1. |
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People always ask me
Where am I from
I’m from the land of the bicycles
The dykes and the windmills
Where clay and the rain
Make clogs so practical
I’m from the country
Where the cheese is made
Every town has got its own
Some cheese is for exporting
But just like France
We keep the best at home
Keep your nose above the water
Keep your head out of the sand
The sea is slowly rising
So it is not surprising
We’ll keep on building up the land
We always keep an eye on the weather
The land is two meters lower than the sea
We're always on the watch out
Never to be washed out
We won’t be brought to our knees
Fields grow the tulips
Cows make the milk,
On just a little bit of sun
Yeah Holland is so small
We barely fit ourselves
But there’s still enough for everyone
Keep your nose above the water
Keep your head out of the sand
The sea is slowly rising
So it is not surprising
We’ll keep on building up the land
Dutchies like to travel
You’ll find us everywhere
In all the corners of the world
We have a funny accent
And we all smoke pot
We all stand 8 feet tall
Before I went abroad
I thought the earth was flat
My highest mountain was a dune
Flat is the land
And hard blows the wind
While we are singing this tune
Keep your nose above the water
Keep your head out of the sand
The sea is slowly rising
So it is not surprising
We’ll keep on building up
we’ll keep on building up
we’ll keep on building up the land
we’ll keep on building up the land
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2. |
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When I was a young man, I wanted to know
The home of jazz, blues, country and folk
I took a flight to New Orleans
With my eyes set on New York
The Big Easy provided me, a rhythm and a rhyme and melody
A bridge to cross the Mississippi river, the first lines of a song
I made my way to Memphis Tennessee
On the back of a greyhound, my guitar and me
A sign read “blues had a baby, they named it rock ‘n’ roll”
I went into a restaurant, I ordered some wings
The cook saw my guitar, he asked “boy can you play that thing?”
I told him, sure can, and I sang
Pass the hat, I’m finger picking, listen to music and eat your chicken, I’m singing a song, it’s finger-licking, Gus’s world famous hot 'n' spicy fried chicken restaurant
I was down on my last dime, but I had to find a way
I wanted to make it to the Big Apple some day
I hitched my way to Nashville, in search of country air
After busking a week or two and not much money made playing the blues
I packed up, I said “so long” I’m just passing through
And I’m getting kind a hungry too
Pass the hat, I’m finger picking, listen to music and eat your chicken, I’m singing a song, it’s finger-licking, Gus’s world famous hot 'n' spicy fried chicken restaurant
I played in the bars and I played in the church
I played out on the streets, I never had to search
For somewhere to stay, such good people, who helped me on my way
I came here for the music, but I learned something more
If it weren’t for those friendly folks, I’d never been a troubadour,
So this one’s for you
Pass the hat, I’m finger picking, listen to music and eat your chicken, I’m singing a song, it’s finger-licking, Gus’s world famous hot 'n' spicy fried chicken restaurant
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3. |
The best of holidays
04:24
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Well this train is heading south
And all around the kids are running wild
Not a trace of a bad taste in their mouths
This red wine is a remedy for the drought
It’s summertime, everyone’s on holiday
In their campervan or in their Chevrolet
Heavy traffic because it’s Saturday
For everyone awaits a Beaujolais
Well this train is picking up speed
There are places to go and people to meet
At Gare du Nord nous entrons Paris
Où quelqu'un te dit que vous êtes très jolie
As the custom goes you start a wild romance
You’re shown around, you learn the local dance
As dawn breaks you get up and take your chance
Hop back on that train with your new made friends
This could be the best of holidays
This could be the best of holidays
Evidently you come across the Tour de France
Where you meet the devil signing autographs
And the devil says come and sit with me
He opens a bottle of the right Chablis
He’s got camembert, Roquefort and Brie
Man, he surely knows how to cut that cheese
He says life is short, take this advice from me
Spread your wings, go out, be free
This will be the best of holidays
This will be the best of holidays
Along the line you’re running out of cash
But you meet a man with a bent moustache
He says the time is ripe, the grapes are looking fine
These grapes need picking before we make the wine
He says the pay is bad, but at least the work is hard
And after work you can pick up your guitar
Sing us songs and play around the fire
Let the spirit get higher and higher
This must be the best of holidays
This must be the best of holidays
The work is done, and you get back on that train
Excitement was running through your veins
No need for words, there’s nothing to explain
You leave your sweetheart somewhere in Champagne
You may stay in touch, you may just drift apart
There will always be this special place in your heart
These memories will never fade away
This surely was the best of holidays,
The best of holidays, the best of holidays
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4. |
Food bank
03:09
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He’s a working man, from the city street
Yes, he worked a thousand jobs, to make ends meet
Never thought he’d reach older than fifty
But he saw all the great bands play in the seventies
He taught himself never to look back
Don't retaliate when you’re stabbed in the back
Never look up, never look down
On anyone wearing a helmet or a crown
And the foodbank provides
He still has his pride
In this vicious circle of his life
All his wisdom came
Through pain and shame
He had a life worth living
He was part of the game
