Bridget Ball - The Dutchman

Yet another GREAT voice that somehow got lost in the shuffle. You gotta know about it to find it but at least it's available. From the "Darlin' Rosie" CD, Bridget Ball's version of The Dutchman is one of the best versions out there. Written by Michael Peter Smith in 1968 I think the covers number in the thousands but this one is outstanding and I have yet to hear one I like better. If anyone out there can give me any more information about Bridget please let me know and I will post it. In the meantime enjoy this sweet, sad and touching little gem. The Dutchman Words and music by Michael Smith The Dutchman's not the kind of man To leave his finger stuck inside a dam That holds his dreams in But that's a secret only Margaret knows When Amsterdam is golden in the summer Margaret brings him breakfast She believes him He thinks the tulips bloom beneath the snow He's mad as he can be but Margaret only sees that sometimes Sometimes she sees her unborn children in his eyes (chorus) Let us go to the banks of the ocean Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee Long ago I used to be a young man And dear Margaret remembers that for me The Dutchman still wears wooden shoes His cap and coat are patched with the love That Margaret sewed there Sometimes he thinks he's still in Rotterdam He watches tugboats down canals Calls out to them when he thinks he knows the captain 'Til Margaret comes to take him home again Through unforgiving streets that trip him Though she holds his arm Sometimes he thinks that he's alone and calls her name (chorus) Let us go to the banks of the ocean Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee Long ago I used to be a young man And dear Margaret remembers that for me The winter turns the windmills round He wraps his muffler tighter And they sit in the kitchen Some tea with whiskey keeps away the chill He sees her for a moment calls her name She makes the bed up singing some old love song A song Margaret learned when it was very new He hums a line or two They sing together in the dark The Dutchman falls asleep and Margaret blows the candle out (chorus) Let us go to the banks of the ocean Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee Long ago I used to be a young man And dear Margaret remembers that for me