From the recordings Trumpets Around The World and (This Is The) Amsterdam Reggae
Saskia’s back burner has held this hook line since 2001, borne in a pub jam in Downtown Amsterdam, and here, finally, brought to full bloom. She was born here, on the Lijnbaansgracht, a canal lining the edge of a famous quarter called “De Jordaan”, but, with family, she soon relocated to nearby Den Ilp, a village of then merely 800 inhabitants. After her formative years, she’d return Amsterdam a collegiate to study Mathematics, only to switch to Music after a year. The song is dedicated to limning Amsterdam denizens’ hierarchical pitting of “belongers and outsiders”— commensurate with anywhere else, so she has seen. She’s affirmed that M.C. Complex nails it, his lyrics deftly transmitting this tribalism as it also touts the city’s renown and attraction status. Laroo and Byrd co-conceive the hip reggae horns. Gaasterland lays a loping bass, clav, and keys groove to beats borne of him and Laroo.
Lyrics
(MC Complex:)
Amsterdamned, Amsterdamned Amsterdamned I'm the man
This is the Amsterdam reggae
This is the Amsterdam reggae
This is the Amsterdam reggae
This is the Amsterdam reggae
Big man me rooted, now watch how I do it
Keep movin' and groovin'
champion sound never loosin', uh,
You feel the rhythm, reggae vibes easy livin'
Good lookin' women in the summer we' be chilin'
The Damn full of pigeons
And the tourists taking pictures
Them museums full of riches
Where the weather always switches
Whether rainy or sunny I man' working for the money
Trust me ain't nothing funny
We get gully when we're hungry
This is the Amsterdam reggae
This is the Amsterdam reggae
This is the Amsterdam reggae
(Saskia:) If you wanna feel the beat go get on your feet
(MC Complex:) This is the Amsterdam reggae
(Saskia:) If you wanna come along
you got to sing our song
(MC Complex:)
Bad man get respected internationally connected
Me never get rejected, cause my art is so perfected
But there 's beauty in the code
That we solemnly uphold
We make money 'pon road but my heart is solid gold
The game is never told, but the blueprint is sold
Like the wisdom of old
Sacred scriptures saving souls
Our connections rooted deep
Like we're rollin' in the gang
You can hang and do your thing
But Amsterdamned I'm the man
(Saskia:)
Amsterdam is where I learned how to jam
Amsterdam is where I learned how to jam
Amsterdam is where I learned how to jam
Amsterdam is where I learned how to jam how to jam
(MC Complex:) This is the Amsterdam Reggae
(Warren:) Hit me
(MC Complex:) This is the Amsterdam reggae
(Saskia:) If you wanna feel the beat
go get on your feet
(Warren:) This is the Amsterdam reggae
(Warren:) This is the Amsterdam reggae, hit me
(Saskia:) If you wanna come along
You got to sing our song
(MC Complex:) Amsterdamned, Amsterdamned, Amsterdamned I'm the man
(MC Complex:) This is the Amsterdam reggae
(Warren:) In Amsterdam wow
(MC Complex:) This is the Amsterdam reggae