Overrun by trouble and bad luck
He’s still trying to find the meaning
While his head still hits the ceiling
He’s still going around in circles on the treadmill of time
And the foodbank provides
he still has his pride
In this vicious circle of his life
And the foodbank provides
he still has his pride
In this vicious circle of his life
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5. |
Two sunflowers
02:50
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I am looking at the sun
Where life and dreams unfolded from
I am rooted in the soil
I’m just hoping I will grow
As fast and high as I could ever go
To the stars that steal the show
I don’t want to go anywhere
Even though I hear there’s more out there
I don't need to know what lies behind
The garden fence and what there is to find
All I ever need to see
The love you have for me
Two flowers aiming for the sun
There are millions more but you’re a special one
You’re the one with whom I wish to be
I know your petals grow just for me
But it’s from your roots that I can feel
The love we share is real
And every day gives another clue
Feel the earth around and water trickling through
Our leaves are gently swaying in the wind
I hope you know that you’re my truest friend
I’m so lucky I was planted next to you
All my dreams came true
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6. |
The M25
02:40
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I’m travelling through the UK
I’m having loads of fun
I go from town to town
To sing you all my songs
I just moved from Barcelona
And I guess I’m right on time
Before Brexit kicks in
And the French pull their wine
And from the corner of my eye
I can see a sign saying
Good morning and welcome
to the M25
Good morning and welcome
to the M25
Someone’s briefing me
On migration policy
Saying those strangers take advantage
I ask him, people like me
He says no, you are an expat
And that's something else
But I sure don't feel different
We're all human on all levels
And from the corner of my eye
I can see a sign saying
Roadworks and problems
On the M25
Roadworks and problems
On the M25
Sharing is caring
Don’t fall into the trap
Between the poor and the wealthy
There’s still a widening gap
I have taken up a job
Cut me some slack
For I freed one in Barcelona
I’ve sure given one back
And from the corner of my eye
I can see a sign, saying
We all share this highway
Called the M25
We all share this highway
Called the M25
I’m writing this song
I’m singing behind the wheel
Going 3 miles an hour
You may know how that feels
There's a light in the darkness
And my spirit runs high
Cause a miracle's unfolding
On the M25
And from the corner of my eye
I can see a sign saying
Strawberries in lay-by
On the M25
And from the corner of my eye
I can see a sign saying
Strawberries in lay-by
On the M25
Strawberries in lay-by
On the M25
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7. |
Ginny the Kit
02:32
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Ginny the kit
Is growing so strong
Once just a kitten
Now so lean and long
She’s smart, she’s sassy
She can’t do no wrong
Bet you’ll love her like I do
By the end of this song
She’s chasing a spider
And a magnetic cow
She just fell in the toilet
And I don't know how
But she's learning so much
Each and every day
Is a fun day with Ginny
Ginny’s ok
Ginny the kit
She’s got dreams of her own
She wants to be a tiger
Hunting from home
But whatever she’ll do
We’ll stay right by her side
When she hunts her own tail
All through the night
She’s exploring the garden
She’s got no fear
Making friends with a bee
Well she plays it by ear
She jumps up from a shadow
Rushes back to the house
Till she noticed what scared her
Was the shadow of a mouse
Ginny the Kit
Is a cuddle machine
She purrs and she hugs her way
On to your knees
She’s snug in your lap
And she looks like a queen
She could be on the cover
Of a cat magazine
And Ginny the kit
Is so naughty sometimes
She scratches the sofa
Or spills all the wine
But she’s quickly forgiven
Your heart skips a beat
She’s the most charming lady
You’ll ever meet
So this is the story
Of Ginny kit
She’s still very young
But already a hit
She’s such an attraction
And you knew all along
That you would love her like I do
By the end of this song
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8. |
No news on Sunday
04:08
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9. |
Mijn lief
02:23
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10. |
Eyes on the map
02:41
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Your soul is softer than satin
Your smile is a play
I could watch all day long
You think the most beautiful patterns
Your eyes shine right through me
our love is a song
Chorus: Love fills a gap
And our hands are clapping
The car's fixed and we're on our way
My hand on your lap
Our eyes on the map
We are planning the route of today
You never cease to amaze me
Flowers change colour
At every bend
Like a well that’s as deep as the sea
And the fields of green
Don’t ever seem to end
Chorus
I spy with my little eye
We turn up the radio
We’re singing along
You place your hand on my thigh
You whisper those words
I know where we belong
Chorus
At some point, we get to choose
The slow country roads or the motorway
And together we have nothing to lose
Grey skies, nothing can ruin our day
Chorus
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11. |
My lover, my friend
03:35
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12. |
Farewell song
02:09
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Rik van den Bosch Barcelona, Spain
At the age of seven, Rik built his own guitar using a tin can, a chunk of wood and a nylon string. He has been making music
ever since.
Rik writes, sings, and plays his own songs. Armed with a guitar, harmonica and a strong pair of lungs, he draws from a wide range of styles: folk, blues, rock 'n' roll, gypsy, and country. His music tells stories of travel, perseverance, and - of course - love
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