Move back to Amsterdam (The Ballad of Stray Dog)

Appeared on Purple Cadillacs

Words and music by David Munyon, S.P. Standley

 

A song which is quite a story and is almost exactly true, for the most part. Partly true - partly fiction. Partly...

 

 

Dog was such a cool guy, always home and helpful

Funny how Abagale never really did tell

Dog was such a lover then, really cool really thin

Living in a Pontiac parked beside a railroad track

 

Chorus

We all got to move back to Amsterdam

Mexico was to high, but not as high as Brooklyn

Got to find the Chinaman, and the heavy mystic

We all got to hurry up, Amsterdam is where it's at

Amsterdam will change our luck

 

Charlie had a big gun, Dog was always shootin it

Shot a famous gangster, slandered several publishers

Said that he was overtaxed

Never did cut much slack

Amsterdam was far away, dreamed about it every day

 

Chorus

 

All the waves, and all the rivers

All the drugs, and conversation

Never heal a candle to you, God... I love guitar street

 

Ernie was a waiter then, used to wear heavy shoes

Used to drink after shave, grew a really long beard

Dog was dating Abagale

Medium contender

Borrowed Charlie's moped

I was reprimanded

 

We all got to move back to Amsterdam

Mexico was to high, but not as high as Brooklyn

Got to find the Chinaman, and the heavy mystic

We all got to hurry up, Amsterdam is where it's at

Amsterdam will change our luck

Charlie Feldman's in the truck

Amsterdam will change our luck