein, du kannst nicht zurück nach Konstantinopel
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Lange Zeit weg, Konstantinopel
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Warum hat Konstantinopel die Werke bekommen?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Das geht niemanden etwas an, außer den Türken
Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul was Constantinople
Istanbul era Costantinopoli
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Ora è Istanbul, non Costantinopoli
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
È passato molto tempo, Costantinopoli
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Ora è delizia turca in una notte di luna
Every gal in Constantinople
Ogni ragazza a Costantinopoli
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
Vive a Istanbul, non a Costantinopoli
So if you've a date in Constantinople
Quindi se hai un appuntamento a Costantinopoli
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Lei ti aspetterà a Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Anche la vecchia New York era una volta New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
Perché l'hanno cambiato non posso dire
People just liked it better that way
Alle persone piaceva semplicemente di più in quel modo
So, take me back to Constantinople
Quindi, riportami a Costantinopoli
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
No, non puoi tornare a Costantinopoli
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
È passato molto tempo, Costantinopoli
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Perché Costantinopoli ha avuto i lavori?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Questo non riguarda nessuno tranne i Turchi
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Istanbul, Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Anche la vecchia New York era una volta New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
Perché l'hanno cambiato non posso dire
People just liked it better that way
Alle persone piaceva semplicemente di più in quel modo
Istanbul was Constantinople
Istanbul era Costantinopoli
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Ora è Istanbul, non Costantinopoli
Been a long time gone, oh Constantinople
È passato molto tempo, oh Costantinopoli
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Perché Costantinopoli ha avuto i lavori?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Questo non riguarda nessuno tranne i Turchi
So, take me back to Constantinople
Quindi, riportami a Costantinopoli
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
No, non puoi tornare a Costantinopoli
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
È passato molto tempo, Costantinopoli
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Perché Costantinopoli ha avuto i lavori?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Questo non riguarda nessuno tranne i Turchi
Istanbul
Istanbul

Trivia about the song Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by They Might Be Giants

On which albums was the song “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” released by They Might Be Giants?
They Might Be Giants released the song on the albums “Flood” in 1990, “Dial-A-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants” in 2002, “A User’s Guide to They Might Be Giants” in 2005, “At Large” in 2013, and “Flood Live in Australia” in 2015.
Who composed the song “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” by They Might Be Giants?
The song “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” by They Might Be Giants was composed by Jimmy Kennedy, Nat Simon.

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